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🎷🎮 What Are Video Game Music Jams?
Imagine walking into a bar or café and hearing a jazz trio playing the Zelda: Ocarina of Time theme with rich harmonies and improvised solos, or a saxophonist reinterpreting Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog like it’s a Coltrane standard. That’s the magic of a Video Game Music Jam (VGM Jam)—a space where nostalgic game soundtracks and the spontaneity of jazz come together in full swing.
Our monthly VGM Jam is exactly that: a live jam session where musicians reimagine iconic video game tunes in a jazz style.
🧠 Why Jazz and Video Game Music Make Sense
Musician and educator Adam Neely brilliantly explains this crossover in his video about jazz musicians love of video game music. He talks about how video game composers often draw from jazz theory and how jazz musicians, in turn, love the variety and rhythmic and harmonic richness of these themes.
Neely also reminds us that this isn't the first time jazz has borrowed from other pop culture sources—many of today’s jazz standards began as show tunes or cinema songs from Broadway’s golden era. Video games, as a cultural medium, are simply the latest wellspring of musical inspiration.
🎵 Some Classics You Might Hear
At our jam sessions, you’ll often hear reinterpretations of classics like:
"Corridors of Time" – Chrono Trigger
"Dire, Dire Docks" – Super Mario 64
"Stickerbush Symphony" – Donkey Kong Country 2
"Guile’s Theme" – Street Fighter II
"Aqthletic Theme" – Super Mario World 2 - Yoshi’s Island
"Dr. Wily’s Theme" – Mega Man
And we’re always open to requests—if you’ve got a favorite game theme, bring it along! Check our latest song menu here
🌍 A Growing Global Scene
VGM jams aren’t just a niche thing anymore. Across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, musicians are hosting their own events, bringing together jazz heads and game lovers in exciting new ways. You can check out vgmjams.com to see where these events are happening and how you can get involved—even online.
🎶 Everyone’s Welcome
Whether you’re a seasoned improviser, a bedroom pianist, or someone who just loves the Final Fantasy soundtrack, our jam night is welcoming, fun, and open to all. Beginners are supported and encouraged to take part—we often have lead sheets or simplified parts ready, and the vibe is relaxed and collaborative.
Or, just come and enjoy the music! Grab a drink, meet fellow fans, and hear your favorite tunes like you’ve never heard them before.
📅 Join Us
We host our VGM Jam monthly, and each one brings new players, new tunes, and new interpretations. Follow our socials or drop us a message if you want to join in or just come and watch.
🎷🎮 See you at the next jam!
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We currently meet every 3rd Thursday of the month at The Bee's Mouth basement. For updates on venue / date changes, join the Discord channel, Facebook group, or send me an email.
Choose your level:
- Spectator:
Join us on the 3rd Thursday of every month for the Jam night, usually at The Bee's Mouth Pub basement. Subject to changes so stay tuned on FB or Discord- Guest Player:
Check out our song list and choose 1 or more that you want to learn and practice from the score or link provided in the song list. When you’re ready to play with us simply turn up on the night with your instrument and make your request!- Regular Player:
If you’re confident reading lead sheets and happy to play with us for 2+ hours, we suggest bringing a tablet computer or a folder of prints from our entire song list. Please let us know in advance if you plan to do this so we can accomodate your instrument properly.Step 2. Insert Coins (optional)...
- It is free to be an audience member and to participate in the Jam Night. If audience members would like to request songs from our ‘Medium’ or ‘Hard’ list (see below), you can use the QR code to make a donation or pay in cash.
- If you’re into what we do and want to help us grow, consider supporting us on Patreon All the income from this subscription goes into sponsoring future events and promoting our events.
Step 3. Press Start...
- If you need a mic, line input or have lots to set up, consider coming at 19:30, so you’re not interrupting the music which starts at 20:00- Don’t be afraid to bring us an unpolished performance, our priority is to grow the community of musicians playing video game music. We are aim to have fun, more than deliver flawless performances!
- Audience members (everyone) show love and support to the whole community, regardless of skill level. Our community is about passion for video game music.
Game ON!
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We’re mostly choosing our songs from www.vgleadsheets.com where they have put together a fantastic libray of clear and accurate scores.
We’re adding more songs each all the time and discussing these in our Discord server which you can join via the link below.
Here's a list of songs we're currently playing from:
Hyrule Castle - A Link to the Past
Jib Jig - Donkey Kong Country 2
Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker
Overworld Theme - New Super Mario Bros
Athletic Theme - Yoshi's Island
Ocarina of Time - Gerudo Valley
Secret of the Forest - Chrono Trigger
Forest Interlude - Donkey Kong Country 2
Princess Zelda's Rescue - A Link to the Past
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Can I bring any instrument?
Please do not bring a drum kit or digital piano. Percussion or a small keyboard (battery powered preferably) is fine. Happy to see any instrument as long as you can deliver the parts you've come to play, synths should have an appropriate sound for the song. Orchestral instruments are most welcome.
What skill level do I need to be to join?
If you can play along to the original song, then you can join the workshop, as long as your part fits the song it doesn't matter how simple it is. We can work out simplified parts for any instrument so join the discussion on Discord and Twitch to get comfortable with something, you can always advance it later.
Do I need my own instrument?
Yes, please bring your own instrument (except drum kit or digital piano) and preferably bring any cables you need to play. Venue provides mixer and PA.
Support our jam sessions and future events via Patreon.
Join the Discord Server for continuous chats and fun VGM times.
