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Hi Rock Class 101 Community!
We’re back with a VERY SPECIAL site member challenge, #105, AND for the 8th year in a row, we’re teaming up with The Ukulele Kids Club. They’re an amazing charity that donates ukuleles to hospital-based children while pairing them up with a music therapist who teaches them to play!
Over the past 8 years, our community has raised more than $16,000 USD! Thanks to your generous support, we’ve donated 320 ukuleles to children in need. This year, we’re doing it again! Here’s how it works:
I will be donating $7 for each entry that comes in this month, up to $500. That means our participation goal for this month is 72 members.
I also want to go a step further and ask that if you have the means available, please make a donation. Any amount helps, but our community is LARGER and STRONGER than in previous years, and I believe we can help bring a smile to MANY MORE kids! Our donation goal for this year is to raise $2,000 USD for the charity! That’s enough to purchase 40 ukuleles at $50 each. If you make a donation, please let me know. When you submit your audio or video performance, please leave a note saying that you did. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, please email me.
You can donate directly on their site: https://theukc.org/donations/. This donation page supports U.S. hospitals. If you live in Canada, the U.K., Japan, Mexico, France, the Dominican Republic, or Taiwan, please contact them for further instructions on how to donate to a specific region: [email protected].
Here’s a short video that dives deeper into some of the great work The Ukulele Kids Club is doing 🙂
We’re teaming up with Kanile’a ‘Ukulele and Uke Republic to give away an INCREDIBLE Kanile’a 2025 Custom Made Ukulele! This tenor sized model is crafted with deluxe grade koa wood and retails for $2,250 USD.
I’m beyond humbled to share that over 5,000 members have now participated in our challenges! If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, now’s the perfect time to jump in! This month’s challenge is a fun way to stay motivated and a great opportunity to connect with fellow ukulele players who are passionate about learning and growing as musicians.
Please watch the video above and read the instructions below carefully for all the details on this month’s challenge.
Pick 1 from the following 6 RC101 Lessons:
1) “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” * – A simple take on this classic, playful Christmas duet.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
Note: If you choose this song, you MUST play and sing.
2) “Greensleeves” / “What Child Is This?” * – A timeless melody from the 16th century that has been lyrically adapted many times over, most notably with the Christmas carol, “What Child Is This?”.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
Note: This song requires Low G ukulele.
3) “Away in a Manger” * – A beautiful fingerstyle take on a classic Christmas carol.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
Note: This song can be played on Low or High G ukulele.
4) “Silver Bells” * – A beautiful fingerstyle take on a classic Christmas song.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
5) “Silent Night” (U-Bass) * – A beautiful take on a classic Christmas carol.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
Note: This lesson is for U-Bass.
6) “I Have a Little Dreidel” * – A Hanukkah classic, this tune features two melodies set to an upbeat tempo.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
** If you need assistance with how to record yourself, check out our FREE course on recording audio/video or email me, and I will be happy to help you out. **
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GOALS FOR MEMBER CHALLENGE:
1. Beginner Level: Be able to play one of the lessons smoothly and in time. Don’t worry about trying to play fast, slow and steady wins the race 🙂
Recommended Piece: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” OR “Greensleeves”
2. Intermediate to Advanced Level: Be able to play the lesson smoothly, in time, and at/or close to the original piece’s tempo.
Recommended Piece: “Away in a Manger” [INTERMEDIATE], “Silver Bells” [INTERMEDIATE], “Silent Night” (U-Bass) [ADVANCED], “I Have a Little Dreidel” [ADVANCED]
3. Participation Goal: 72 Rock Class 101 Member Participant Videos/MP3 posted.
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GROUND RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:
1. Post your Youtube, Vimeo, or Soundcloud links of you playing 1 of the 6 RC101 pieces anytime between Monday, December 1st till Saturday, December 20th, 11:59pm ET.
The upload feature on the site only supports photos. Members must host their own files. Creating an account is easy and free. Here are the links to create an account:
YouTube (For Video) – https://www.youtube.com/create_channel
SoundCloud (For Audio) – https://soundcloud.com/signin
2. Submit individually, as a reply, IN THIS POST.
3. Feel free to submit more than one video for the challenge, but additional videos will not count as extra entries into the raffle for the prize.
4. Have fun and don’t be intimidated by this challenge!!! Use this challenge to help you set goals and complete them by a deadline. You can also use this as an opportunity to chat with your fellow Rock Class 101 members and share tips or tricks on this challenge that you think are useful.
5. You must perform the entire piece to receive an entry into the prize raffle. Your performance must be submitted by the deadline listed (in #1) above to gain an entry in the raffle.
* Note: In my opinion, it is better to show progress versus perfection with these challenges. So if you are a beginner and can only play the first couple of measures. That is completely ok. If you play two more measures of the next challenge piece than you did the previous one, you are on track to getting better. This is what these challenges are about… you learning ukulele and getting better. Remember we are all here to support you no matter what your current playing level is.
