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More flatpicking - 

11/29/2016

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Next Week we'll play Bella Bocca Polka again.... with Flatpicks. Other good songs in our book for flatpicking are Charley is My Darling and Slavonic Dance, as well as To See Swainson. 
We began to work on Las Chaparreras. Listen to this song often to get the tricky rhythm of it in your head. It is a really fun song but you need to learn to hum it in order to be able to play it. I have posted the slow version of this on the Resource page.
Also, work on the pull-offs. Here is a video that breaks down how to do a pull-up pretty well.
Next week is our last class and we will work more on Las Chaparreras and Theme from Abdelazar to send you away with until the New Year. I will try to have a start date for the next 12 week (to complete Book 3) session by next week. 

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Flatpicking 101 - and Happy Thanksgiving !

11/17/2016

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We will not have class next Tuesday because of the Holiday. I will have company and many people will be traveling here and there, generally in a flutter. 
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgving, filled with family, good food, love and music. 
This week: 
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.
The focus when practicing is not on speed but rather on keeping a steady rhythm.

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 can get one at any music store). 
Be sure to pick down-up, down-up: Generally down on the the beat, up on the off beat. 

For our next class (November 29), practice:
To See Swainson with a flat pick
Exercises on page 32-33
AND begin to work on Bella Bocca Polka. In the second part of this song, both Use I and Uke II are written on one staff. You do not play both notes at the same time but rather, practice first the high part, and then the low. Also be aware of the key change in the second part (measure 18).
Also practice Jingle Bells. Think about our class playing this for the BUG Jam on Dec 3. 

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Playing the Ukulele is good for you…..

11/10/2016

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This week more than ever,  play your uke for fun and happiness.  Turn off your TV, turn off your device and play music. It's good for you in so many ways.  
Why playing your ukulele is good for your brain. Very cool video…..
Next week we will play To See Swainson again so practice both parts.
Also…moving along to Elenke. Remember to get your fingers in place for the notes in the first 2 measure before you start to play. Then you don't have to move your fingers.
Practice both Uke I and II, and I promise to practice playing both parts together and play it for you next week. 
I have posted some Christmas songs on the Resouce Page. Please print out the first one that says Jingle Bells BUO in G. I have posted this in 2 keys (C and G) But we'll play the version in G in class next week. 
FYI: The Bellingham Ukulele Orcherstra has 2 FREE concerts at the Library in December.

 Ukuleles in Season - FREE Holiday Concerts
Friday Dec 2, 5:00 - Central Public Library
Saturday Dec 10, 3:00 - Ferndale Public Library

 
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Playing in Harmony is FUN !

11/2/2016

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The fingering exercises I put on the board can be found on the exercises page 
Next Week we will play:
Charlie is my Darling with Harmony Part
Wayfaring Stranger with Harmony 
To See Swainson - remember to practice the hard runs first and also practice the Uke II
Remember to practice strumming, chord changing exercises on page 26
HEADS UP!  The Bellingham Ukulele Orcherstra will be presenting a FREE holiday concert at the Downtown Library on (Friday) Dec 2, at 5:00pm, AND at the Ferndale Library on (Saturday) Dec 10 at 3:00pm
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    Instructor

    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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