WOW! What a night!
First, I would like to thank Joey and the Pacific Arts Studio, for hosting
this grand event! Y'all put a lot of time, money and effort into making this a
perfect setting for the instruction and entertainment.
Next, my thanks go out to Aldrine, Rayan, Aaron and the entire Ukulele
Underground team. Your love of music, teaching, entertaining AND the
UKULELE has been seen and felt by all attending. It's gotta' be a labor of
love, 'cause it ain't the money!
I paid and stayed for both the beginner and intermediate/advanced
classes. At only $15 bucks per class, I know for a fact that I got the better
part of that deal. I had to leave, just before the mini-concert, to pick up my
wife from work. Who ended up winning that beautiful uke? If any of y'all
ever get an opportunity to attend a Ukulele Underground session, it will be
the best Uke money you ever spent.
Gotta' see the Almost Islanders, tonight!
Many here are anxious to know what was on the "menu" for the
workshop. Here it is:
Beginners
1. It started out Aldrine Guerrero giving background on himself and the
band
2. History , tuning and descriptions of various ukulele sizes
3. Strumming, strumming patterns, wrist and finger technique, and
"The Chunk". Many strum patterns were practiced and examples of
their use in popular music were demonstrated
4. We learned Wipeout, with several chord variations, along with the
strum patterns and the lead. The room was divided into two sections
where each side played rythym, while the other side played lead. We
were taught how to read "Tab"
5. We closed with thanks from the Ukulele Underground, for attending
(AND we thanked them!), along with some info on navigating the
Ukulele Underground website. Then questions and answers were
filmed for "Uke Got Mail!".
Intermediate and Advanced
1. It started out Aldrine Guerrero giving background on himself and the
band
2. Strings were discussed, in depth. Brands, experimentation, tension
and changing
3. How to change tone, by attacks, nails, picks and volume, with
demos of popular tunes
4. How to "Phrase" the ukulele, with demos of popular tunes
5. Advanced strumming techniques, involving finger rolls, triplets and
rythym patterns
6. The muted octave strum and how to mobilize it across the scale
7. We learned "Let's Get it On", with chords, scales and
improvisation
8. We closed with thanks from the Ukulele Underground, for attending
(AND we thanked them!), along with some info on navigating the
Ukulele Underground website. Then questions and answers were
filmed for "Uke Got Mail!".
I will upload some photos in groups of 4, later. Off to see Almost Islanders
and the Ukulele Underground at Mo's Island Grinds, tonight! Ric
http://www.mosislandgrinds.com
9823 Carroll Canyon Road
San Diego California 92131
(858)271-8268
Sweet Tunes n' Grubbin'!
I'll arrive there at about 6. maybe I can help with the labor. Ric