You are now ready to join the band.

You may want to start off with a friend who is experienced in playing the piano. By this I mean one who can set down and entertain the crowd. Don't get this confused with one who spreads open the song book and plays stiffly "by the book". You need one who can jazz it up and improvise as they go.

Have them start with the tune and you join in with your beat and off-beat. Have them give you a time to take the lead while they play softly. Have them syncopate and give you a time to solo. If they are experienced, they will help you learn the secret of the "appropriate time" for you to make your changes.

One thing you will find out very soon is the importance of eye contact. This is most often how the signal for lead change, solo, syncopation and termination is passed, especially in a jam session of musicians who have never played together or who do not play rehearsed songs. The approaching end of a tune is signaled by the person who named the tune raising their leg just before the ending.

You can probably find some musicians who get together for jam sessions or play informally. Ask them if you can play along in the background for experience. Tell them you are a beginner and ask them to be free with their advice.

Be sure to station yourself where you can have that invaluable eye contact with one of the key players. I usually seek out the lead guitar player. He will recognize the contact and you will soon establish the signals necessary to blend your playing into the group effort.

A word of caution here. Do not get carried away and try to dominate the scene. Remember that music is a group effort and most of the time the sound of all of the instruments must blend into a soft background. Each has a time to come forward and take the lead but none should dominate for long.

You should play in different groups and settings until you feel confident and relaxed. You should also continue playing along with your recorded music to reinforce what you learn in the group.

Try many songs of each time for experience and to find those on which you excel. One day soon you will be asked by a group leader to name the song you would like them to play. You want to be ready to name several with which you can wow them such as "You Are My Sunshine", "Sweet Sue", "Alley Cat", "Redwing", "Orange Blossom Special", "Liechtensteiner Polka", and of course, the "Missouri Waltz".