Well, coming to the end of the first semester of the school year on Friday. Thinking about the 'Ukulele Club and the class I am teaching. The numbers in the club have settled down quite a bit. Those who were looking to be cool have fallen to the wayside when they realize they have to practice. I also did not check out 'ukuleles right away. There were over 40 kids who wanted to check one out and I only have about 15 that I can check out. Sadly, not everyone is able to get their own. I wonder if I was able to put an 'ukulele in the hands of every kid if more would stay?
At any rate I have 20-40 who show up each week (depends on the competition of activities after school) and we are moving along. They still look to me to teach them but that is okay. Means I have to stay on my toes which is good for me. It also means I have to find songs that they want to play and that they can play. What I do find with kids is if they really want to learn to play something they don't care how "hard" it is.
My 'ukulele playing was taking a bit of a back seat as I was getting geared up this fall for the class and the club. Now, I am playing every week at the Freight & Salvage, taking a class from Hiram Bell. He is a local teacher from Hawaii. It has been good to work on some more picking and ensemble playing.
I am also looking forward to Herb Ohta Jr. coming to town the first week of February. He is giving a concert and I will try to get Karsten a lesson with him.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Karsten and his Ukulele
Check out Karsten on You Tube playing "Here, There and Everywhere". The more views the better chance I have of finding him a 'ukulele sponsor. He is talented and motivated, a wonderful combination in a 13, soon to be 14 year old young man. Please share with as many folks as you can.
(click on the title of this entry to see the You Tube Video)
(click on the title of this entry to see the You Tube Video)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2009
The year is coming to an end and I am thinking about my ukulele experiences. Mostly about the after school club at AMS and the class I now teach. It is amazing to me that there are over 80 kids interested in the ukulele. And it is a pleasure to teach a class each day. It is also a lot of work. I have to get my own ukulele skills up.
I am now reading music for the ukulele fretboard. Who would have thought that I would be able to do that. It is simple right now, but I can read the key of C and G. Now I have to move up the neck and do it in more places. Isn't that the way the ukulele is. Move up the neck.
The workshops this year have been challenging and helpful and now I am thinking about where do I take my own playing. I need more time to play (don't we all) and I have to still teach and do the rest of my life. It means that 2010 will be another interesting year.
The star of the after school ukulele group is Karsten. He is pretty much self taught and has the ability to hear and play. He has been playing for a year and a half and is in the 8th grade this year. Here is a video I did at school with him around Thanksgiving.
I am now reading music for the ukulele fretboard. Who would have thought that I would be able to do that. It is simple right now, but I can read the key of C and G. Now I have to move up the neck and do it in more places. Isn't that the way the ukulele is. Move up the neck.
The workshops this year have been challenging and helpful and now I am thinking about where do I take my own playing. I need more time to play (don't we all) and I have to still teach and do the rest of my life. It means that 2010 will be another interesting year.
The star of the after school ukulele group is Karsten. He is pretty much self taught and has the ability to hear and play. He has been playing for a year and a half and is in the 8th grade this year. Here is a video I did at school with him around Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Holiday times
Well, got back from a wonderful week in Pahala with Keoki Kahumoku Ohana Hawaiian Music and Lifestyle workshop and jumped right back into school. Then jumped into grades and am now winding down to the 2 week holiday vacation. Wheeww!
The Pahala workshop was great fun. So many folks to play ukulele with, to learn from and with and some awesome teachers. Herb keeps challenging me, in a very good way. Now I am working on some music without tab. Yikes! I can actually do some of this.
Also had a chance to work with Moses Kamai again on the song we started last year in Herb's advanced ukulele class. Moses has the computer skills to get it all scored out. We were both struggling with the timing, as it is my weakness so I couldn't figure out what we were missing. Turns out that both of us were off one beat. The melody starts on the second beat. Then it all started to come together.
Working with Brad was really awesome. I hope he does some more videos. He is a natural teacher. Seems I am going to be learning some video skills and some music skills... who has time for a job?!?!
This coming Friday Susan and I will head up to San Rafael and UFO's Christmas shindig.
Here are a few pictures from the workshop. Well, When I figure out how to get the pictures down here I will add some more.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Video Lesson With Brad - Surf
Aloha. I am in Hawai'i, the Ka'u district of the island of Hawai'i at the Kahamoku Hawaiian Music and Lifestyle Workshop. I am learning more ukulele and meeting some great young players. One of these players is Brad Bordessa who has his own blog on the 'ukulele www.liveukulele.com. You can find a lot of information there on the playing.
Today I have a rough video (my video and editing skills are primitive) to share with you. It is my way of communicating with my students at home while I am at the workshop. I hope you all enjoy.
A BIG MAHALO to Brad for his time and input into this lesson.
Today I have a rough video (my video and editing skills are primitive) to share with you. It is my way of communicating with my students at home while I am at the workshop. I hope you all enjoy.
A BIG MAHALO to Brad for his time and input into this lesson.
Friday, November 20, 2009
'Ukulele on KQED California report
I forgot to share this link. Hope I do it right. Not sure.
To go to the site, click the title of this entry.
To go to the site, click the title of this entry.
A time of Thanksgiving
Ahhhh! A well earned week off with the Thanksgiving Holiday. One of the best ideas from the bargaining team I was on. Then, a week at Keoki Kahumoku's Hawaiian Music and Lifestyle workshop. (http://www.konaweb.com/keoki/).
This last week we had another 'ukulele club meeting. I think we had about 50. They divided into groups and started jamming on some songs. Had about 4 groups. Karsten had a large group and was in heaven playing my Lehua tenor that I recently outfitted with a pickup. I also recently picked up 2 practice amps for $10 each off craigslist. Karsten really enjoyed playing my uke with the amp and had all the kids around him enthralled. He was showing them something. I was working with some kids who are just learning some chords and wanted to learn Island Style.
On Wednesday I did a video of Karsten playing. I will do some editing of it and post it at a later date. It is about 10 minutes long. He is getting better and better. A couple of the science teachers were commenting on how nice it is to hear and see all the 'ukuleles on campus and how good Karsten is. Let's me know that I am doing the right thing.
I will try to post more later. It has been a long week with parent/teacher conferences and lesson planning for a sub the week after Thanksgiving.
Aloha.
This last week we had another 'ukulele club meeting. I think we had about 50. They divided into groups and started jamming on some songs. Had about 4 groups. Karsten had a large group and was in heaven playing my Lehua tenor that I recently outfitted with a pickup. I also recently picked up 2 practice amps for $10 each off craigslist. Karsten really enjoyed playing my uke with the amp and had all the kids around him enthralled. He was showing them something. I was working with some kids who are just learning some chords and wanted to learn Island Style.
On Wednesday I did a video of Karsten playing. I will do some editing of it and post it at a later date. It is about 10 minutes long. He is getting better and better. A couple of the science teachers were commenting on how nice it is to hear and see all the 'ukuleles on campus and how good Karsten is. Let's me know that I am doing the right thing.
I will try to post more later. It has been a long week with parent/teacher conferences and lesson planning for a sub the week after Thanksgiving.
Aloha.
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