STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Got a guitar? A fiddle? A coffee can to beat on?

You’re wanted to take part in the new music jam sessions being offered every other Saturday at Ketchum’s Community Library.

The next jam, which will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. today--Saturday, Dec. 2--is a free community event for those wishing to join others in playing traditional Celtic, Canadian, Western and other tunes.

During the first jam session, Ketchum resident Tom Tramill began pulling instruments out of a large bag as if he were a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat.

First up was what looked like a foot-and-a-half tall vase that he played by drawing a stick up and down its textured sides. That was just for starts as he fetched a bongo drum out of his bag.

Finally, he pulled a beautiful mandolin he’d bought at the Gold Mine thrift store.

“I’m Tom and this is my friend Mandy—her last name is Lyn and I met her at the Gold Mine,” he told the group.

Spearheading the jam session was Christine Carney Demment, who started a music jam in New Hampshire and wanted to continue it in Sun Valley where she’s had a parttime home for 18 years.

“The idea is to come together and play music, keep the tradition of playing music alive. It’s fun to play, and all are welcome whether you’re a beginner or a professional,” she said.

In fact, the first jam session included Taul Paul, who has performed with a handful of different music groups around the valley. Jerry Drake has played violin for 10 years and guitar for even more.

“Once you get a tune in your ear, you can’t get it out,” he noted.

Others came to watch and listen.

The group was quick to suggest songs to play, including “Wild Mountain Thyme” and “Tennessee Waltz.”

But, just in case they ran out of ideas, there was a table full of sheet music to fiddle tunes, Irish jigs and waltzes.