Band Feature: Jane

Savannah Siyajuck: We had to come up with a name before the first performance. Steve had the most ideas and we went with Jane because it was simple and I don't know anyone named Jane, but it's cool.

Steven Marin: I was thinking about what it would look like on an album cover, tattoo, shirt, etc. No pretense to it, so we could do whatever we want.

Greg Trainor: I liked the fact that it was non-descript. It would adapt with us.

Savannah: Playing with other people. Growing and learning with other people. Hearing our sound develop beyond what one can do on their own.

Steve: Nerding out on music with fellow music lovers.

Greg: You end up having a deeper relationship with music. You go from being a basement player to a collaborator.

Curt Hewitt: Exposure to new music! I'm always getting introduced to new music from my bandmates. I've listened to a lot of music, and still...

Savannah: Keep evolving and finding new sounds to try out. We don't have a set genre, so we are just learning to songs and experimenting.

Steve: Keep pushing and developing our skills and practice. The growth I've experienced being in a band vs. private lessons has been exponential!

Curt: Discovering possibilities and exploring. Realizing a dream, learning a new discipline, and playing how I always imagined.

Savannah: Our first show. It was an amazing experience that I think about a lot. We didn't totally bomb it!

Steve: Playing "Heroes" by David Bowie at our last show. It felt like it all came together as the culmination of a lot of hard work.

Greg: The stuff that's most memorable for me is the things that I need to work on.

Curt: The Grand Showcase. Not being as nervous as I thought I would be. I'm used to being outside of my comfort zone, so I was present enough to realize that. I wasn't experiencing any stage fright.

Savannah: 21 Pilots.

Steve: The Smiths (in 1985).

Greg: Yes (in th early 70's).

Curt: Billy Squier.

Savannah: Don't shy away from making mistakes. Try to live the full experience and go for whatever ideas you have. Be your full authentic self. You'll get a lot more from the experience, I think.

Steve: Practice your Pentatonic Scale. Fail forward. Lean in, and it's actually fun.

Greg: Run toward your fear. Because you're going to.

Curt: Have an open mind and believe in yourself.

Savannah: We play what we like. We come from very different backgrounds, so we like wildly different-sounding songs. We don't care what it is, just that we can play it.

Steve: I think our set-list is non-traditional.

Greg: We're pretty eclectic.

Curt: I think we're breaking down barriers and pushing boundaries. Being closed off stifles your creativity. I am open to whatever music my bandmates bring in.

Savannah: The growth, of course. Finding harmony with others. It's been an opportunity to meet new people and it's really cool. And it impresses my friends!

Steve: Connecting to people. This is real and there's an obvious thing about our band: we cross generations. Being able to connect with Savannah and the instructor, who are different ages. Connecting on different ideas in a real way as opposed to social media and other alternatives. It feels healthy.

Greg: It makes me happy. It's one of the highlights of my week. I'm in a better mood when I leave than when I show up. Sometimes carries over into the next day. I just keep thinking about how thankful I am.

Curt: It allows me to pursue a dream. My bandmates and working with them inspire me. I'd love to inspire my kids, especially, and other people.