SuzukHammer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2010
- Messages
- 1,623
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I think MM stan asked me to summarize what I gleaned from James Hill during his beginners and intermediate workshop.
First off, a good instructor will spark your interest, no matter what the content and no matter if its from a video or a book or a CD. I like to hear the seeds of knowledge that an instuctor provides.
As such, James Hill feels the uke is still not tapped out on the potential. He seems to be constantly trying to find "the secrets still inside" and he seems to be always learning and chasing passions. He pretty says to explore the uke.
He thinks the Uke is a great tool to teach singing and harmonizing group songs.
He thinks jazz chords are easier than people think. He's all for jazzing up songs with jazz chords, rhythms, and tricks like "the scrub chords".
He has stong opinions about keeping the right hand in the same motion like an idling car engine. He states he uses the left hand to "squeeze out the music" while the right hand establishes a steady beat.
He taught the basics but it obviously seems that instructors - face to face, personal instructors can help out. Basically, he pointed out that tabs and music sheets LOOK hard but he showed he could teach a song structure in 5 minutes. So, it seems those instruction videos on youtube obviously will have a means to get things rolling vs. reading sheet music.
Basically, play with the melody, harmony, and rhythm. Nothing is cast in stone. play and sing.
ahhhh yes, sing. He gave an example of capturing the soul of the song. DOn't just play the notes, imagine why the song was made and caption the original emotion of the song and sing it like that.
Sure, there were lots more and I could talk about what music theory he spoke about but, that is the gist.
He said obsession and practice perseverence will yield rewards.
practice until it becomes second nature.
First off, a good instructor will spark your interest, no matter what the content and no matter if its from a video or a book or a CD. I like to hear the seeds of knowledge that an instuctor provides.
As such, James Hill feels the uke is still not tapped out on the potential. He seems to be constantly trying to find "the secrets still inside" and he seems to be always learning and chasing passions. He pretty says to explore the uke.
He thinks the Uke is a great tool to teach singing and harmonizing group songs.
He thinks jazz chords are easier than people think. He's all for jazzing up songs with jazz chords, rhythms, and tricks like "the scrub chords".
He has stong opinions about keeping the right hand in the same motion like an idling car engine. He states he uses the left hand to "squeeze out the music" while the right hand establishes a steady beat.
He taught the basics but it obviously seems that instructors - face to face, personal instructors can help out. Basically, he pointed out that tabs and music sheets LOOK hard but he showed he could teach a song structure in 5 minutes. So, it seems those instruction videos on youtube obviously will have a means to get things rolling vs. reading sheet music.
Basically, play with the melody, harmony, and rhythm. Nothing is cast in stone. play and sing.
ahhhh yes, sing. He gave an example of capturing the soul of the song. DOn't just play the notes, imagine why the song was made and caption the original emotion of the song and sing it like that.
Sure, there were lots more and I could talk about what music theory he spoke about but, that is the gist.
He said obsession and practice perseverence will yield rewards.
practice until it becomes second nature.
