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More flat pick - 

10/22/2015

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Glenda sent me the complete words to To See Swainson (in English and in Welsh) which clearly shows that the Welsh will sing about anything…. or nothing, and if the song lacks content they just tra la la….
http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/welsh/ireceive.htm
You have made excellent progress on your flatpicking in just one week. When practicing this week, work out the notes first without the pick and then add the pick later. 
Next week we will play Charlie is my Darling again (with picks) and add the harmony part (attached)
charlie-is-my-darling-high-4th-friendly-harmony-c6.pdf
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Next Week we will also play Elenke (pg 27)
and Bella Bocca Polka (pg 34) Please note that the Uke I and Uke II are both written on the same staff, but will be played as two separate partsfrom measure 16 to the end.
We may Start on Las Chaparreras next week, so start working out the notes for that. Listen to your CD to know how it sounds and get the rhythm worked out

NOTICES:
 
* I will be out of town the week of Nov 2, and so we will meet Oct 27 and then skip a week and resume Nov 10.  (This is a previously planned to New Orleans with some friends…because I have never been there and it's "on the bucket list").

* NOV 14 - BUG Ukulele Mini-Fest - Fun for Everyone! Check out the BUG website for details.
* Dec 5, It is a tradition that my classes play a song at the BUG Christmas Jam/Party.  Save the date and we'll decide on a song by Nov 10. 
* Dec 8, last class of this year. Book 3, (review & practice) class will start in early Feb. 
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Flatpick 101

10/14/2015

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Slavonic Dance is great practice for chords, picking and flat picking. My… that song does go on and on. 
We started our introduction to flat picking. Here are a couple of things to know about flat picking:

Hold the pick as illustrated on page 32
Hold it loosely - no tight grip
When flatpicking, pick a bit closer to the bridge, over the sound hole. 
Using the pick parallel to the strings creates and bright sound.
Giving the pick a slight angle will produce a warmer sound.
Thin picks sound thin, thick pick sound hard and loud. I recommend starting out with a medium pick. I passed out picks in class. If you weren't there, you'll have to get one at any music store. 
For Next Week - 
Practice the exercises on page 32-33 with the flat pick. Work on the Up and down movement with the pick.  
Practice To See Swainson with picks and we may also play Charlie is My Darling with picks.  We will also play the lovely Elenke - slow version below. 
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#4 - Moving into minor keys...

10/7/2015

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Really Lovely job on Hornpipe! I am very impressed! 
After spending the first part of book 3 talking about the chords we play in a major key, we now move into playing in minor keys, beginning with Am.
Next week let's warm up with Round Her neck She Wears a Yellow Ribbon and all those crazy chord changes. Practice the chord changes in Am on page 20 exercises.
Next week we will also play the beautiful Slavonic Dance (pg 21) with it's many chord changes. so remember to practice the chords as well as the notes.  I have attached the harmony part for the intrepid among you. This is optional so please concentrate on the melody in the book and only try the harmony if you want to. Slow audio is also below. 
We might play Charlie is my Darling, but only if Charley is in class. Otherwise, we'll wait until he gets back. 
Next week will be flatpick 101. I will bring flat picks for each of you and we will learn how to hold them and begin to learn..….flatpicking. 
I'm off to Port Townsend and 5 days of UKULELE !

slavonic-dance-harmony-c6.pdf
File Size: 73 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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    Gail MacDonald is a
    Fully Certified Instructor with the James Hill Ukulele Initiative with  over 6 years experience teaching Ukulele In The Classroom classes.

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