I really enjoy playing the ukulele with PLUC on a Tuesday evening. Everyone is friendly and supportive and, even though I’m not able to attend as regularly as I’d like, I already feel like a valued member of the group. I hadn’t played the ukulele before joining but found it easy to pick up the basics as members of the group are always willing to lend a hand and pass on helpful tips. Most of all, we have fun!
My Ukulele is a Tanglewood Union Series TU6 and I have been playing for about four months.
Tonight sees the Eurovision Song Contest. Be prepared for plenty of cheesy numbers; sarcastic commentary & the usual regional block voting! Here is Jeff Meechai’s cover of the UK’s 1967 winning entry from Sandie Shaw, Puppet On A String:
Here is the second extract from our performance at the fete. This time you’ll find us on ukes, banjos & bass, with Rufus in fine voice, playing another of our favourites - Joe ‘King’ Oliver’s 1926 composition, Doctor Jazz:
Here is a short extract from the first set at our recent performance.
Amongst our more lively numbers – such as I Wanna Be Like You, Ain’t No Pleasing You, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, Doctor Jazz, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, What Made Milwaukee Famous & Coney Island Washboard - one of our most popular numbers is this gentle rendition of the lovely Va Pensiero, from Verdi’s Nabucco:
Today saw another appearance for PLUC’s performing group at the Pratts Bottom Village Fete, on the border of Greater London & Kent. Chris based us in the Village Hall instead of the originally planned outside stage on the Green, which proved wise, as there were several downpours during the afternoon.
We played two sets & hope that the community raised plenty of funds for their charity work. Here are a selection of photos from our session. Thanks to Jo for taking them & the videos from the day:
Leaving my ukulele at home, I journeyed to London’s Southbank to enjoy a day of singing by the Thames on the opening day of the Chorus Festival, the start of this year’s Festival of Neighbourhood.
After some fun vocal warm-up exercises, we adjourned to the Queen Elizabeth Hall to practice three songs to sing en masse down on the Riverside Terrace to launch the Festival: Purcell’s Come, Ye Sons of Art; Jerusalem (Blake/Parry) & the Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset. We were accompanied by a brass band on the upper stage & it was very moving being part of such a large group. The rain managed to hold off until the final few bars of the last song & you may spot people’s hoods going up in the video!
Various events were dotted in & around the Royal Festival & Queen Elizabeth Halls for the remainder of the day.There were around twenty separate choirs giving free performances. Additionally, various choirs ran Trading Station sessions, where you could drop in & learn a few songs with them.
The London Forest Choir, were up in St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, where I enjoyed sight-singing some of musical director Jonathan Rathbone’s arrangements of classical music & old standards (thanks to the woman who kindly shared her music with me!).
I then delved down to the RFH basement, where the echoey acoustics were superb for an uplifting session with Trade Winds. We learnt intricate harmonies of African & Serbian songs by ear. Emerging upstairs to the Clore Ballroom, I was met with a blast of Mr Blue Sky from nearly two hundred dancing members of the Rock Choir, who performed several more excellent numbers. More vocal warm-ups to wake us all up, the audience then joined in with providing backing harmonies for the final Saturday Showcase of an ad-hoc choir brought together for the day.
In all, it was a really useful & entertaining day, giving good tips on the different techniques between singing formal classical numbers, pop & rock songs & musical theatre. I kept bumping into the same friendly participants, despite the large number of folk involved, so hello to them if they read this blog!.
I’d definitely recommend an event like this to anyone wanting to improve their vocal skills & confidence in singing in public.
People are often daunted at the thought of singing in public. Plus, especially when you’re a beginner, it’s often hard to concentrate on playing your ukulele – remembering where the chords are, getting the strumming right & keeping time – in addition to singing the words of the song!
Outdoor events at the Southbank. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
They are holding a Chorus Festival this Bank Holiday weekend at the Southbank Centre. In addition to the formal paying performances & workshops, there are a number of free Voicelab events where you can just turn up & join in some vocal warm-ups or singalongs as part of a large group of people. It looks like an excellent chance to get some coaching & tips as part of a big ad-hoc choir & a fun way to build your confidence in singing!
Each day there are warm-up sessions & rehearsals, followed by a choir performance later on (which you can also just turn up at – in several cases the music & words are already on-line). Have a look round the website for more info. If you attend, let us know how you get on.
While I have not had the opportunity to attend club, I still strum the ukulele every day and recently purchased my most expensive instrument so far. A Kala Travel Uke, model SSL WTU 1005. This was purchased purely for its looks and I had to buy it.
A slimline uke with spruce top and lacewood back and sides, this created a conflict. Which do I love the best: my new travel uke, a real pleasure to play and great quality, or my Flea? Strangely enough, my Flea came out tops and I decided I like this best. I might of course be shot down in flames for saying so but that’s how it is. Simon will be delighted, LOL.
As for the Kala. In order for me to love it better, I decided to try D’Addario strings which failed miserably regards sound and were ultimately changed to Aquila. Much better.
I got to thinking about folk who possess several ukuleles. Whether they are loved equally and for what reasons?
I am not at all musically inclined, so it was more fate than design that got me started on the ukulele.
On one of my trips back to Singapore, my daughter Lisa came along. It suddenly occurred to me that we had not seen our favourite uncle and auntie for a long time. So we went and were glad we did because we had a great time.
Uncle Ron, who puts his status on Facebook as ‘happily retired’, was into uke and had founded and led a group. We were treated to an impromptu sing-along which we joined in. When we left, he ran after us and gave Lisa two books that he compiled himself – one was a song book, the other a book of tips for beginners.
On my return to England I got a uke for Lisa as a Christmas present. Some months later she admitted that her busy uni life does not leave her much time to learn a new instrument. Besides she already had a guitar, so I became the reluctant owner of the lovely uke. But there was a problem – I did not know what to do with it.
The development I live in had a Facebook Group, so I posted a message asking if anyone knew a uke tutor and Steph, who attends your sessions, pointed me in your direction.
I found PLUC a godsend. Thanks to Simon, Jeanette, Chris, Rufus, Kevin, Dan and everyone else who makes it so welcoming and enjoyable.
It is so true what they say about music being the food of the soul. The club sessions are an uplifting and pleasant diversion from the everyday cares of life in busy London.
Sadly, Uncle Ron has passed away from cancer but his legacy lives on. He has inspired lots of people to take up the uke, myself included, and my life and soul is so much richer from it.
As it’s my brother’s birthday today, here’s a swift post giving the Number One when he was born – Frank & Nancy Sinatra singing Something Stupid. For your delectation, here’s a strumalong with Stu Kulele:
