Definition of Different Ukulele Playing Levels

 

Material to be covered in this month uke sessions:

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June 2008
 

 New Music Notation:  Chord Progression Music Notation

 Table for Chord Progression, Scale Degree, Sol-fa Table (Key Chart)

 

May 2008

 

 Ten Hints for Ukulele Beginners by Al Wood of ukulelehunt.com

 

 

April 2008

 

Most Common Music Problems and their Solutions (Part 1)

Most Common Music Problems and their Solutions (Part 2)

 

 

Date: January thru April 2008

 

Beginner:

1st Trinity

1) Basic keys and chords

2) Left hand techniques

3) Right hand techniques

 

Intermediate:

1) Chord and Melody Intermixing

2) Aural (Ear) Training methods

3) Review of 1st Trinity

 

We will also be covering some music breakdown methods in both classes.

 

Aural (Ear) Training Training Table

 

Please RSVP so I can know how much class material to bring.

nuiukulele@pobox.com

 

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Date: October and November 2007

Beginner:

1) Chord Transitions
2) Chord Drills
3) Tuning

Hush-a-bye (chords & lyrics)
Brahms Lullabye (chords & lyrics)

Intermediate:

Jingle Bells
Girl from Ipanema ( Bossa Nova Strum )

1) Key evaluation
2) Tempo considerations
3) simple vs. complex arrangements

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Beginners Material

How to tune the ukulele with a A (440 Hz) tuning fork by Jim D’Ville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHWXvSehPy4

Chord sheet with word to “White Sandy Beach”

http://www.ukulelestrummers.com/Songbook/Whitesandybeach.html

You Tube videos on how to play this song in the key of F.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS43EP1EXz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMwbDTRFKAE

Christmas song book with good arrangements including

 Jingle Bells passed out in the meeting.

http://www.ukeland.com/pages/media/music/Ukulele%20Christmas%20Song%20Book.pdf

Intermediate Material

Please sign up for the mailing list at www.ukulelehunt.com for the finger picking lessons. I will have prints out at the meeting.

We will be working on the “Girl from Ipanema” and the bossa nova strum that goes with it.

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Beginning Ukulele

 

Establishing a routine.

 

Kodaly Method (Intro)

 

1)   Rhythm (ti-ti ta) with eight and quarter notes.

2)   Say the solfege (syllables for representing the relative sounds in a scale)

3)   Sing the solfege

4)   Sing and play the solfege

5)   Sing the words and play the notes on the ukulele.

 

Intermediate Ukulele

 

Fingerpicking

 

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Date:   Late July and August 2007

 

This method was explained to me by my friend Adam who is a very good guitar player. This method works for more than just ukulele, and gives

you focus on how to practice. 

 

How to learn a song (Low Tech method )

 
1)  Find a song you like with 3 or 4 chords.
2)  Get a recording of the song (mp3, LP, CD, tape, etc)
3)  Tab it out. (Find out the chord changes and the beats between chord changes.
4)  Work out chord transitions so you are not too slow, or too fast between chord changes.
5)  Turn off recording and talk the song through with the words synced up with the chord changes.
6)  Put it all together.
7)  Play along with the recording. Are you playing in harmony with the song as it is being played?
8)  Play the song till you get it right?
9)  Repeat the playing of the song till you can’t get it wrong.
Intermediate 
We will be going over the same material and also some more high tech tools options will be suggested.
 

July 2007

 

Beginning Ukulele

 

Basics  (melody, tempo, pitch, harmony, and phrasing)

 

Intermediate/Advanced

 

I am going to solicit feedback on what areas that students want to cover.

I also will be discussing the definitions of levels of uke playing.

I will also be discussing upcoming plans for the Nui `Ukulele club.

We will be having an Open Jam with Subject available for reintroduction (see below)

 

 

 Material Covered in the Nui `Ukulele sessions so far.

 

Beginning

1)      Chord Transition Techniques / Practicing

2)      Even Strumming (4/4 and 3/4 time )

3)      Reemphasize proper holding positions

4)      Chord Transition Drills

5)      Voice Warm Ups

6)      20 minutes

 

Intermediate/Advanced

 

1)      Strum Patterns ( Claw hammer and Hammer Ons )

2)      Voice Warm Ups

3)      Finding your key

4)      Memorization Techniques (Get Rid of the Paper)

5)      Song Ownership: How to command and conquer?

6)      20 minutes

 

Subjects available for reintroduction

 

1)      General Intro

2)      Basic qualities and parts of an ukulele

3)      Basic Material Requirements

4)      Types of music that can be played on the ukulele

5)      Types of ukuleles

6)      Demo songs (You Got a Friend in Me)

7)      The double Trinity (Head, left hand, right hand, voice, the heart, and the soul)

8)      My Promises

9)      20 minutes a day

 

Songs we have worked on beginning

 

1)      Whole Wide World ( 2 chords:  A and D)

2)      Theses Boots are Made for Walking ( 3 chords:  A, C and D)

3)      It’s a Long Way to the Top ( 3 chords: G, D, and A)

4)      Row, Row Your Boat ( 2 chords:  G7 and C )

 

Songs we have worked on intermediate/advanced

 

1)      Country Roads ( common time: weak/strong strum)

2)      March Strum

3)      Kiss Me Once ( blues rhythm with hammer-ons)

4)      Girl from Ipanema ( Bossa Nova Strum )

5)      Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a wonderful world ( Reggie strum )

6)      Hawaii `78 strum pattern