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Hi Rock Class 101 Community!
I am beyond humbled to say that there has now been over 5,000+ members participating in our challenges! AMAZING! If you’ve sat on the sidelines, please join us for this month’s challenge! Challenges are a fun way to stay motivated and a great way to meet fellow ukulele players who are passionate about learning and becoming better players. And I offer feedback on ALL submissions! 🙂
Please watch the video above and read instructions below carefully for details/instructions on this month’s challenge.
This month’s challenge is a departure from our typical challenges in which you choose a preselected piece to learn, practice, and post a performance of. This month you are in total control of what you wish to work on! Examples of things you could choose includes: a certain technique, an element of music theory, or a song.
Below are 3 guidelines you must follow. In your first post, please list all 3 in complete detail.
3 Steps For Improving:
1) Execution – List what you will be working on for the month of January. State what your current playing/musicianship ability is and what your goal is – i.e. where you want to be by the end of the month. Include how you plan to accomplish this; highlight your practice schedule.
2) Application – How will you be applying what you are practicing to your playing? For example, if you are learning how to add a backbeat to your rhythm playing, you could apply this new technique by using it in a song, such as this one: 12 Bar Blues Strumming.
3) Evaluation – Analyze how you are doing. I suggest to evaluate yourself week by week. Throughout the month, feel free to post updates on how your practicing is coming along (optional).
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GROUND RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:
1. You must create 2 posts. Post 1 lists the 3 steps in detail and must be submitted by Wednesday, January 15th. Post 2 shows your results for the month. Depending on what you choose to work on, this could include audio and/or video files of performances. Post 2 must be submitted by Friday, January 31st, 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
** If you need assistance with how to record yourself check out our FREE course on recording audio/video and/or private message me and I will be happy to help you out. **
2. Submit individually, as a reply, IN THIS POST.
3. Feel free to submit more than one idea for the challenge, but additional ideas 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.
* Note: In my opinion, it is better to show progress versus perfection with these challenges. Remember we are all here to support you no matter what your current playing level is.
Participation Goal: 35 Rock Class 101 Member Participant Videos/MP3 posted.
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HELPFUL TIPS FOR DECIDING WHAT TO CHOOSE TO WORK ON:
1) Check out Learning Paths. It’s a step-by-step guide which takes a look at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced player and answers the big questions; such as “Where do I start?” and “What do I work on?”.
2) See what other members worked on when we initially ran this challenge theme in September of 2017, January of 2018, January of 2019, and in January of 2024.
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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) You are free to work on anything ukulele related. It does not have to be Rock Class 101 related.
5) 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
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Giveaway Rules:
There will be 2 winners, selected by random drawing on Wednesday, February 5th. To qualify to win, you must submit your audio and/or video links of your playing by the deadline listed above.
Grand Prizes:
1) 1 on 1 Private 60 Minute Skype Lesson with Andrew. We can work on whatever you wish!
2) 1 on 1 Private 60 Minute Skype Lesson with Stephen. We can work on whatever you wish!
Let’s crush this challenge!
Hi,
Here’s my plan for January:
1) Execution: I recently bought a U-bass and have gradually been getting comfortable with it. I’ve also moved from a Windows to a macbook machine and am still learning how to use it as well.
This month I will be learning to play Gabriel’s Oboe on U-base using the beautiful arrangement provided by Stephen Cox. I’ll also be learning how to record from the U-bass to Garage Band on the mac and then how to put the recording together with the video made on the iPad.
By the end of the month, I’d like to be able to play Gabriel’s Oboe smoothly and close to proper speed, video my performance on the iPad (as I usually do) while recording my playing directly to the macbook using my iRig. I’d like to then splice the video and music together seamlessly in iMovie.
2) Application: I’ll be learning to play U-bass more fluently and gaining comfort with the scale and tuning of the instrument. I’ll also gain the ability to record better quality sound and use the new tech tools I have for future monthly challenges.
3) Evaluation: I’ll be first working on learning the music and gradually bringing it up to speed on the U-bass with fewer errors over time. I’ll regularly work with the recording to mac part so as not to leave it to the last moment as usual. That way, I can work through any problems and there are no last-minute surprises about how to use the tools.
Linda
Hot take: If I won one of the Kanile’as from the challenges, I would trade that prize for this one. 😂😅
So excited for another one of these challenges! Immediately my brain goes into overdrive with the possibilities! At first I thought I’d use this as motivation to finish learning Toccata and Fugue (because apparently it’s going to take me five years to learn that 😂) but if next month’s challenge is, “learn any Rock Class 101 song,” then I’ll pick that song then.
