The Thin White Ukes
The Thin White Ukes are all about the fine art of musical arrangement and the power of inclusion. Hey, that’s just how Mr Bowie would have wanted it. This year they will run three workshops, each covering a different Bowie song. No matter which workshop you choose, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, you will play a vital part in the all-in glam slam finale (so you might as well choose all of them, right?) A guaranteed feel-good freak out for strummers, fingerpickers and shredders of all ages. Let ALL the children boogie!
Glam Slam: Rebel Rebel (all levels)
Originally written for an aborted Ziggy Stardust musical in 1973 (wouldn't we like to see that!) and released in 1974 as a single from the album Diamond Dogs, Rebel Rebel is cited as Bowie's most-covered track. It has been described as being effectively Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement that he had helped pioneer, as well as being proto-punk.
Glam Slam: Suffragette City (all levels)
Recorded on 4 February 1972, towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust sessions, Suffragette City features a piano riff heavily influenced by Little Richard, a lyrical reference to the book and film A Clockwork Orange (the word "droogie," meaning "friend") and the sing-along hook "Wham bam thank you ma'am!"
Glam Slam: The Jean Genie (all levels)
Released as a single in November 1972, according to Bowie, it was "a smorgasbord of imagined Americana", with a protagonist inspired by Iggy Pop, and the title an allusion to author Jean Genet. One of Bowie's most famous tracks, it was the lead single for the album Aladdin Sane (1973).
Glam Slam: Rebel Rebel (all levels)
Originally written for an aborted Ziggy Stardust musical in 1973 (wouldn't we like to see that!) and released in 1974 as a single from the album Diamond Dogs, Rebel Rebel is cited as Bowie's most-covered track. It has been described as being effectively Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement that he had helped pioneer, as well as being proto-punk.
Glam Slam: Suffragette City (all levels)
Recorded on 4 February 1972, towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust sessions, Suffragette City features a piano riff heavily influenced by Little Richard, a lyrical reference to the book and film A Clockwork Orange (the word "droogie," meaning "friend") and the sing-along hook "Wham bam thank you ma'am!"
Glam Slam: The Jean Genie (all levels)
Released as a single in November 1972, according to Bowie, it was "a smorgasbord of imagined Americana", with a protagonist inspired by Iggy Pop, and the title an allusion to author Jean Genet. One of Bowie's most famous tracks, it was the lead single for the album Aladdin Sane (1973).
A. J. Leonard and Jenny Rowlands
The Gospel According to Uke (all levels)
A holistic look at the ukulele encompassing rhythm and listening, left hand exercises for muscle memory, fun with simple tabs, basic strumming and picking patterns, oh and a little dash of chord theory. The idea behind this workshop is to build a solid foundation for future practice and playing.
Ukulele Heaven (intermediate)
Learning to play this uke anthem is a must for any player. It will keep you busy with diverse left hand chord changes as well as some classic strumming patterns. This song is grounded in the ukulele heyday era and is a wonderful sing-along.
The Four Seasons (all levels)
Come and be part of a chamberlele ensemble where a little bit of classical music goes a long way. Vivaldi’s most well known composition was written for strings and harpsichord, the instruments of his day but now we can bring it into the 21st century on the jumping flea.
A holistic look at the ukulele encompassing rhythm and listening, left hand exercises for muscle memory, fun with simple tabs, basic strumming and picking patterns, oh and a little dash of chord theory. The idea behind this workshop is to build a solid foundation for future practice and playing.
Ukulele Heaven (intermediate)
Learning to play this uke anthem is a must for any player. It will keep you busy with diverse left hand chord changes as well as some classic strumming patterns. This song is grounded in the ukulele heyday era and is a wonderful sing-along.
The Four Seasons (all levels)
Come and be part of a chamberlele ensemble where a little bit of classical music goes a long way. Vivaldi’s most well known composition was written for strings and harpsichord, the instruments of his day but now we can bring it into the 21st century on the jumping flea.
Richard 'G' Gibson
Ska’d for Life (intermediate+)
Explore ska, rocksteady and reggae, the alluring beats of Jamaica (and beyond)
Best for advanced beginner and intermediate. Chords will be straightforward and the workshop will focus on strumming techniques.
Passing on the Craft (all levels)
Every uker will teach someone else to play. This workshop will cover tips to get beginners up and away with the uke, and techniques to help make the new knowledge stick. This one is ideal for everyone and beginners will find some techniques that can help them to gain confidence.
Yep, the Cake’s Out in the Rain (intermediate+)
Join Richard to play the classic Macarthur Park, a Jimmy Webb pop symphony. Some experience is needed and this one is best for intermediate to advanced players.