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COMMON FAQs:
1) The prize and the challenge is open to the entire world!
2) Premium membership is NOT required to participate, but will make participation easier as it gains you complete access to the full video lessons, tabs, and the on-screen tab viewer.
3) Basic membership (free) is required to submit a reply on this forum post. You can sign up for Basic Membership HERE.
4) To post YouTube video links (in which they appear embedded on the forum), simply copy and past the video URL in its own line. For example:
YouTube URL
5) If you live in the Continental U.S., we will ship the giveaway ukulele to you for FREE! If you live outside of the Continental U.S., there will be a shipping fee ranging between $40 USD to $80 USD (as this ukulele is very expensive, shipping costs may exceed this amount. It will be shipped insured). This fee will be collected by Uke Republic. You are also responsible for any custom fees or duties.
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Giveaway Rules:
ALL ENTRIES SUBMITTED IN THE SPRING CHALLENGES (APRIL, MAY, JUNE) WILL COUNT TOWARDS THE FALL PRIZE. IN ADDITION TO THOSE ENTRIES, THERE WILL BE 3 CHANCES FOR YOU TO WIN THIS UKULELE.
FALL CHALLENGES:
First Chance: Participate in our October Challenge.
Second Chance: Participate in our November Challenge.
Third Chance: Participate in our December Challenge.
Basic (free) members will receive 1 entry for each month they participate in, while Premium members will receive 2 entries.
On Christmas Eve (December 24th at 12 PM ET), a video announcing the winner will premiere on our YouTube channel, picking 1 member by random drawing that will WIN this AMAZING Kanile’a Ukulele!
To qualify to win, you must submit your audio and/or video links of your playing by the deadline listed above.
Basic members can earn up to 6 entries for the prize.
Premium members can earn up to 12 entries for the prize.
You must have an “active” premium membership at the time you submit your performance. Active membership means that your membership HAS NOT expired. This does not mean that you cannot cancel auto re-bills. If you sign up for monthly membership (valid for 30 days) on the 15th of December and cancel your membership the same day, then submit your performance on the 16th (the next day), you are still considered an “active” premium member. The same concept applies for annual membership or gift card membership (3 or 6 month membership).
YOU MUST WRITE “I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER” ON YOUR PERFORMANCE SUBMITTAL POST. Please write this phrase in its own line. For example:
I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER
I will only award 2 entries to premium members that write this line. It would be too time consuming to check if everyone who submits is a premium member. If you do not write this, you WILL NOT receive 2 entries.
Grand Prize:
1) $2,250 Grand Prize! Includes:
A) 2025 Kanile’a Custom Tenor Model Ukulele (Includes: a premium padded case)
OUR 11 PREVIOUS KANILE’A WINNERS! WILL YOU BE NEXT?
LISTEN TO THIS SWEET UKE BEING PLAYED!
UKULELE SPECS
Tenor Body
Deluxe Grade Koa Top, Back, and Sides
Mahogany Neck
Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
D-Shaped Soundhole
Side Sound Port
Kanile’a Crown Headstock w/ Ebony Headplate
White Mother Of Pearl Logo and Position Markers
Open Geared Chrome TunerOther Features: Includes a premium Kanile’a padded case
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
Kanile’a: https://www.kanileaukulele.com/
Uke Republic: http://www.ukerepublic.com/
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU! Let’s crush this challenge!
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Notes for this Challenge:
This month, I’ll be taking a break from leaving feedback to focus on a website maintenance project.
Happy Holiday Season everyone. Exciting Andrew is having the fundraiser again. I will be participating. Look forward to all entries. Louisa
Hello guys this month I will be working on Baby it’s cold outside it’s my first song that I will be singing along ….it’s hard to sing while playing I just got the chord transitions right here is the progress till now….it’s a great stress buster while my final college exams are going on I am under lot of stress and anxiety right now …..
@malku2603 – Sounds amazing! You sing beautifully, I’m excited to hear the full song 🙂
@malku2603 – Bravo! Beautifully sang and played, Akansha! I’m gonna share your performance in our newsletter tomorrow 🙂
Thank you @andrew for your kind and inspiring words ✨️ feeling so excited 😊
Well played and sung, @malku2603 — and good luck with your finals!
Thank you for your kind words and wishes @grannieannie 🙏 😊
@malku2603 That was so wonderful. You have a beautiful voice.
hello @gi_gi_ thank you for your kind words …….I am feeling so happy but the day you say I play ukulele better than I sing that day I would be really really overjoyed…….😇😊😁
Here’s my attempt for Away in a Manger:
Such a peaceful tune to play during this winter season.
thank you for arranging this tune and teaching us!
Great job @cheun133! I’ve been hesitant to enter challenges because I’m not too comfortable on video, but you’re inspiring me to try SoundCloud!
And @malku2603 your video is great too!!
I’m putting this out into the universe: I will join this challenge this month. I’m working out whether I’d rather tackle signing and playing together with Baby, It’s Cold Outside, or try Away in a Manger.
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