So, now I’m thinking maybe I’ll do something with tremolo picking.
1. Execution: My goal will be to improve my tremolo picking skills by practicing a bit every day. I’ll use the resources on RC101 for that. I’m almost confident there are a few lessons on that.
2. Application: Then, I’ll create a song that uses the tremolo technique. Not sure what the song will be though. Whatever sort of materializes as I’m practicing. 😅 Maybe I’ll update what the specific song is on week one or two (depending on when I think of it). I am pretty confident in my abilities to create simple arrangements now, but my main focus is that technique.
3. Evaluation: I will have improved my speed and accuracy with the tremolo technique by slowly, methodically practicing it and slowly increasing the speed. So, my goal is to improve those elements, even if I’m not going full speed by the end of the month. Also, to have at least a short song to practice this technique with going forward.
I don’t know why those terms confuse me with this challenge, hopefully I laid that out correctly! Thank you for this great topic, soooooo excited to see what everyone does! “Free for all”! 😂🎇🎆🎉🎊
Hello all, I hope everyone has a really happy New Year’s Eve! 🎉✨
Challenge: Smooth and Seamless Chord Changes
Execution:
I’ve been practicing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for almost a year. My goal is to master a smooth transition into a challenging position: fret 1 on the high G string, C string also on fret 1, E string 0, and A string 7. I’ll also focus on improving my chord shift changes of this song by practicing super slowly and gradually building up speed.Application:
This song holds a lot of personal meaning, and I planed earlier this year to have the A and B parts ready to perform for someone special by Valentine’s Day of 2025. While I’m still far from finishing it, my focus this month will be on these key technical areas: tricky shifts, smooth chord changes, and perfecting the harmonics. I’ll work section by section and may tweak the arrangement to suit my current skills while keeping the essence of the song intact.Evaluation:
By the end of the challenge, I aim to:
Transition smoothly into the tricky position without pauses.
Play through the A and B sections of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” at a steady tempo with clean shifts and clear harmonics.Improve the overall sound quality of my chord transitions so they flow seamlessly.
Even if I don’t reach the song’s final tempo yet, I want to perform these parts confidently for Valentine’s Day.Here is the song I aim to play:
1. Execution
My three goals for January are:
– to complete the Definitive Beginner’s Guide
– to learn to play “Path of the wind” from Totoro while focusing on holding the ukulele properly and not like a guitar
– to remember I’m doing this for fun and defeat negative thoughts like “it’s too late, I’m too old and I’m only making a fool of myself”
By the end of the month I want to be an intermediate beginner 😉2. Application
I want to dedicate some time every day to playing the ukulele and write down what I practiced and for how long. Before the end of the month I want to record myself playing at least part A of the song from Totoro.I will not judge myself if I fail. I will not stop playing the ukulele because of negative thoughts about myself. If I want to give up, I will ask for support on the forum.
3. Evaluation
I’m going to post updates on my progress every week in this thread.1) Execution
For this month I will learn “a little flower” by Cornelius Gurlitt on my low g. Definitely a challenge for my stiff left hand. Playing it at a good tempo seamlessly while respecting the dynamics will be fun for sure. I’ll practice it 3 times a week after work.2) Application
I guess for me the real exercise will be the consistency to learn a new a piece. Having a planned schedule and the discipline to continue throughout the month instead of playing when I feel like it is something I truly struggle with (not only with the uke hahaha)3) Evaluation
I’ll learn to play it at a slow tempo but with perfect left hand execution for the 15th. I’ll be focusing on speed after that.I’m feeling confident for my ability to learn it by the end of the month but doubtful about my discipline. I wish everyone a good luck for this challenge and a happy new year 🙂
Ben
Hello everyone.
Happy newyear.
1. Execution.
As a beginner, my goal is to work on sustaining the notes, fingerpicking and lefthand fingerstrengh for barring. The goal is to learn Avatar’s love.2. Application.
Practicing everyday and focusing on sustaining the notes.3. Evaluation.
Learning to play it slowly without any buzzing or dead notes. Speed at this stage is not yet important. Patience and dicipline is the key to a great performance.I also wish evveryone good luck and a happy newyear.
