Mark Jackson and Jane Jelbart
Ukulele Strumming and Picking Patterns (intermediate+)
The beauty of great ukulele playing is often found in the strumming (right) hand. In this workshop you will learn some simple but effective techniques to improve your right hand action (apologies to left handers, you are welcome too!). We'll learn some picking patterns (eg Travis Picking) and some strum actions such as the Triple strum and what we call the Islander strum. We might even venture into the world of claw hammer if you so desire. But get your strumming/picking hand ready for some new stuff!
The Building Blocks of Improvisation - A Pentatonic Love-in With My Girl and Sunshine of Your Love (all levels)
These two songs (by Smokey Robinson and Cream) are home base for starting (or building on) your improvisation journey on the uke. We learn the songs, but more importantly the riffs that drive them (p.s. they are scales). From here we have the basic tools to springboard into the basics of improvisation and learn some guidelines for how to create your own riffs. Fun and nostalgic, but also mighty empowering.
The Deni Ukestra (all levels)
Be a part of the Deni Ukestra where you'll learn contemporary songs arranged into parts for a ukulele orchestra. The essence of a ukestra is to include all levels of ability, to stealth-teach music, to create an entertaining sound and, of course, to have fun. All levels of players, from new to advanced, are welcome because there are parts for everyone! You can play simple riffs, take on a tricky part or find a simple strum pattern. Oh, and bring your vocal chords too! It's so much fun!
One Song Sing (combined performance for all festival attendees)
This is a pop-up choir for everybody! We will get the whole festival singing one song, in three part harmony, to make a fantastic singing experience. The One Song Sing is based on our monthly event in Newcastle, which in turn is based on the phenomenally successful Choir! Choir! Choir! from Toronto, Canada. With the help of festival friends, the One Song Sing will be filmed to show your friends and family. Who doesn't enjoy seeing themselves on video, particularly amongst a bunch of friends - because everyone loves singing with everyone else. No pressure, just great fun!
The beauty of great ukulele playing is often found in the strumming (right) hand. In this workshop you will learn some simple but effective techniques to improve your right hand action (apologies to left handers, you are welcome too!). We'll learn some picking patterns (eg Travis Picking) and some strum actions such as the Triple strum and what we call the Islander strum. We might even venture into the world of claw hammer if you so desire. But get your strumming/picking hand ready for some new stuff!
The Building Blocks of Improvisation - A Pentatonic Love-in With My Girl and Sunshine of Your Love (all levels)
These two songs (by Smokey Robinson and Cream) are home base for starting (or building on) your improvisation journey on the uke. We learn the songs, but more importantly the riffs that drive them (p.s. they are scales). From here we have the basic tools to springboard into the basics of improvisation and learn some guidelines for how to create your own riffs. Fun and nostalgic, but also mighty empowering.
The Deni Ukestra (all levels)
Be a part of the Deni Ukestra where you'll learn contemporary songs arranged into parts for a ukulele orchestra. The essence of a ukestra is to include all levels of ability, to stealth-teach music, to create an entertaining sound and, of course, to have fun. All levels of players, from new to advanced, are welcome because there are parts for everyone! You can play simple riffs, take on a tricky part or find a simple strum pattern. Oh, and bring your vocal chords too! It's so much fun!
One Song Sing (combined performance for all festival attendees)
This is a pop-up choir for everybody! We will get the whole festival singing one song, in three part harmony, to make a fantastic singing experience. The One Song Sing is based on our monthly event in Newcastle, which in turn is based on the phenomenally successful Choir! Choir! Choir! from Toronto, Canada. With the help of festival friends, the One Song Sing will be filmed to show your friends and family. Who doesn't enjoy seeing themselves on video, particularly amongst a bunch of friends - because everyone loves singing with everyone else. No pressure, just great fun!
Sam Lemann
Mañana (intermediate+)
Learn some of Sam’s favourite fancy (and moveable) chords and great dampened strums via Peggy Lee’s classic 1947 song. Chords and rhythms learnt will come in handy for all your cocktail music needs for years to come!
Hawaiian Songs and Strums (all levels)
Learn a selection of Hawaiian songs and some of the great strums used in traditional Hawaiian music. Sam will also show you some of the other tricks he picked up over his many visits to Hawaii.
Melody Playing (intermediate+)
Learn how to turn a single note melody into a complete solo arrangement by adding strums, picking patterns, chords or a combination of each. Sam will show you in detail the techniques best suited to particular types of melodies including jazz style chord melody and Kimo Hussey's triplet melody accompaniment technique.
Learn some of Sam’s favourite fancy (and moveable) chords and great dampened strums via Peggy Lee’s classic 1947 song. Chords and rhythms learnt will come in handy for all your cocktail music needs for years to come!
Hawaiian Songs and Strums (all levels)
Learn a selection of Hawaiian songs and some of the great strums used in traditional Hawaiian music. Sam will also show you some of the other tricks he picked up over his many visits to Hawaii.
Melody Playing (intermediate+)
Learn how to turn a single note melody into a complete solo arrangement by adding strums, picking patterns, chords or a combination of each. Sam will show you in detail the techniques best suited to particular types of melodies including jazz style chord melody and Kimo Hussey's triplet melody accompaniment technique.
