Ukulele Clubs

Subject: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:19 AM

Wow! Went along to Ukulele Wednesday last night, full of trepidation. Well, it was a new environment for me and I didn't know what to expect. And my ukulele skills are pretty rudimentary. But...

In a word: fantasmorgasmic.

Starting fairly slowly from about 7 o'clock and through many phases of anarchy and mayhem, by 9 o'clock there were upwards of thirty, probably towards fifty ukes all thrashing away through "modern folk" classics and everyone shouting out the songs with such unrestrained, uninhibited enthusiasm, it was easy to understand why I managed to miss a couple of trains and had to reluctantly drag myself away. There were a couple of people who sort of ran it in that they'd shout out the name of the next song and start off, but at in between times it was complete havoc. Totally brilliant. And cos ukes are so small you don't all need the half acre of space that a similar gathering of guitarists would need, so everybody's jammed up close.

In no particular order here are just some of the songs that were done. Some you'd expect, some surprises:

In the Midnight Hour (Madonna)
Valerie (Zutons)
Hit the Road Jack
City of New Orleans
I Want to be Like You (Jungle Book)
Delilah
Bad Moon Rising
I'm a Believer
Creep (Radiohead)
Sloop John B

Oh, and there was a TV crew form Austria there. Apparently they often have TV crews filming the goings on.

I'll definitely go again. Mental but brilliant.

Ukulele Wednesday is in the Royal George, near Centrepoint (Tottenham Court Road tube) every Wednesday from 7 o'clock. Try The Mighty Ukulele for listings of clubs near you (in the UK).

Or this link to Ukulele Wednesday's MySpace site

Such fun!!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 10:33 AM

How odd. Maybe I'm being impatient but I'm surprised that no-one's said anything like "Yes ukes are fun" or "Yikes! Far too populist." Especially as ukuleles seem to be making inroads to folk events. Lots of big name acts incorporate them and quite a few festivals have ukulele workshops. Broadstairs Folk Week had The March of the 100 Ukuleles.

Plus the public service aspect of bringing a fun and dynamic participative live music outlet to your attention at least deserves a "Thank you", I'd thought   ;-)

p.s. oh, and Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 10:57 AM

Gerry McNeice set a fire alarm off with his blisteringly hot uke playing ;-).

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 10:58 AM

And you are just impatient!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:15 AM

Best played with a 4lb lump hammer.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:25 AM

Hamish - you obviously had a great night - excellent! I've got a tenor uke and it's a great little instrument (Hawaiian, Koa wood). The set you all played sounds like something from a concert by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:35 AM

Oddly enough, Will, somebody suggested we should try The Ukulele Orchestra's version of The Dam Busters' March for the Austrian TV crew :-/

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: open mike
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 11:52 AM

The UKE is experiencing a revival in the U.S. (and I hear the schools in UK are using this instrument as a student instrument)
There are several festivals centered around this instrument.
http://www.pica-org.org/ukulele/index.htm
http://winecountryukefest.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/milwaukeeukulelefestival
http://www.portlandukefest.org/
http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/waikoloa.htm

A couple of years ago, i had a 2 hour special on mhy radio show
featuring Ukulele music, with a couple of
live musicians in the studio sharing a variety of styles.

this site has info about how to start a UKE group
http://ukulelehunt.com/2009/02/25/ukulele-group/

this is our local Ukulele lady (her car liscence says so!)
http://ukuleletonya.com/blog/

there are many such groups cropping up

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 12:56 PM

There is a Jumping Flea Club in Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire Ukulele Club

Wigan
Newton Abbot

sixth attempt!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:05 PM

Hamish - the Dambusters' March is my all-time Ukulele Orch favourite. I saw them in Dorking last year and they were wonderful. An evening up at the Club seounds very tempting!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: foggers
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:14 PM

I too am taking my first footling steps with a uke but have yet to try a club. I keep mine on my desk at work in order to ensure I don't lose my sense of perspective.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Bert
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:27 PM

Ukulele Clubs! best use for a uke.

Here's a song though

Ukulele

D                A7
I took myself a trip to Honolulu
in the moonlight those ukuleles played
I'm gonna have to buy a ukulele
to serenade my Honolulu maid.

Chorus.
        Oh how I love my ukulele
        it really is the apple of my my eye
        I set it on the chair, guess I shouldn't have left it there
        do ukuleles go to heaven when they die?

