Mail Call

I just got my "Play Ukulele By Ear" DVD from Jim D'Ville in the mail
this afternoon. I've really been looking foreward to watching what Jim
has to offer so I can start passing this information along to my 5th
grade uke club kids.
I kept thinking about ordering Jim's lessons, but kept putting it off.
After following all his success in Australia I knew it was time to
order. However, after being contacted by Jim in regards to his fall
tour of the North-East, Jim sent me a complimentary DVD to get the
ball rolling - what a great guy.
I'll be posting more about my attempts to use Jim's method with my 5th
graders.

You in Shadows (ukulele song)

Just another song I wrote and recorded at the end of the school day.

Conquest of 50 (a uke Odyssey)

About five days ago Terry Hardy signed up on Twitter as 50StateUke, and I thought that is seemed like an interesting moniker. So, I followed his tweets and told him I thought the idea of playing ukulele in all 50 states was an ambitious one; because I was having trouble just playing my ukulele at home. He contacted me to clarify and share the broader scope of, what already seemed to be a monumental task.

Terry Hardy:

My plan is actually a little more complicated than I can state in 140 characters.  I am planning on learning every state song (or at least one - some states have more than one) and play them on ukulele at each state capitol. I researched the songs, and have transcribed them for uke.  I have played so far in Phoenix and Honolulu...only 48 more to go :)  I am going to do it in pieces, with multiple road trips.  Some trips will be this year here in the west (I live in Denver). I have pictures to document it, and have some video from Hawaii (I plan to video each one).  A web site will be forthcoming with me playing these songs once I learn them, and documentation as it comes along. I hope to play on my Pono concert uke (for work I take my Risa travel uke).
Anyway, that is the crazy plan.

Whoa! The word ambitious just doesn't seem to apply well to Terry's monumental plan. If you're on Twitter, I would suggest signing up to follow 50StatesUke, and become part of the Corps of Discovery in state songs on the uke.

Good luck and Godspeed Terry!

Doing wonderful things for people.
Check out: http://terryhardymusic.com/

StarGirl

So, I did it. I wrote one song for FAWM. I had high hopes that I would come up with fourteen songs, but like so many things, life got in the way. The best part is that life is good, and I really wouldn't want to change a thing. And this diversion of blogging about the coolest little instrument - one that brings happiness to anyone  - is helping me keep track of some of the nicest people...

Liner Notes to StarGirl:

I am running out of time and I feel it…
I tried to write some lyrics a couple weeks back thinking I was smart to get the poetic lines down first. But little did I know, I don't make songs that way. All the other songs I have written were created simultaneously with the chords that gave rise to the words. Nothing seemed to mesh.

So, I wrote "StarGirl" in a big rush this afternoon because I was getting frantic about seeing February slip by with nothing to show for it.

• At about 2:10 today I thought to myself – I have to get one song together.
• I stopped and talked with some other teachers, nervously waiting until the end of the school day at 3:00.

Then... the start:

• 3:00 - I sit at my desk and make sure my uke is tuned - I start strumming some chords and realize I have to wait.
• At 3:15 every day the blowers on the heater in my classroom turn off automatically, so I know I the recording will be really bad if I don't wait.
• So, at this point I know I want to write a song about my wife, and I know it's going to be called "StarGirl" – that's all I got.
• The blowers shut down and the quiet sounds strange: I record a couple takes with Audacity and my Samson mic and feel a sinking feeling as nothing worthwhile is being created – sadness.
• It's now 3:30 and I know I have to pick up my son at the sitter by 4:00.
• A fellow teacher stops in and talks to me for ten minutes.

Now it is 3:40.

• Frantic, I try and remember the song I was working on before the interruption.
• 3:50 - something seems to be working, probably hoping more than believing – I try again.
• 3:55 - I have a song that I might want my wife to hear.
• 4:00 - convert to mp3 and upload to box.net and run for the door.

I'm 15 minutes late to the sitter, but have one song.

Amass

It is very hard to not collect ukuleles; I have only three - one was a

gift from a student, the other I traded for a dinghy, and another was

a gift from my wonderful wife. But, I guess in furthering my

collection it might come down to disposable income; something I never

had the pleasure to worry about. And then looking at the line-up of

ukuleles in the picture above it just makes me want to take them all

home, but then... I don't get to practice that much. so for now I'll dream of

conspicuous consumption and more hours in a day.

Photo by Elisabethp Flickr

L.M.'s Koa

My sister-in-law is having a replica of the Martin 3K made for her by a
friend who builds guitars - for the most part. This is a picture of
the uke in the process of having the finish applied. I'll have more
pictures soon, I hope.
I started this ukulele blog as a way of watching my children play
while I type out uke stuff on my iPhone. I'm replacing my ukulele
playing with just writing about the ukulele. Maybe people out there
can kind-of understand how hard it is to play the ukulele when your
kids don't really want to hear it. They're too young to have any
interest in it yet. So, in these in-between-days I'll just surf around
and live vicariously through other people's ukulele exploits. The live-
feed of ukulele blogs on the left side of this blog is a testiment, I
think, to the growth of the uke; I'll just keep adding my "two cents"
because it is a wonderful diversion - a way to practice writing and
stay in touch.
I wish all the best to anyone who takes an interest in the ukulele
because, really it just adds joy to the world.

My Vote

Every time I visit Jim's web page I can't seem to get over the
fantastic banner art. This really sets the tone for the page - just a
timeless classic image for the ukulele instructor of today. And, all
the best to Jim while in Australia.

In Art

 
Shelley Rickey chose one of the most famous ships in the history of music to adorn this Bruko Archback Ukulele No.4 made in Germany. She, along with artist Quin de Vrede, Marc Kolle, Rene Verberne, Guido de Groot, Johan Xtra, Daniel van Nes, have created a new on-line shop The Jumping Flea Market to bring their unique brand of "outsider art" to the public.

Shelley comments on her art:

Artist?...I don't know. People that call themselves an 'Artist' usually give me the creeps. But, I am a graphic designer & I create stuff, all kinds of stuff. I'm crazy about taking something 'worthless' and turning it into something 'priceless'. I'm also crazy about the Ukulele and try to introduce as many people as possible to this wonderful instrument. Turn off your TV and play Ukulele!

Shelley's response to how she started playing ukulele:

My mom played. Still does, once in a Blue Moon. She was a singer in Biloxi, Mississippi during the 60's. "Miss Tonda Kae". It was during the folk revival, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez....

She played a Favilla Baritone (still has two of them) and there were always a couple of Harmony ukes at home.

I'm guessing mom was teaching me chords as soon as i could hold it. But growing up i was mostly interested in using it to accompanying my singing. Didn't give the uke much thought in particular. 

I continued with music in school, sang in a choir with 72 voices, madrigal group with 16, and a girls barbershop quartet (bass!) Also played the flute for 7 years. Had many musical adventures in between - and then about 6 years ago...i picked the uke back up.

It has brought so much joy to my life.
Through the uke i've met so many incredible people, traveled to amazing places... It's been incredibly inspiring.

Shelley's always captivating ukulele blog: Selley Rickey 

Shelley and her team of artist reside in Rotterdam, The Netherlands