NYC Uke Fest 2011!!!

...Is this thing still on??



Brett and I hopped a train to NYC on Saturday, May 7th to experience our first ever Ukulele Festival!  I do believe it was the best $300 bucks I've spent (tickets and hotel) and it was an eye opening experience.  First of all, to be in the company of so many other ukulele enthusiasts is worth it alone.  To be able to participate in workshops with the performing artists (much like a master class from my old music school days) was worth the price of admission alone.






I learned at least two new chords!! And, learned to visualize breathing in a whole new way, that is remarkably simple.  I got to play a banjo-uke (banjolele).  Brett got to go on stage with a band (I have video proof! and he did awesome).  I've emerged with an entirely new motivation to really learn to master the instrument.  I've discovered new artists and we made a couple new friends!


Khabu and Elena performed for us in the first workshop and led a lively discussion on playing with rhythm and melody.  I think I gained some insight into developing the freedom to play with the music to make it my own.  They also touched on improvising and communicating with other musicians as you are playing with them.

Tripping Lily- An acoustic group from Cape Cod, lead a workshop where they taught the group how to play one of their songs "Getting Good."  They have a very simple style using ukulele, mandolin and base.  But they showed how they add complexity to their songs with harmonies.  This is also where I learned a new favorite chord Gm in not one, but two voicings!  During their set later on that evening, Brett and a couple of the other group members went on stage to play it with them!  They were really very nice people and I hope we get to see them in concert soon.

Victoria Vox also performed and she is one of my newest favorite artists of the last year.  She really puts on a good show and her songs are quirky and fun.  I made sure to pick up a copy of her second song book.

Following the concert we headed back to our cheap hotel completely and utterly exhausted.  But not first without stopping at Columbus Circle at night.








The next day after a nice breakfast at Columbus Circle, we headed to Central Park where we wandered and stopped to sit on a bench and play our ukes.   I played 3 chords, and Brett improvised and we just made stuff up.   This is what I aspire to do all the time when I become proficient enough.  Just sit down anywhere and play my uke, preferably with Brett by my side plucking along with me!








24 hours in NYC felt like a week!  I don't now how that happens.  We hopped on the 11:45 train to Poughkeepsie and were home in time for Mother's Day dinner.  Over all it was one of the better weekends I have had lately by far.  And I am already toying with the idea of going to the Tampa Uke fest in November, or maybe the entire NYC Uke Fest next year (all 3 days!).  I think my little Uke habit is going to get expensive.

Did I mention I want to add a banjolele to my collection?

I am still alive and so is the uke!

I know it's been quiet around here as I haven't posted since December.  Over the last three months I've gone through a love/hate relationship with the uke and all things music.   It may be love/hate, but it's mostly love.  I am still playing and I am still trying to teach my self new things all the time.  My work ethic when it comes to practicing is where I lack the patience for it.

In Ukulele News:  Eddie Vedder is releasing a album called Ukulele Songs in May.  I CANNOT wait!  Here is the single released so far: "Longing to Belong"

My concert uke got new strings last week and is a much happy camper.  The thing won't stay in tune longer than 30 seconds, but I've been told that's normal.  I will be playing one song with Brett as he closes out his 30 minute set at Gaffney's on Wednesday, April 6th.  

So things are still happening.  I'm still playing and will keep on.  

Song in progress...

God Bless Victoria Vox for publishing a song book (vol. 1) of her songs in a simple to understand manner.  I swear this is the reason I keep these ukes around.  She has a song called "Christmas with You" which is super cute and super simple, and I'm determined to learn it by Christmas! Squeaky voice be damned.

Now that I've got the bulk of my Christmas shopping done and shipped, I can finally relax a bit and spend some time practicing.  Maybe this will last into the New Year???

Musical Schizophrenia....

I'm pretty sure that's me.  I sort of taught myself two songs tonight, enough to make my fingers numb.  I don't know what's wrong with me sometimes.  Even so, music makes me sad.

hiatus....

This is one of those period where I mostly hate everything about music. . .singing, playing, listening.  Call me a grinch if you want, but I'm checking out for a while.  It probably won't be permanent, it never is.

Ukes Everywhere!

The ukulele is a funny little instrument.  It has a plucky, happy sound and most people think of Hawaii, palm trees and beaches when they they think of the uke.  In my brief internet studies, I learned that it a variant of an instrument from Portugal and didn't become popular until the early 20th century at an exposition in San Francisco.

I read somewhere (and don't hate me for not remembering everything) that someone said their favorite thing about the uke was it's limitations.  That's true.  In it's standard form it is a 4 stringed instrument with re-entrant tuning.  Not at all like a guitar or any other string instrument for that matter.  With four strings, the chords don't sound as full as on a guitar.  I think they sound lacy, with tiny little air holes in them.  It's distinctive.  I have yet to move beyond basic chord strumming, and even with that, I have many chords left to learn.

Lately, the uke has seen a resurgence in popularity in the US and Europe.  Every other commercial on TV these days have ukulele music.  Train, Ingrid Michaelson, Colbie Calillat and Guster all use the ukulele in some or all of their music.  The first three have definitely been heard in commercials for kitchen and laundry appliances.  Guster just rocks by having a ukulele decend from the heavens during their concert.

But the best part of the uke, is despite it's limitations and 4 strings, you can play anything on it.  The first song I learned was a very sad song called Sentimental Heart by She and Him.  Simple, sad, but lovely on the uke.  There's not much too it but simple strums but it's not something you would expect to hear on the uke.  Of course, I've got a list of songs I want to learn, but most of them contain the Bb chord or variant, and for some reason my hand refuses to learn it.  So, I've been somewhat limited to F, C, G, Am, Em, Dm.  (I've gotten really good at the minor chords).

My best source of information has been the Ukulele Underground (link at right) and Ukulele Mike on YouTube.  There are a wealth of videos on the internet that can teach anyone how to play.  I don't think it can fully replace one on one instruction, but when the resources aren't available.  It will do.

For now, a photo of my first uke.  A soprano Kala.

I should also note that this post was made somewhat difficult by a cat who decided to jump in my lap while sitting on the couch typing away.  He's now trying to nudge his way under my arm.  He does the same thing while I'm sitting on the couch practicing.  I will post a picture soon of the feline beast, named Joey, who thinks he's far more important than the ukulele.