Now I'm back in Oklahoma
riding on those old Panhandle plains
My girl she stayed in Honolulu
and I play my ukulele and it rains.

Chorus...

At home alone I play my ukulele
I scare the dog and raise hairs on the cat
I left it on the sofa and my brother my big loafer
came sat on it and squashed that sucker flat.


Copyright Bert Hansell, 2004

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:32 PM

Little as I like banjos and bodhrans, ukes do have the advantage that they cannot be heard over either.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:40 PM

Well, Richard, I have to tell you that thirty or forty all playing at the same time and (mostly) playing the same chords can be pretty loud.

I find it interesting - not surprising, because I expected it to divide opinion - but interesting how polarised opinion is on the (de-)merits of the instrument. All I'll say at this moment is this: don't knock it until you've tried it. Suspend your cynicism and just surrender to having some fun. Go on... you know you want to.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:10 PM

I have played one. It sounds horrid. Much horrider than my guitar and mandolin playing and they are bad enough. I think I'd rather hear one than a piano (on a folk song, Hughie Graeme excepted) but not by much.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: M.Ted
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:53 PM

People like ukes because they are fun, easy to play, and cheap. That's a welcome change in some parts of the world of "folk and traditional" music--

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 02:51 AM

I don't think ukeleles are suitable for clubs. A whack with a solid-body electric guitar is much more effective. If you're really serious, use a contrabass.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 02:55 AM

Besides, if you hit something hard enough with it, it might go into tune.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 02:56 AM

People like ukes because they are fun, easy to play, and cheap. That's a welcome change in some parts of the world of "folk and traditional" music--

And they are being introduced in loads of primary schools. Some parents are catching the bug. I like this idea of cheap and cheerful self made music. It could lead to bigger and better things for the individual. "Mom - I want a guiatr now."

And schools might start pulling out old folk songs to teach. Yeah could be good.   Very good.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 09:53 AM

Took my ukulele to The Wilsons gig at Walthamstow on Sunday. Sang one song: John Malcolm's mv Amazing Grace. They, The Wilsons, liked it so much they're talking about adopting the song. Good song though it is, I reckon the ukulele arrangement helped ;-)

I will confess, I'm very tempted to try and start up a uke club in or near Berkhamsted, Herts, UK. Anyone else up for it? If you want to keep your interest low key, then PM me. There are some around but not very close: Enfield seems to be the closest. I will check out the few clubs in range if only to get some hints and tips.

It's not imminent, but I can't help feeling a certain inevitability about it: I'm a moth being drawn by that flame...

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 09:56 AM

Hamish, I think Chris has a uke - you could ask him tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 09:57 AM

You have to use a deft hand. A fairway wood will just splinter it and an Iron, say a "7, will get hung up in the box. For distance I prefer and wooden # 2. And for putting I like the really long two handed club that Glenn Campbell uses.

Don

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 11:13 AM

hi

I was on the point on creating a thread when I saw this one.

Headline in this weeks Sunday Express " BY 'ECK A UKULELE isn't "musical" says OFFSTED.

This reports the view of OFFSTED inspectors who werer asked to judge the merits and suitability of playing the ukulele for gaining music qualifications in a Primary School.

I quote..."ukulele sessions are not adequate musical achievement......
......Music lessons and the curriculum do not provide sufficient challenge and as a result pupils do not make adequate progress. Achievement in music is inadequate............".

I kid you not.....see Sundat Express page 37 Sunday 24th January 2010.

What does the team think ???

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 11:25 AM

And the Halifax Courier also has an article. The article doesn't "blame" the instrument for any of the shortcomings in the lessons. The Express article is almost identical. It's a typical "Offsted are at it again" type article.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 12:11 PM

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: MikeL2 - PM
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 11:13 AM

'I quote..."ukulele sessions are not adequate musical achievement......
......Music lessons and the curriculum do not provide sufficient challenge and as a result pupils do not make adequate progress. Achievement in music is inadequate............".'

[...]

'What does the team think ???'

For primary schools?! The term "po-faced" springs to mind.

My honest opinion is that _anything_ that gets people playing music themselves instead of just consuming recorded music has got to be good. If ukeleles are "in" now (after having been "out" for a long time), great! I wouldn't even mind if they brought back bongos, black turtlenecks and Galoises (plural?) hanging out the corners of mouths. Which way to the Happening?

