Subject: RE: ukulele to replace recorder
From: M.Ted - PM
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 07:15 PM

"Piers Plowman--I am sorry to hear about your problems with the neighbors. With all of the ambient noises these days, from traffic to lawnmower and leaf blowers, to the sound systems in cars, to air conditioning systems to guitar hero video games and home entertainment systems, it is amazing that anyone can hear your trumpet at all--"

Thank you, M. Ted. The problems with my neighbours are manageable. I've come to an arrangement with all of my neighbours who have adjacent apartments. The elderly couple has been friendly lately. In some ways, I prefer it when they're not speaking to me, but I suppose it's better to be on good terms.

I don't take people who write anonymous letters seriously. I think it's underhanded and cowardly. I know it's not any of the people I know in the building. It's a building with three entrances and I don't own either a dog or a car, so I don't often run into the people in the other parts of the building. Besides, they didn't demand that I stop completely.

I've got problems with the landlord because of illegal charges on the yearly bills for building maintenance. I don't pay the excessive charges, periodically they sue me (twice, so far) and lose. Then they send me dunning letters, the renters' organization says I don't have to pay, and the merry dance continues. When my ship comes in, I'll move somewhere where I can do woodworking and play my trumpet as loud as I want.

Most of my neighbours play music themselves and are willing to put up with the trumpet. My other direct neighbour says he's never heard it! And he plays the violin, though he keeps it at work, where he's in a chamber music group.

"Anyway, I am glad that you're sticking with it--the first months are the hardest, and it really is physically demanding work, so it takes time to build stamina. We need more people to do what you've done."

Thank you. I wouldn't be without it. The stamina is coming gradually. I've started to be able to make it through whole songs.

Subject: RE: ukulele to replace recorder
From: Stringsinger - PM
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 09:23 PM

"Getting back to ukes, anyone know where there is info on uke strums? Books, CD's etc."

Any book on rhythms. It wouldn't have to be for ukelele specifically. However, my suggestion would just be to figure them out oneself. Start with simple 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 or 1 - 2 - 3 and vary it. It's a mathematical thing; there are x number of possible combinations of beats, if you allow only quarter notes and eighth notes, or if you allow quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes, etc. I think intuition is the best teacher for this, once you feel comfortable strumming.

I think what was great about George Formby was that he played with subtlety and taste. It's not that what he was playing was technically so difficult.

For what it's worth, I hardly ever strum (guitar, not ukelele). Runs of single notes in the bass or the treble registers can break up the monotony of strumming.


Subject: RE: ukulele to replace recorder
From: Tootler - PM
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 07:44 PM

"Piers Plowman it is possible to get tremolo harmonicas in the tuning you describe. Take a look at the Hohner Celeste

I have tried tremolo harmonicas, but I couldn't really get on with them."

I'll have to check my Hohner broschure. I don't remember the Celeste. I have my eye on the Echos or the rack with six tremolo harmonicas in different keys. I can't remember what it's called off-hand, but it looks expensive.

Tremolo harmonicas are used in German Volksmusik and I think the tremolo is often kind of a corny effect, but I'd still like to try one out. My recorder students have a somewhat battered Big River harmonica which seems to have a few reeds that don't respond. I didn't like the sound very much.