New Uke For Xmas (2019)

If you’ve got a new ukulele for Christmas or are considering taking up playing one, you’ll soon find there are lots of on-line resources to help you, whatever your level:

• Two useful free guides for beginners can be found from Ukulele Hunt‘s Alistair Wood – So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele & Ukulele Tricks‘ Brett McQueen – Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some.
• Last year we published a Twelve Days Of Ukemas guide to give you different things to try out over the holiday period, recommending some of the most useful sites and reliable tutors, suitable from total novice to intermediate & advanced players, and in many styles of playing, teaching & music genres. Check out each day for much more detail:

Day & Summary	Day & Summary
01 –  Helmut Bickel – Fingerstyle	02 – New Uke For Xmas – Useful sources
03 – Bernadette’s 30 Day Challenge	04 – Songs & Songbooks – eg MUJ
05 – James Hill’s Ukulele Way	06 – Danno Sullivan – Play It Daily
07 – Cynthia Lin – Tutorials	08 – Phil Doleman’s Two Minute Tips
09 – Samantha Muir – Classical Uke	10 – Ten Thumbs Productions – Tutorials
11 – Richard Hefner – ezFolk Lessons	12 – Stuart Fuchs  – Tips & Tutorials

• Have a general look around this website, as we pick out a wide selection of our favourite tools & tips, on-line uke lessons, songbooks, chords, music theory, forums, equipment & other website resources. In particular, my musings on what helped me when I first got my uke as a complete beginner may prove a useful summary if you’re totally new to playing.
• Joining a local group is always a boost – whether you are a beginner, improver or expert player. We’re a very friendly club based in Lewisham which meets every Tuesday for free jamming sessions. Everyone is welcome & we pride ourselves from having members from all over London, Kent & Surrey. We’re back strumming in the New Year from Tue 7 Jan 2020. Contact us for more details.
• If you aren’t near Lewisham, do check out the Mighty Ukulele for Londonwide gigs, events & UK clubs or Uke Hunt’s extensive clubs & groups listings covering  UK & Ireland; Europe; USA & Canada and Australia & New Zealand for a local group.
• If you need advice on buying an instrument, Barry Maz has a wealth of independent reviews on Got A Ukulele as well as a schedule of uke festivals and other handy info to help get you started.

Good luck & happy strumming!

Jeanette

 

Twelve Days Of Ukemas – Day Two

If you’ve got a new ukulele for Christmas, you’ll soon find there are lots of on-line resources to help you, whatever your playing level:

• Two useful free guides for beginners can be found from Ukulele Hunt‘s Alistair Wood – So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele & Ukulele Tricks‘ Brett McQueen – Your First Ukulele Lesson and Then Some.
• Have a look around this site, as we pick out a wide selection of our favourite tools & tips, on-line uke lessons, songbooks, chords, music theory, forums, equipment & other website resources. In particular, my musings on what helped me when I first got my uke as a complete beginner may prove a useful summary if you’re totally new to playing.
• Joining a local group is always a boost – whether you are a beginner, improver or expert player. We’re a very friendly club based in Lewisham which meets every Tuesday for free jamming sessions. Everyone is welcome & we pride ourselves from having members from all over London, Kent & Surrey. We’re back strumming in the New Year from Tue 8 Jan 2019. Contact us for more details.
• If you aren’t near Lewisham, do check out the Mighty Ukulele for Londonwide gigs, events & UK clubs or Uke Hunt’s extensive clubs & groups listings covering  UK & Ireland; Europe; USA & Canada and Australia & New Zealand for a local group.

Good luck & happy strumming!

Jeanette

 

New Year’s Workouts

Happy 2017!

Sheila’s 50th – PLUC

• If you’ve just received your first ukulele, then have a look round our site for playing tips, such as our New Uke For Xmas? article which directs you to some beginners’ guide and handy resources. Or search down the right hand side of the page for the many topics we cover.
• Should you wish to buy a uke, check out our recommendations for decent starter instruments in Good Buy To All That….
• For those of you wishing to access some online lessons,  James Hill’s Booster Uke is free until the end of Jan 2017, which will get you moving up & down the fretboard.
• For a bit of a workout, why not try out the Chord Quiz on Ukulele Go or head over to Uke Hunt’s more challenging Ukulele Quiz 2016.

 

Gigs With Ukes 4

Sunday 29th September’s Ukulele Cabaret & Workshop at The Albany, Deptford, was a great night. First was Tricity Vogue, hosting the evening. She has an infectious personality, great voice and music ability.

 

Gigs With Ukes 3

Q/ What do you call a woman with a uke on her head?  A/ Tricity Vogue

On Sunday 29 September, Tricity Vogue‘s Ukulele Cabaret & Workshop returns to The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG. It’s £7 for show only, £12 for workshop & show. The workshop runs 4.30 – 6.30pm, show 7 – 9pm.

Once again, PLUC’s Uncle Rufus will be there performing along with Nick Browning & Tricity. Other acts include Ewan Wardrop & trio, the Sugar Sisters.

The grand finale will be a mass performance by the Albany All Stars – everyone who’s just attended that afternoon’s workshop will play a huge group medley.

I attended last year & it was great fun! The workshop splits you into beginners & more advanced – some people had never touched a uke before. It’s a good way of finding out what it’s like to perform in front of an audience (I can just be spotted at the back in the videos!).

Bring your own uke &, if you have one, music stand (so you’re more comfortable looking at the music – we were in a room without tables last time).

Read Ed’s review of the 2013 show.

Jeanette