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How do all? Me again, failed to upload last time.
Still strumming 12th Street Rag.
Great tune, lotta fun to learn.Terry
I apologize in advance for this gargantuan post! Please enjoy! I thought of creating a separate thread for the “snow” topic because as a Midwesterner in particular, talking about snow and frosty weather is one of our favorite pastimes. 😂😂 But I replied to a few of the entries after my rambling about that (and I just made it worse with this prelude. Why am I this way?). I’ve gotten in trouble at my jobs over the years for talking too much, not even kidding, but no one is surprised by that…
@leb397 Thank you for your kind words. Yes I’ve seen the weather across the country and you are getting battered. Where we are there are a lot from WI, MN and MI. I always wonder if anyone is left home because it is filled with the white haired snowbird brigade. 😁 I can certainly relate to the tuna tundra (ha) When I did our January challenge the weather was so gloomy. I kinda wrote a song I’ll post some day, … maybe. but I knew the brighter days were ahead with our annual migration. 🦅🚗🌞. The feeling of being trapped with a box of almost empty box cereal, piece of bread and maybe some dated milk…. 😩 Well we all have RC101 !!!!
Great entries. I could have practiced a bit more to smooth parts but wasn’t sure about internet and ability to record all the time. ThanksThat was a very crazy week of weather! We basically had a blizzard, around a foot of snow, then the temperatures plummeted to the single digits and one day was -30F with windchill. Hooray! Well, part of me enjoys the cold and the snow, but the lack of sunlight takes its toll after a while and I struggle a lot with that, already being predisposed to … my brain not wanting to work. I think I actually was technically frozen for a week or two. 😂 I am starting to feel better now. Sometimes your soul can also be start to freeze and you don’t realize it at first. Hahaha! Yes, a lot of people from the Midwest migrate to Florida and warmer areas. I’ve heard of that a lot. I enjoy the cold and the snow, but that day was pretty rough; thankfully, I did have food, so that was good! The crazy thing is, today it was in the 50’s and felt so warm and beautiful, but not HOT. That’s the thing I really dislike (though I know I’m a freak and most people love that crud! 😂). That’s how I am with recording, too. Once I start, I just go with what the result is that day because it’s hard to know if you’ll get another chance. I still to this day get anxious about it, but I definitely have come a long way with it. Please share your song if you are up for it, I, and I’m sure others, would love to hear it!! 🥰
@grannieannie Are you still frozen in? We beat our record of being snowbound this year, going twelve days without being able to get down our driveway. Our area doesn’t get that many snowfalls a season, so it’s hopelessly ill-prepared to handle one when it happens. And our road is last on the priority grid, so by the time they get to us, the road is a solid sheet of ice (winding down a hill, with a lake at the bottom).
No, I am thawed out now! 😂 Oh my word, that is crazy! 12 days is insane to be snowbound. Oh my yes, in the Midwest, it’s a joke when you see a steep driveway and say, “that’d be horrible in the winter!” You have to think that way. But in areas like yours (though I’m not sure where you are – I know how that goes), it can be very, very dangerous when a lot of unexpected snow/ ice happens. I hope you also had power and supplies that you needed. It seems like you are finally free now, since you escaped to the liberry? You’re so brave to do that, to record there. 😂
Speaking of that, your entry of Blue Skies was so very pretty! I agree with @Andrew ‘s assessment of it. Such a sweet sound. Even though you weren’t intentionally adding dynamics, the beautiful feeling still came across. Adding dynamics is tricky. It’s my favorite thing about playing music, though, when you can start conveying how the music makes you feel. I hope that makes sense. Very beautifully played, though! 😊
Okay, and now some other replies:
@misterbones, that tune sounded even more magical on the banjolele! Really it’s perfect for that! Perfectly played, as yewsh (usual)! 😊
@katazumiri, also so magical! A very different and cool take on that one! I agree that it definitely seems like it could be played at a variety show / circus! Perfect! 🥰
@lhamilton, very beautifully played on that one, too! That sounded perfect to me! 😊 It’s really hard when you start feeling nervous, though, to push through that. I understand that for sure. Still, beautifully played!
@keeevo, also a very beautiful take! Very soft and smooth performance!
@brettboy, your performances are always so magical and fun to watch! To me it seems like you have total control over your playing, which is pretty amazing (since I definitely don’t always feel like I have that). I like how your uke flew away at the end! 😂 Beautifully played! 😊
@terryfallon3, really great work! That song, for me, I consider actually impossible to play (again, for me), and you did an amazing job with it! Love how it sounds! 😊Sorry that I didn’t get to reply to everyone, but this is already a megapost! I loved listening to all of them and, as always, amazing work by all! 🥰
Oh my gosh, one more thing. I did try to re-record my take on Aura Lee. I think overall I smoothed it out / sped it up, but I did keep forgetting a few little things and there were a few pauses there, but here it be! I used my favorite image from a previous video here for the thumbnail. 😂😂
(Again, so sorry this is so long, I am the worst… 😂)
Well, I was able to escape the crazy weather in Buffalo for a few days, but will have to return on Friday…….because of travel, I haven’t had a lot of time to practice…..also, I worked on 12th Street Rag which I wanted to play on the banjolee, but was not able to bring it with me…..I used my daughter’s high-G uke….which worked well. I think it is a little easier to play on the regular uke because the strings feel looser…..but I think this style lends itself to the banjolee. I was really excited to continue practicing the techniques from the Beyond the Island Strum course…….which I did revisit as I practiced this piece…..Thanks Rockclass101.
