Every Wednesday night, a few dozen faithful, free-food loving Duke students descend on a welcoming refuge from the stress of college life: Jazz @ The Mary Lou. This uber-casual, late-night jam session is run by professional jazz musicians here at the University, although guests are encouraged to BYO Saxophone and join in on the fun. That being said, it’s a weekly ritual intended for folks from across our diverse campus, not just the musically inclined. And whether it’s the smooth jazz or free food that brings people through the door from week to week, so many of us have become hooked. What keeps us coming back, if you ask me, is how miraculously space fosters wellness.
One of the most challenging aspects of wellness is holding ourselves accountable to it. But the regularity of Jazz every Wednesday night helps me to plan for and prioritize my own well-being during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Once I’m there, mindfulness comes naturally.
So many sources of information talk about how music and sound can be used to practice mindfulness, focusing on special ways of listening that involve keen awareness and contemplation. Jazz is the perfect setting for this type of careful noticing.
The jazz combo at the Mary Lou usually consists of a saxophone, bass, piano, and drum set, with trumpets, trombones, and vocalists frequently coming and going. Listening to the group as a whole, it is easy to get lost in their renditions of the great standards. But look (or listen, rather) a little more closely and it’s amazing how drastically this can change the experience.
The drums are a perfect place to start. Last week, I decided to hone in not only the drum set but on the sounds created by just one piece of it: a wire brush making smooth circles on top of the snare drum. As I focused my attention on this sound and the hand making it, the rest of the room – including the other instruments – began to fall away. Although my mind had been busy, I was able to let these thoughts slip past and found myself in a pleasantly mindful state. I kept repeating this practice with other instruments, which had the same awesome effect; I felt calm, present, and filled with gratitude.
While jazz music contributes to wellness through cultivating awareness, the energy of the space is peaceful, safe, and inviting – an oasis on a campus that has its fair share of stressed-out people. The soft lighting and comfy seating make it easy to relax and just enjoy the moment. To simply be. After a long week of class and other commitments, space to decompress is invaluable to so many of us. I especially enjoy seeing my friends at jazz looking happy and healthy from week to week. Their wellness makes me feel better, too.
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