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 02:37 PM

Yes, Piers. It reminds me of the time I was talking to the guitar teacher at my daughter's school. I was fascinated by the way they'd take many times as long setting up the foot stool and getting their posture right as playing, but avoided mentioning that directly. I'd said I played a bit: "I usually play standing up" at which point he just cut me dead and walked off!! I could almost hear him mutter "What? And have fun??? Shocking!!!"

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 02:52 PM

"OFSTED" - not "OFFSTED". Apologies for the pedantry.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 02:52 PM

Hi hamish

Ha ha ha

I agree with you. I have found the same attitudes with teachers of musical instruments.

I used to play rugby and we had a number of teachers who played for us. Two of them had wives who were teachers also. One of them played guitar and taught it to the kids in formal classes at school.

I used to take my guitar down to games and afterwards we would have a singalong.

I found it almost impossible to play with her ( !!! music )as she was so fussy and organised about looking right and all that. It used to take us ten minutes to decide what to play how to stand etc etc. We used to lose half the audience before she was ready to play.

She couldn't understand why & how I played standing up, sitting down, kneeling and much later on lying down   lol

I suppose teaching kids in a group is as much about discipline as it is about music.

cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 26 Jan 10 - 05:43 PM

HUG Hull Ukulele Group, HULL just had to have one didn't we!!

And they have found a new home at The New Clarence

HUG ~ Hull Ukulele Group

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 02:53 AM

I think playing technique in the sense of hitting the keys or plucking the strings, posture, breathing, etc., was emphasized too much in music teaching when I was a child taking music lessons and it seems that things haven't changed much for the better. As an adult, I took a couple of guitar lessons from someone (after having been playing for about 15 years) and he only taught that sort of thing. It has it's place, but I think the way he went about it would have done more harm than good if I'd stuck with it. I'm pretty sure it was what he was taught where he studied guitar.

I call this teaching the "How" rather than the "What". The problem is, I think teachers emphasize the "How" so much that the students never get to the "What". This is one reason why I post here (and not some other places): People here realize that you don't have to make three loop-the-loops and imagine you're floating on a cloud before you pluck a string.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: GUEST,padgett on lap top
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 03:49 AM

I would have loved to have been playing any instrument as a kid with others ~ such as Ukeleles or reoorders ~ anything other than the bl***y castinets and triangles available, at primary school

Schools need, to my mind to encourage the playing of instruments, such as sringed Ukeleles to build confidence

I believe that these can be bought quite cheaply, altho you can play a lot

Agreed pick the thing up and play it, by repetition

I still havent tried guitar, altho I do now play 'tina by ear after 40 years

Pity I never accomplished a thing on a guitar

Ray

I have heard in the past few months Ukelele type instruments played by Goerge Formby type guys (elderly) and by youngsters such as Rosie Doonan ~ there is a Uke club started not long ago too, near me

These initiatives should be aplauded I believe

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 11:44 AM

Toronto uke players should check out the Corktown Ukulele Jam every Wednesday night - http://torontoukes.com/

If you live closer to Port Hope, The Noprthumberland Ukulele Orchestra holds its eetings at The Beamish House on John Street every third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 in the upstairs room.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 11:59 AM

It is a sad fact that you can make "adequate" progress in the music programs that may schools offer without actually learning to either play an instrument or to sing.

At the same time, it is possible to play, sing, and write songs, and even make a career of of those things, without knowing much about any of the things taught in these programs.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Bainbo
Date: 27 Jan 10 - 01:32 PM

This looks like fun. Ukelear Meltdown, the national festival of extreme ukelele, at the Star And Shadow cinema in Newcastle, North East England. Performers, films and workshops.

At the moment, when you click the link through from the cinema's site to the festival's, it still appears to be giving details of last year's event.

Here's a great little film about last year's festival.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Bainbo
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 06:01 PM

No sooner said ...

The Ukelear Meltdown site's been updated to include details of this year's festival.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 07:15 AM

Well I've got a co-conspirator for my dream of setting up a West Herts (that's in the UK) ukulele club. And I've got a really clever, punning name for it. After all, that seems to be the most important thing. And I've got a target venue or two. It will be a couple of months before I'm ready, but I feel that it's my destiny.

So, come on, who else within range of Berkhamsted is up for it?