Explore ska, rocksteady and reggae, the alluring beats of Jamaica (and beyond)
Best for advanced beginner and intermediate. Chords will be straightforward and the workshop will focus on strumming techniques.
Passing on the Craft (all levels)
Every uker will teach someone else to play. This workshop will cover tips to get beginners up and away with the uke, and techniques to help make the new knowledge stick. This one is ideal for everyone and beginners will find some techniques that can help them to gain confidence.
Yep, the Cake’s Out in the Rain (intermediate+)
Join Richard to play the classic Macarthur Park, a Jimmy Webb pop symphony. Some experience is needed and this one is best for intermediate to advanced players.
The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach (AKA Cathy Welsford and Angie Smith)
Strums and Picks for Scottish Songs - Angie (all levels)
This workshop offers an array of old and new classic Scottish songs, mostly old favourites, and provides full lyrics and chords and lovely melodies to sing. Participants have the opportunity to explore and apply some interesting strums and easy picks designed to augment the beauty of these Celtic treasures.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
Chord Melodies in Minor Keys - Cathy (intermediate+)
In a chord melody, the player picks the melody while simultaneously strumming the chords so that it sounds like two people are playing. It is not as difficult as it sounds especially if the song is well-chosen. We will work on two songs in minor keys, Greensleeves and Charlie is Me Darling. You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop.
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
Cotten Pickin’ Workshop - Angie (all levels)
This workshop teaches a rhythmic plucking technique suitable for many 4/4 time songs, especially folk songs. It involves using the hand and fingers to produce individual notes within chords, creating a pleasing acoustic accompaniment. Originally developed by American folk guitarist and banjo player, Elizabeth Cotten, the technique has been effectively adapted for ukulele. Participants are provided with several songs to practise this useful pick.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
Two Songs from Great Movies - Cathy (intermediate+)
We will learn to play the well-known melody of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. Participants may select from the easier or the slightly harder version that requires more fingers! We will play an arrangement of Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s using an easy picking pattern to accompany the song and then learn a short solo that can be played in the full arrangement. You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop. Any stray harmonica players are also very welcome to play the solo.
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
Two Gypsy Songs for Strummers - Angie (all levels)
This workshop explores the passion and drama of the Russian cabaret Gypsy song Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes) as well as the spirited Hungarian Dance No.5 collected by Béla Kéler, nurse to German composer Johann Brahms who then arranged the piece, and later translated by Rudolf Fischer. Participants can learn the full English lyrics, sing the melodies, play the chords and some interesting strums before joining with the melody pickers to present Ochi Chernye in concert on Sunday morning.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
A Gypsy Song for Melody Pickers - Cathy (intermediate+)
At the end of this workshop we will join with Angie’s group to play the full arrangement of the Russian cabaret Gypsy song, Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes). Our contribution will be to learn to play the melody, which starts slowly and builds in speed and intensity (but not too fast). You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop. Get those fingers ready and bring a pick just in case we decide to tremolo!
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
This workshop offers an array of old and new classic Scottish songs, mostly old favourites, and provides full lyrics and chords and lovely melodies to sing. Participants have the opportunity to explore and apply some interesting strums and easy picks designed to augment the beauty of these Celtic treasures.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
Chord Melodies in Minor Keys - Cathy (intermediate+)
In a chord melody, the player picks the melody while simultaneously strumming the chords so that it sounds like two people are playing. It is not as difficult as it sounds especially if the song is well-chosen. We will work on two songs in minor keys, Greensleeves and Charlie is Me Darling. You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop.
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
Cotten Pickin’ Workshop - Angie (all levels)
This workshop teaches a rhythmic plucking technique suitable for many 4/4 time songs, especially folk songs. It involves using the hand and fingers to produce individual notes within chords, creating a pleasing acoustic accompaniment. Originally developed by American folk guitarist and banjo player, Elizabeth Cotten, the technique has been effectively adapted for ukulele. Participants are provided with several songs to practise this useful pick.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
Two Songs from Great Movies - Cathy (intermediate+)
We will learn to play the well-known melody of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. Participants may select from the easier or the slightly harder version that requires more fingers! We will play an arrangement of Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s using an easy picking pattern to accompany the song and then learn a short solo that can be played in the full arrangement. You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop. Any stray harmonica players are also very welcome to play the solo.
