The NDG Music School Mash
If you’ve ever been to The Wheel Club on a Mash night, you know the vibe — guitars out, people chatting, someone testing a mic, a mix of excitement and nervous energy in the air. Then the first song starts, and the whole room lights up.
That’s the NDG Music School Mash — a free, all-ages community jam that the NDG Music School started back in 2018. It’s a place for music learners and music lovers to play, sing, and connect. We put together a set list ahead of time and project the chord and lyric charts on a big screen that scrolls with each song, so everyone can follow along and jump in. It’s organized, but still totally unrehearsed — which means every Mash has its own surprises.
Some of the best moments happen when things don’t go as planned: a student leads the band for the first time, a parent joins in for harmonies, the crowd starts clapping — and suddenly, it all just clicks.
We took a break during the pandemic (with a short-lived online version), but we brought the Mash back in September 2024, and it feels better than ever. Our house band of NDG Music School teachers and musician friends hold things down, giving new singers and players the support to shine.
The Mash is about learning, growing, and being part of something real. It’s not about perfection — it’s about connection.