I have been enjoying listening to everyone’s submission….and hearing about all the crazy weather experiences……it’s been quite a winter! Being snowed in is a good excuse to practice!
@The_Bumble_Bard …….cool sound….your Aura Lee is haunting…..especially with the image of a cat and dog? Fighting?🙀
@kittycatlin – Bravo, Cat! The only thing I’d suggest is letting that last chord ring out until it naturally fades before cutting the recording. Other than that, it was a perfect performance!
P.S. They used to drill this into us in music college. Almost everyone would hit the last chord and stop. The ending is just as important as the rest of the piece 🙂
@leslieb – Very beautifully played, Leslie, and thank you for the kind words! I’m hearing a few small hesitations in some of the transitions, like in the opening double-stop bar. For that section, try looping the first two bars in the tab player and playing along with Matt to smooth out those transitions.
@terryfallon3 – That was awesome Terry! I can tell you worked hard on this one and it shows! I have a few suggestions. For the opening section, the basic down and up strumming part, try using a claw-like shape for your right hand. I believe that’s what Chris uses, and I think it’ll give you more accuracy, especially with hitting those melody notes that fall across the A string.Your 8th note triplet strum technique is awesome! Great work there! For the quarter note triplet strum, jump into this lesson from our Strumming Techniques Course. Chris covers the rhythm and mechanics in it. Quarter note triplets are tricky rhythms because it’s three hits split evenly over half the bar.
Nice work on the split stroke too! The last thing I’d suggest is to keep working on staying steady throughout, but focus on one section at a time for now.
@The_Bumble_Bard – I think it came out great Rachael! Very creative and a pleasure to listen to 🙂
@dianna – Way to go, Dianna! That was awesome! First thing I have to say is very impressive work on the timing throughout! I do have a few suggestions. I notice your wrist looks like it has a little bit of tension as you strum. Try to keep it as loose and relaxed as possible. I think doing that will help increase your accuracy too.Try working on the first section, just the down and up strumming, but go slow and focus on keeping your right hand relaxed. Listen out for that melody line on the A string. Try to get it to ring out as clear and clean as possible.
Split stroke, fan strum and triplet strum sounded great! Nice work on those techniques!
@Andrew – Thank you for the feedback Andrew! I appreciate the detailed response, and I will definitely be incorporating that exercise that you linked into my practice!
@Andrew, Thank-you for the critique…..this is definitely a work in progress…..I am enjoying the challenge….I am also enjoying working out of a “Course” and sticking to a particular genre focusing on the same techniques which will hopefully improve my ability to play them.
You nailed it with the wrist…it is tight, but I find in general, my entire body tightens the second I hit the record button….I don’t feel nervous, and I am very aware it happens….I do little breathing exercises…..it just occurred to me,while writing this (maybe an aha moment!)that the tension may all start in the wrist causing tension thru out the body….something to work on…
One more thing, I have noticed that during the split stroke, using the technique of thumb to index finger…I am hitting the body of the uke…this may also be an effect of the tightness in the wrist….
Thanks so much for taking the time ….I will work on relaxing my wrist….
@Andrew, thank you so much! Your support and encouragement means so much to me. And all the inspiration I’ve found through the things you create and in this community. It’s been one of the most special things as far as my creative ventures in my life to know and learn from everyone here. 😊🥰
@lhamilton, that makes perf sense! I know that Canada gets hit pretty hard with snow, too, of course! It’s just up Nort’ you can expect a winter wonderland all the way into May sometimes! 😂🌨️❄️
@dianna, thank you so much, my friend! 😊🥰 Haha!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s actually two cats. That image came from a different video I created for these challenges a while ago. I’ll have to find it. It was the Friends theme, but about cats. 😅😅😂 Very annoyingly, your video wouldn’t load for me so I’ll have to listen to it later!! I’m sure it’s amazing! 😂🥺❤️Hi!
I chose “Blue Skies” by Matt Dahlberg for this months challenge, and a challenge it was and still is. It is such a beautiful piece and I love playing it. I wish I could have played it at original speed though but that will come, my fingers are hurting 😄 I’ll keep practicing. There islots of room for improvement so feel welcome to comment with your tips ❤️
It’s quite easy for me to learn and memorize a new piece but I struggle to play the whole piece at once without making mistakes, I can get so frustrated with myself sometimes. Well, it’s done so.. Great entries by everyone so far!I am a premium member
@mickan88 – You played it so beautifully! I don’t have any critics. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working! 🙂
@brettboy Bravo. excellent rendition. I like how clean and rhythmic your playing is. Marcy Marxer is known for having studied with Roy Smeck. Peace.
Hello all, for this challenge I chose the fingerpicking song (with some strumming) Magic Ukulele Waltz. This was really fun to learn and play. It has a catchy melody, and very lyrical B section. I attempted to add dynamics and some articulations to enhance (hopefully) the style and energy of the composition. Thank you Roy, Ukulazaza, and Andrew for the fun song and transcription!
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Hi All – I also worked on “Blue Skies” this month by Matt. What a gentle and relaxing arrangement. Like others, I also tried to give it a little rubato without being overkill. 😀
To all who worked on 12th Street Rag – Wow! I’ve added it to my “goal songs” list to learn down the road (one day). Very fun sounding!
-See you next month
Natalie
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