Capital jams at Rs 200 per hour

Music making does hurt, but not much on the pocket these days. Musicians, in a bid to relieve their contemporaries of the stress of jamming costs, are coming up with ‘jam pads’ — rooms where new music bands can practice as a unit at affordable costs.

Music making does hurt, but not much on the pocket these days. Musicians, in a bid to relieve their contemporaries of the stress of jamming costs, are coming up with ‘jam pads’ — rooms where new music bands can practice as a unit at affordable costs. And assisting them in this endeavour are music equipment companies.

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Ashish Chauhan, drummer of city-based rock act Under Siege, opened one such ‘jam pad’ in Chittranjan Park on Sunday. With ‘instrumental’ aid from music giant Furtados, the room aptly named Furtados Playground is a haven for upcoming musicians. “New acts don’t have enough funds to support themselves as a musical unit. Hence we decided to open a jam pad [and also a music school, M Sharp] where new bands can practice by paying a nominal fee of Rs 200 per hour.”

Chauhan is also offering affordable packages for youngsters who wish to practice as a group. “The room is done up with first-rate music equipment like amps, monitors and drum kits. We’re also offering discount to musicians who book the room in advance or rent it for several hours at a stretch,” he says.

While Live Rehearsals finds support in associates like Fender, Sonor, Line 6 and Sabian, Sound Station, another jam pad in Okhla, is fending for itself. Ritnika Nayan, the force behind it, says, “It’s great to be able to help musicians with a place they can practice and chill-out at. We’ll soon have more of such jamming studios around town.”