By the way, did I mention I used my uke on two numbers in my set on Wednesday. It's going to be a staple part of any set from now on, I reckon.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 05:44 AM

And here's the draft mission statement or terms of reference or aspirational whatsit for the Berko Ukes:

---

YOU!kelele

I kelele, you kelele, he, she or it keleles
We kelele, you kelele, they kelele.
Everybody keleles!

This is the home of the Berkhamsted ukulele club.

A highly participative club for beginners and improvers who just want to have some musical fun in an uninhibited, supportive, ever-so-slightly daft atmosphere.

From 8pm until 9pm there will be a beginners' session – although more experienced players are welcome – where we'll keep to more simple songs where the chords are easy and the changes don't come too thick and fast. From 9pm we'll include some slightly more tricky numbers – and the beginners are strongly encouraged to stay on for that.

The repertoire will evolve as regulars and random participants introduce personal favourites, but for starters it's likely to include stuff by Bon Jovi, The Monkees, Rainbow, Jungle Book, Beachboys, Creedence Clearwater, Johnny Cash, Manfred Mann, Zutons...

YOU!kelele

The name says it all: come along and take part. Ukuleles are cheap, easy to play and lots of fun.

What do you need to do? Just turn up with your uke and your enthusiasm. I'll supply song sheets with chords. If you've got a particular song or songs that you want us to try, then bring at least half a dozen song sheets with chords – in a clear font, at least 12-point – and we'll give it a go.

---

And I'm in negotiations over the venue...

Your thoughts, observations and suggestions greatly and gratefully appreciated. Especially relevant and/or constructive and/or humorous.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 06:14 AM

And... having just read the tip on using filtering to get around the fault with the Mudcat search facility, here are a couple of recent ukulele threads which I'd previously failed to find:

Help: Buying a Ukulele
ukulele to replace recorder
The Ukulele Project

...enjoy!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: GUEST,BBP at work
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 09:18 AM

Pity Berkhamsted isn't a mile or hundred closer to me! I think the respirational wotsit says it all!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 05:02 AM

Uh oh! Moth to the flame time. It now seems I'll be leading a UkeThrash at the KFFC Winter Warmer!! Feb 19th-21st 2010 (UK). Should be great!!!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 06:37 AM

Ukuleles are big here, too - UkeOz ! Australia Wide Ukulele Gatherings

I hadn't realised it until a few uke players wandered into my folkie life in recent years. Cameron Murray, the son of one of my friends is the only Australian member of the Hawaiian Ukulele Guild & the first time I saw him & uke in action his hand moved across the strings in a blur.

Mick Conway of the legendary National Junk Band is another legendary player, multi-instrumentalist & magician (sword swallowing & card trick & stuff, not a typo for bloke who makes music!)

Singer, multi-instrumentalist & children's entertainer Mike Jackson includes a tutorial for children on his site.

Ukuleles are apparently addictive & great fun.

sandra

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 11:44 AM

...thought I'd just give this a wee tickle...

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: JennieG
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:53 AM

Yesterday I bought a uke for medicinal purposes - not as silly as it sounds! I'm having some trouble playing guitar again since I broke my left arm late last year, can now play chords in D and A but anything in the key of C is not yet possible because of the finger stretch and pain involved. So I bought myself a uke, and will use it as therapy to help me get back to playing more guitar again. Last night at my folk club I even performed a song accompanied by the three chords I have learnt so far.

Then, even when I can play guitar, I will keep playing uke.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 07:07 AM

yah! Jennie the multi-intrumentalist.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: GUEST,BBP at work before KFFC!
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 07:35 AM

How's that?

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Fidjit
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 07:24 AM

Infectious beasts are here too in Sweden.

We just had our fourth annual Ukulele Festival. 150 people turned up.

I have two hanging on the wall. The Yellow one is very decorative, but useless as it won't stay in tune.

The slim line Eagle is great fun to play. Sadly I only take it off the wall once a year though.

Chas

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 02:58 AM

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Fidjit - PM
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 07:24 AM

"150 people turned up.

I have two hanging on the wall."

Serves 'em right!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 04:36 AM

Well, the Ukethrash at Kirkby Fleetham yesterday was fab. Only four combatants, but I was well pleased with it. Looks like I'll be doing a repeat of it at Holmfirth in May.

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Hamish
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 10:57 AM

...and at Bude!

Subject: RE: Ukulele Clubs
From: Fidjit
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 04:32 AM

Nice one Piers.

I have two hanging on the wall."

Serves 'em right!

Yellow one = Chineese

Chas