Workshops:
Workshop Levels:
Level 1: Boogie Boarder (Beginner)
- newbie with a new ukulele
- know a few chords
- playing for a year or less
Level 2: Paddle Boarder (Intermediate)
- know a few strum patterns
- know major chords and more
- playing for a couple/few years
Level 3: Surfer (Advanced)
- can do Barre chords easily
- can fingerpick pretty well
- comfortable performing publicly
LIL' REV
Harmonica for the Complete Beginner
Join award-winning harmonica master Lil' Rev, for a great introductory class on harmonica. You'll learn single-notes, hand holding, lip position, simple folk songs, train sounds, major scales, blues riffs, chords, breath techniques, and more! Bring a key of C, 10-hole diatonic harmonica (Marine Band, Special 20, Lee Oskar, or other). Lil' Rev will have two dozen harmonicas for sale ($20 each), first-come, first-served at workshop.
Level 1: Boogie Boarder
The Triplet Stroke for Uke
Lil' Rev only offers this class once a year and this year, it's at MCUF! We'll explore four different triplet strokes, how to integrate them into your playing, song examples, and practice techniques to help you build stamina.
All Levels: Boogie Boarder, Paddle Boarder, Surfer
Old Time Mountain Ballad Repetoire for Uke
This class is a repertoire class for the aspiring lover of folk, bluegrass, old-timey songs and anyone who wants to learn some cool old songs. We'll study some classics like: Asheville Junction, Shady Grove, Walking Boss, Little Sadie, Sourwood Mountain, and many more.
All Levels: Boogie Boarder, Paddle Boarder, Surfer
10 Strums, 10 Styles
Learn 10 different strums that you're likely to encounter at many uke jams. We'll learn rock, country, bluegrass, calypso, reggae, irish, doo-wop, blues, swing, and many other important strum patterns, along with a slew of great song samples. This class is open to anyone who knows basic chords.
Level 2-3: Paddle Boarder, Surfer
DANI JOY
Wild World Fingerstyle
Looking for a song to obsess over to the point of OVER practicing? (Is there such a thing?)
Cat Steven’s song Wild World is just the thing. This upbeat song covers a wide range of the fretboard while never holding down all 4 strings at once. You’ll learn to blend chord and melody, play some partial chords, open voicings and a handy little scale walk down in the middle. Soon you’ll have another fun little song to add to your one-person band.
Level 2-3: Paddle Boarder, Surfer
Join the Paperless Jam
Would you rather play music by sight or by heart?
Music is an audible language and you were born with a set of skills that you may not have used in some time do to the bossy eyes. Get off the page and into the m usic in this fun and exhilarating class with Dani Joy.
Level 1-2: Boogie Boarder, Paddle Boarder
Numbers and letters in music, OH MY!
It’s ok Dorothy, Dani Joy will take your hand and lead you through the mysteries of the Nashville Number System (Do Re Mi…. 1 2 3…) Understanding how notes are grouped into scales with adjoining “scale degrees” or “numbers” will open up the world of music to you. Finally you can join the jam of “one four five” chord songs your friends are always talking about. With a little practice, you’ll soon be clicking your metaphorical heels and chanting “There’s no place like Do”!.
Level 1: Boogie Boarder
Strumming with DYnaMics!
Learn how to use the all-important skill of practicing dynamics with some right hand techniques to alter the volume control and attack of the strings. We will explore how to add hypnotizing accompaniment to soloists, spice things up by cruisin’ on the trebly side, bring it down with low, supportive tones & practice muting chords to add a pop!
Level 1: Boogie Boarder
PERRY STAUFFER
Tenor/Concrt/Soprano Ukulele: Straighten Up and Fly Right
Indulge in the timeless charm of Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right", a wonderfully educational tune that we've expertly arranged in a four-part ukulele orchestration (uke'stration).
In this class, you'll learn the chord progression, strumming patterns and vocals for "Straighten Up and Fly Right", and time permitting a few riffs to spice it up.
The parts taught in this class are designed to pair with the corresponding baritone ukulele class, but they also sound great on their own. Low-G is preferred but not a deal-breaker. Bass and Lead Ukulele TABs are provided on the side as a bonus to complete the uke'stration.