Tara
ALOHA,
JANUARY CHALLENGE…..EXECUTION: In January I will complete as much of the RC101 Course “Introduction to Music Theory and Jamming” as possible. An intermediate player,I began the Course 3 days ago, completed Module 1 and am in the middle of Module 2. I will go through the 3 modules Theory/Rhythm/Lead in order. A minimum of 1 hour daily will devote to playing/practicing the course skills and additional time for course reading and comprehension.
APPLICATION: The Course is a guided curriculum. I will execute the associated Concept Lessons (0002,0006 etc.) as I progress through the course. I will provide weekly updates about new learning on the RC101 website.
EVALUATION: The end goal will be to complete all modules. I wish to be able to play the tune “Stand By Me” with solos that follow the chord progression…To be able to ADD TO THE MUSIC.
Perhaps too aggressive for one Month, but I will give it a go and get as far as I can.
I really like this type of challenge, especially in January – new year, new goals, etc. I’ve been enjoying watching YouTube videos of ukulele versions of Spanish sounding songs utilizing rhythmic strumming, percussion and other techniques like rasgueado (sweep). Lots of skills sprinkled throughout this kind of music, but I think an easier technique/skill for me to start with is the “rasqueado”.
January 2025:
1) Execution – I want to learn some Spanish sounding songs, so I will start by learning the rasqueado (aka sweep) technique and learn a new piece in January which has a Spanish sounding feel and incorporates this technique.Current status: I know what the technique is, but have never studied it or played a song that uses it.
Practice approach: I found the LaGitanita lesson (RC101) which incorporates both the Picado and Rasqueado techniques and I heard a tap in there too! The song lesson also teaches the techniques, so one-stop shopping- for the techniques and the song. I’d like to play a little bit every day. I seem to do ok if I don’t play for more than 15 min at a time. Multiple times a day is ok, but a session over 15 min and my right wrist is very unhappy for several days afterwards. So..restraint and knowing my limits haha.
2) Application – I will learn LaGitanita as arranged on RC101. I think this will REALLY be a stretch goal for me. But I know it will be very satisfying to finish. (Even if it takes me a little longer).
3) Evaluation – I’ll break it down into smaller milestones like week 1 get the techniques figured out. Week 2 learn the song. Week 3 improve fluency and speed. Week 4 continue to practice, memorize and record.
Have fun everyone!
-Natalie
These are some great goals y’all! 🙂
@nat-uke – Matt taught that technique in this lesson from our Next Level Strumming Course. Def check that one out too as you work on it 🙂@Emiliano…..I love that song….and it also has a very special place in my heart……..are there tabs somewhere for this version?
Good-luck, and I am looking forward to seeing your performance after a year of practice……I have no doubt it will be very special.
I love this “Free-for-all” opportunity……but there are so many choices….which direction to go in?
Execution:
I think I’ve decided to make my way thru “The Beyond The Island Strum” Course which Capstones with “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue.”….. Hopefully, both improving and embellishing my rhythmic playing (one of my weaknesses)
Application:
Following the Course Outline, learning the different strum patterns, and finally applying them in the Capstone piece.
Evaluation:
I am hoping to be able to make my way thru the Course and complete the Capstone piece…..posting my final “Five-foot-two,” at the end of the month. It is my goal to play the piece without hesitation and at a reasonable speed. Christopher makes it look easy…..which I know means that it is far from easy!
My goal for 2025 is to play consistently without hesitation…….that’s a big one for me!
Good-luck to everyone…..this is a fun one!
I bought the Ragalele course from James Hill this summer, but never got around to actually start working on it. So now would be the perfect time, I guess 🙂
1.) Execution: I want to learn to play Indian classical music style on the ukulele. The specific sound is achieved by ornamentation techniques that can be done on the ukulele and mimic the sound of traditional Indian instruments. I will practice these ornamentation techniques, like slides, slurs, grace notes and double slides, along with the specific Indian scales (ragas).
2.) Application: I will learn to play and memorize one of the performance pieces of the course, a bandish (a song based on a specific raga), incorporating the ornamentation techniques I practiced.
3.) Evaluation: I will memorize and learn a section of the song every week, and will record myself playing the whole piee from memory and with all the ornamentation techniques applied by the end of the month,@misterbones I love this! It’s going to be my goal too when I pass the beginner stage <3 Please let me know how difficult it was 🙂
Btw I recommend Bandish app for backing tracks, it’s a virtual shruti box that I use for vocal improvisation, I think you will like it.
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