Sarah Carroll
Songwriting - Sad Song (all levels)
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to compose a ballad. Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
Songwriting - Happy Song (all levels)
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to compose a song of joy! Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
Songwriting - Protest Song (all levels)
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to channel our rage into a song of protest. Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to compose a ballad. Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
Songwriting - Happy Song (all levels)
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to compose a song of joy! Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
Songwriting - Protest Song (all levels)
We are going to use chords, tempo and time signature to channel our rage into a song of protest. Bring your stories and ideas to share. This workshop open to all abilities. Bring ukes, tuners, pen and paper, as well as recording devices so you can keep what we write forever!
Leanne Murphy
Picking Ensemble (all levels)
With parts to suit basic through to more advanced TAB reading and picking skills, this fun session will feature arrangements in 2-9 parts! Fully arranged sheet music will be provided and also includes access to play-along recordings for home practice.
Easy Sing and Strum (basic)
A range of uplifting, soulful and fun songs in 2-3 part harmony. Each song will incorporate 2-4 well-known chords and utilise familiar strumming and picking patterns. Great for those looking to develop their harmony singing and group performance skills. Includes access to play-along recordings for home practice.
Intermediate Sing and Strum (intermediate)
More uplifting, soulful and fun songs featuring interesting and slightly more challenging uke accompaniment techniques and 2-4 part harmony. There will be a focus on interesting and dynamic performance arrangements and also access to play-along recordings for home practice.
With parts to suit basic through to more advanced TAB reading and picking skills, this fun session will feature arrangements in 2-9 parts! Fully arranged sheet music will be provided and also includes access to play-along recordings for home practice.
Easy Sing and Strum (basic)
A range of uplifting, soulful and fun songs in 2-3 part harmony. Each song will incorporate 2-4 well-known chords and utilise familiar strumming and picking patterns. Great for those looking to develop their harmony singing and group performance skills. Includes access to play-along recordings for home practice.
Intermediate Sing and Strum (intermediate)
More uplifting, soulful and fun songs featuring interesting and slightly more challenging uke accompaniment techniques and 2-4 part harmony. There will be a focus on interesting and dynamic performance arrangements and also access to play-along recordings for home practice.
Bob Haanstra
TAB 101 (all levels)
An introduction to reading tablature with a bunch of simple examples that will open the door to a whole new world. If simple strumming alone isn't doing it for you, here's how to expand your horizons to all types of music. Bold claims maybe, but put me to the test!
Blues Vamps (intermediate)
No, we're not talking about those sultry ladies of song, but some easy shuffles to make your blues and rock songs sound a whole lot more interesting! We'll learn some simple songs that will benefit greatly from these little additions. Suitable for most players - you'll just need to know basic chords like A, C, D, F and G.
Strumming Patterns 101 (basic)
Take your playing up a notch by learning some basic strumming patterns! This is the single biggest step to making 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! If you've done this workshop in the past but still haven't quite got it, we'll be using all new examples this time so you'll come away with some new songs too. Basic chord knowledge is all you'll need.
An introduction to reading tablature with a bunch of simple examples that will open the door to a whole new world. If simple strumming alone isn't doing it for you, here's how to expand your horizons to all types of music. Bold claims maybe, but put me to the test!
Blues Vamps (intermediate)
No, we're not talking about those sultry ladies of song, but some easy shuffles to make your blues and rock songs sound a whole lot more interesting! We'll learn some simple songs that will benefit greatly from these little additions. Suitable for most players - you'll just need to know basic chords like A, C, D, F and G.
Strumming Patterns 101 (basic)
Take your playing up a notch by learning some basic strumming patterns! This is the single biggest step to making 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! If you've done this workshop in the past but still haven't quite got it, we'll be using all new examples this time so you'll come away with some new songs too. Basic chord knowledge is all you'll need.
Patrick Evans
Arranging Songs for Ukulele (intermediate+)
Have you ever had trouble translating a song written and arranged for guitar into the ukulele world? As a songwriter who writes primarily on guitar I know this can be an issue, but there are some simple principles that you can apply. I will share my methods for making this happen.
Have you ever had trouble translating a song written and arranged for guitar into the ukulele world? As a songwriter who writes primarily on guitar I know this can be an issue, but there are some simple principles that you can apply. I will share my methods for making this happen.
Chris Bodey
Ukulele for Beginners (novice)
This workshop is specifically designed for those who are new to the joys of playing the ukulele. We will cover commonly used, easy to play chords and some tunes to sing along with. This will be a great way to build confidence and a solid introduction leading into Leanne Murphy's "Easy Sing and Strum" workshop in the afternoon.
It's All About the Bass (basic)
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.
This workshop is specifically designed for those who are new to the joys of playing the ukulele. We will cover commonly used, easy to play chords and some tunes to sing along with. This will be a great way to build confidence and a solid introduction leading into Leanne Murphy's "Easy Sing and Strum" workshop in the afternoon.
It's All About the Bass (basic)
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.