Level 2: Paddle Boarder
5 Classic Blues Riffs
In this class, I teach a one-chorus 12-bar blues solo that features 5 easy and reusable riffs, that can help the aspiring blues player to get started building their blues vocabulary.
Level 2: Paddle Boarder
Introduction to Jazz Manouche (Gypsy Jazz) - Baritone AND Regular Ukulele
Learn to jam gypsy jazz style! This music is both fun and perfect for the ukulele. First we'll learn the essential "La Pompe" strumming pattern combined with Manouche-style shell chords to capture the Manouche style of rhythm. Then, we'll learn how to use the harmonic minor scale to create Manouche melodies the way Django would have done it if he had played the uke. We will be using the harmonic minor scale to improvise, so be ready for fun!
Areas of Focus: Manouche strumming pattern(s), Shell voicings, Improvising with the harmonic minor scale
Level 2: Paddle Boarder
Bass 101 - The Basics
So you just got a bass and you don't know what to do. In this class, you will learn everything you need to know for your first jam session. You'll learn the major scale and the Roots and Fifths that go with it. Roots and fifths are the most common and most crucial bass-line building blocks. Once you learn these, you'll be able to follow a chord chart and play along with your ukulele friends.
All Levels: Boogie Boarder, Paddle Boarder, Surfer
UKULELE (GREG) GENT
Ukulele Essentials
Ok, so you've learned a few chords…maybe more. And you dream DDUUDU. You're MORE than a Beginner…you're a Player!! Greg Gent's Ukulele Essentials workshop covers adding essential ukulele skills to your ukulele toolkit. Think finger-picking is beyond you? Think again. Ever hear someone add that cool percussive sound to their strum? Greg will explain it, then you'll do it! Having trouble with tempo? Let's talk about all these things and more. Ukulele Essentials teaches techniques you can practice and provides useful knowledge to move you beyond the beginner level.
Level 1: Boogie Boarder
Right-Hand Essentials
In the ‘Ukulele Essentials’ class, we covered two basic right-hand techniques; chucking and Travis picking. In “Right-Hand Essentials”, we'll further our use of right-hand techniques with exciting and interesting additions to your ukulele sound. We'll discuss adding chucking to mare complex strums, introduce more complex picking patters, and skills, then put them to work on a few songs. You will leave with skills to practice, perfect, and improve your overall range of playing.
Level 2: Paddle Boarder
ART HOPKINS
STRUM-BELIEVABLE Workshop!
The UPS & DOWNS of Strumming! Brand new player or tired of the ol’ chunka-chunka? This workshop will examine the mechanics of strumming and explore how various strum styles can express many soundscapes. You will know how to apply them to your playing and get that strum hand working magic!
A fun day of basic strum instruction. What fingers to use, different strum patterns, and tips and tricks to give your strum hand a voice! GREAT FOR BEGINNERS!
Level 1: Boogie Boarder
Beginner Blues Workshop!
Intro to Blues Style Strums & Picking for Beginners
“I gots the I-Can’t-Play-the-Blues-Blues!!!” Sound like you? Fret no more, we got you covered in this beginner intro to finger-picking via the blues. Learn basic blues progressions then we will learn how to pick notes and create your own blues solos! NO PICKING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Guaranteed to smile those blues away!
You will know how to create your own blues songs and solos by the end of this fun-filled interactive workshop especially for the beginner!
All Levels: Boogie Boarder, Paddle Boarder, Surfer
Pocket Songs Workshop!
You are now the resident musician! As such, you must have at least 4-5 songs in your “pocket” ready to play anytime, anywhere at a mementos notice with no paper, no tablets! In this workshop we will put some of those songs in our pocket, and also look at ways to help memorize songs. What’s in our pocket?
(Happy Birthday, Oye Como Va)
Level 2-3: Paddle Boarder, Surfer
MELANIE CHING
Hula - Aloha O'e
You will learn the Hula to Aloha O'e and have the opportunity to dance on stage at the Saturday night concert to close the festival.
Hula - Aloha ke Akua
You will learn the Hula to Randy & Gay Hongo's “Aloha ke Akua”.
All levels