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Hi Rock Class 101 Community!
We are back with site member challenge #107, and 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 5 RC101 Lessons:
TECHNIQUE LESSONS
1) Tremolo Picking Etude * – Develop your tremolo picking technique with this etude inspired by classical music. Tremolo picking is a technique used by many virtuosic players, such as Taimane. In a nutshell, it allows you to play notes on one string at supersonic speeds!
If you’re new to this technique, check out this lesson, which teaches you how to do it.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
2) Triple Strum Etude (no. 2) * – Learn a charming etude that reinvents the triplet strum technique!
This playing technique makes your ukulele sound full and fluid in ways that traditional fingerpicking and strumming technique can’t match! Learn how to do this unique playing style in our Triplet Strum Magic Course.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
PLAYING CONCEPTS
3) Spanish Romance – An iconic classical guitar piece that sounds equally as amazing on the ukulele!
This piece serves as a great study for developing expression in your playing through its use of rubato, vibrato, and dynamics.
4) Tennessee Waltz – This arrangement features a beautiful melody set in a country waltz.
This song is a masterclass in playing with a swing feel and its outro tastefully showcases the triplet picking technique!
5) Swung Vs. Straight Rhythm * – This lesson and etude teaches you the difference between playing with a straight and swing rhythmic feel.
* Taught in its entirety for FREE!
** If you need help recording yourself, check out our FREE course on recording audio and video. **
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GOALS FOR MEMBER CHALLENGE:
1. Beginner Level: Be able to play one of the lessons smoothly and in time. Do not worry about trying to play fast; slow and steady wins the race.
Recommended Piece: Swung Vs. Straight Rhythm Etude
2. Intermediate to Advanced Level: Be able to play one of the lessons smoothly and in time. Do not worry about trying to play fast; slow and steady wins the race.
Recommended Piece:Spanish Romance [Intermediate], Triple Strum Etude (no. 2) [Seasoned Intermediate], Tremolo Picking Etude [Advanced], Tennessee Waltz [Advanced]
3. Participation Goal: 35 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 5 RC101 pieces anytime between Sunday, February 1st until Saturday, February 28th, 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. Performance must be submitted by the deadline listed (in #1) above to gain an entry in the raffle.
* Note: In my opinion, these challenges are about showing progress, not perfection. So if you’re a beginner and can only play the first couple of measures, that’s completely okay. If, in the next challenge, you’re able to play two more measures than you did the previous time, you’re on the right track.
That’s what these challenges are all about — learning ukulele and getting better over time. Remember, we’re 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. This fee will be collected by Uke Republic. You are also responsible for any custom fees or duties.
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Giveaway Rules:
There will be 1 winner, selected by random drawing on March 5th. To qualify to win, you must submit your audio and/or video links of your playing by the deadline listed above.
Grand Prize:
1) $99 Grand Prize: Kala KA-Surf-Wipeout Concert Ukulele
LISTEN TO THIS SWEET UKE BEING PLAYED!
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR!
Uke Republic: https://www.ukerepublic.com/
Let’s crush this challenge!
@mickan88 – Yes! The “tremolo picking etude” works for either high or low G.
“Spanish Romance” will, but some of the measures that have notes on the G string won’t sound as good as it does on high G.
The “swung vs. straight rhythm etude” will if you move the open G notes to the 3rd fret of the 2nd string in measures 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, and 15.
Awesome! 🤩 Thank you @andrew
Ohhhhh, lorve this topic!! I think I might just re-visit Spanish Romance because I have not played that in a long, long time and basically have forgotten it! It would be interesting to see if I have improved in playing it, as well. Obviously, I’d record a new video! 🙂
I wanted to try the Tennessee Waltz but don’t have a high G on me. Was still fun learning the Tremolo picking etude 🙂
@marianne – wow, love it! (And it’s not even the middle of the month and you’ve posted) Well done!
@marianne – That was awesome, great job Marianne!
@marianne impressive 👏👏👏
WOW!!! sounds amazing 👏 @marianne
@marianne – as always, wow!
@marianne, so amazing! Perfectly played as always!! 🥰 Oh I was going to say, I found it interesting that one was described as classical, I can see it, but it’s almost like classical surfer rock (if that’s a thing)! 😅 Anyway, great performance!! Also your sound quality is so good!
@malku2603, sounds so great!! You already have a good sense of the rhythms and it’s sounding really smooth! Also your focus is on point – if someone walked into the room while I was playing, my anxiety would kick in. Great job!! 😊Uh oh, I haven’t even started my entry (shocker) but hopefully I can work on it today since, well, I ain’t got no dates! Enh, I should probably be relieved about that. I’m buying myself flowers today, big time! I’ve got a pretty great day planned actually! Happy Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate! 🥰😅😂🌼🌸🌹
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