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
Two Gypsy Songs for Strummers - Angie (all levels)
This workshop explores the passion and drama of the Russian cabaret Gypsy song Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes) as well as the spirited Hungarian Dance No.5 collected by Béla Kéler, nurse to German composer Johann Brahms who then arranged the piece, and later translated by Rudolf Fischer. Participants can learn the full English lyrics, sing the melodies, play the chords and some interesting strums before joining with the melody pickers to present Ochi Chernye in concert on Sunday morning.
Suitable for advanced beginners, intermediate and experienced players.
A Gypsy Song for Melody Pickers - Cathy (intermediate+)
At the end of this workshop we will join with Angie’s group to play the full arrangement of the Russian cabaret Gypsy song, Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes). Our contribution will be to learn to play the melody, which starts slowly and builds in speed and intensity (but not too fast). You will need to be able to read TAB or notation for this workshop. Get those fingers ready and bring a pick just in case we decide to tremolo!
Suitable for intermediate+ players who want to pick melodies.
Bob Haanstra
Adding TAB to Songs (intermediate+)
Are you comfortable with chords and strumming but would like to learn how to pick out the melody of a song on your uke? Or even just add some interesting flourishes to your playing? Aimed for anyone new to TAB, we’ll go through how to read TAB and what it can do to lift our songs to another level by adding intros, riffs and outros. We’ll look at a number of examples and add the extras, for example, “Mr Tambourine Man” with the intro from the Byrds version.
Stevie's Blues (intermediate+)
We’re going to have a crack at this Tommy Emmanuel piece that he dedicated to the then recently departed Stevie Ray Vaughan. As it’s a 12 Bar Blues, we’ll also take a look at how to improvise some solo playing with the blues scale. This workshop is intended for those who can already read tab and are ready for a challenge, bring a ‘low G’ strung uke if you have the option but this is definitely not essential.
Strumming Patterns 101 (basic)
Take your playing up a notch by learning some basic strumming patterns! This is the single biggest step you can make to make your playing sound more ‘professional’ and make you sound like you’re playing the song rather than learning it. Tried and tested on 25 years worth of students!
Are you comfortable with chords and strumming but would like to learn how to pick out the melody of a song on your uke? Or even just add some interesting flourishes to your playing? Aimed for anyone new to TAB, we’ll go through how to read TAB and what it can do to lift our songs to another level by adding intros, riffs and outros. We’ll look at a number of examples and add the extras, for example, “Mr Tambourine Man” with the intro from the Byrds version.
Stevie's Blues (intermediate+)
We’re going to have a crack at this Tommy Emmanuel piece that he dedicated to the then recently departed Stevie Ray Vaughan. As it’s a 12 Bar Blues, we’ll also take a look at how to improvise some solo playing with the blues scale. This workshop is intended for those who can already read tab and are ready for a challenge, bring a ‘low G’ strung uke if you have the option but this is definitely not essential.
Strumming Patterns 101 (basic)
Take your playing up a notch by learning some basic strumming patterns! This is the single biggest step you can make to make your playing sound more ‘professional’ and make you sound like you’re playing the song rather than learning it. Tried and tested on 25 years worth of students!
Leanne Murphy
Easy Sing and Strum (basic)
Joyous, soulful, heart-warming, uplifting and fun songs in 2-3 part harmony. Each song will incorporate well-known chords and utilise familiar strumming and picking patterns. Great for those looking to develop their harmony singing and group performance skills.
Intermediate Sing and Strum (intermediate)
Just as joyous, soulful, heart-warming, uplifting and fun songs in 2-4 part harmony. The chords and skill level will be slightly more challenging in this session, with a focus on interesting and dynamic performance arrangements.
Joyous, soulful, heart-warming, uplifting and fun songs in 2-3 part harmony. Each song will incorporate well-known chords and utilise familiar strumming and picking patterns. Great for those looking to develop their harmony singing and group performance skills.
Intermediate Sing and Strum (intermediate)
Just as joyous, soulful, heart-warming, uplifting and fun songs in 2-4 part harmony. The chords and skill level will be slightly more challenging in this session, with a focus on interesting and dynamic performance arrangements.
Chris Bodey
It's All About the Bass (all levels)
Do you have a bass ukulele? This workshop will cover constructing simple bass lines to fit any song and an introduction to the fretboard, 12 bar blues on the bass and movable bass lines. We'll also have some fun with roots and fifths - yee ha! You need to bring your own bass ukulele and an amp if it's electric.
Do you have a bass ukulele? This workshop will cover constructing simple bass lines to fit any song and an introduction to the fretboard, 12 bar blues on the bass and movable bass lines. We'll also have some fun with roots and fifths - yee ha! You need to bring your own bass ukulele and an amp if it's electric.
