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@otzepeng Your little olive wood uke is adorable!
I’m a little late because my internet hasn’t been working properly this week but hopefully that won’t mean I can’t take part.
Execution – I’m learning to play Canon in D. It’s above my skill set, but I’m aiming to learn as much as possible before I run out of month. I plan to be able to play however much I can (hopefully/maybe all) off tabs.
Implementation – I’ll practice. . . as much as I can & as often as I can. It’s split into 8 melodies so I’ll tackle them one by one.
Evaluation – I’ll post my progress at the end of the month even if it’s incomplete &/or I’m unhappy with it. I may try to post an update video before then if it’s not too torturous to share (nobody wants to watch me taking half an hour to find the next note and then hitting the wrong one anyway 😂). So far I’m comfortable with (but not fluent in) the first few melodies.
I’m a premium member.
I’ve been unable to play uke much recently because of pain (likely arthritis) in my hands & shoulders but I really wanted to participate this month even though it probably sounds like I’m getting worse, not better. 😂 I really loved this piece as soon as I heard it, particularly the B melody. Thank you Andrew. Here’s my imperfect rendition of “Maybe I’m Still Amazed”.
Ruthie x
@The_Bumble_Bard – Yeah, I did go on bit. 🙊🙈 I’m certainly no expert but I just enjoyed hearing them all so much that I wanted the people who wrote them to know that. ☺️ I was so surprised & impressed by the range of talent & styles.
Haha, your title is definitely whacky enough to have made me do a double take when I read it. It totally works for the song though with the slightly whacky mix of styles that shouldn’t really work together, but somehow you got them to work really well. Great job!
Thank you so much! Yeah it’s my first original. I wouldn’t have had the skills to put a song together until recently. Although I like noodling I would probably never have developed it into something more structured than just twiddling about if not for this challenge. I’m glad I tried it though cos I enjoyed it. I’ve got lots still to learn, but now when I’m noodling & come across something I like the sound of I might have a go at trying to turn it into something more coherent than just background noise.
Thanks for your kind words, encouragement & for all your infectious enthusiasm during this challenge. 😃
@morrieuke1 – Congratulations! Enjoy chillin’ on your porch with your new uke! 😎@Andrew – Thank you so much for your feedback, it’s really encouraging. I never thought I’d be writing music & I wasn’t sure if it hung together properly &/or if was too long, repetitive & boring. I liked using the same themes but developing them as it went along so I’m glad you think that worked. I hadn’t realised how long it had become until I recorded it.🙊 Until now I wouldn’t have had the skills to write anything more than a simple (& probably unintentionally deeply plagiarised) melody line. I really appreciate the skills I’ve learned from you & your team, thank you. I really enjoyed the process & I’m already twiddling about with a few small sparks of ideas for song 2 now I’ve got the bug. 😃
I know nobody asked for my (uneducated) opinion & I wouldn’t normally comment on everyone’s work, but everyone has put so much work into the original compositions & I’ve enjoyed them all so much that it feels wrong not to say something to each of you. So apologies for the super long post, but I guess it’s really all you guy’s fault for being so talented. 😂 I don’t think I’ve missed out any of the original compositions, but please tell me if I have. I’d hate to have missed seeing one.
Ruthie x
@The_Bumble_Bard – I love how enthusiastic you’ve been about this challenge. You’ve been so generous in sharing your process & encouraging everyone. I’ve never really tried claw hammer, but it looks darn tricky, you do it so well. I love what you’ve done with mixing it with a different genre. The whole back story/title is totally crazy (in a good way). 😂
@deadbuggy – Cowboy Dreaming is one of my favourite entries. It’s so well put together & sounds so jaunty.@jamaq1 – Really lovely. It sounds so dramatic & regal. The high chord at the end of (I think) the second melody is really beautiful, what is it?
@katazumiri – Rainy Day is a real toe tapper. It makes me think of Russian/Eastern European dancing. Really cool. Thank you for sharing that website too, I’d never heard of it. Very impressive writing & playing multiple parts.
@brettboy – I always look forward to hearing your submissions. You seem to bring such joy to playing the uke – & you play very well. Operation -G-C-E-A- is definitely the funkiest entry. Very impressive to have written ,played & pulled together all the parts. Kudos.
@shmu88 – “My Last Song” really made me smile. It’s been stuck in my head all week. I said so today to my mum (who I played it to when you first posted) and she had only just managed to get it out her head too. 😂 Unbelievably catchy!! You’ve definitely got a talent for song writing.@lucaka – I really enjoyed your song! I know what you mean by feeling limited by the chords you know, I felt the same. This challenge has inspired me to be more conscious about the notes I’m playing/the make up of the chords when I learn songs from now on. I tried when I first stared to learn a bunch of chords but I’ve found that (for me) the best way to learn them is to just gave a go at learning songs I’m really invested in learning (even if they’re beyond my skill level) & I’ve picked up a bank of chords on the way. But just like my real bank, there’s not enough in my chord bank. 😂 You’ve done a great job.
@bibilele – That was WAY better than “good enough”! I’m so impressed with your harmonic at the end. I wanted to end mine with a harmonic but can only get it right about once in every twenty tries. 😂 I’ll need to keep trying until I’m as good as you at it.
@marianne That was beautiful!! I could listen to it again & again. In fact I’ve already listened to it half a dozen times. I’d love to learn how to do the bit at the start. Actually, I’d love to learn the whole thing!@gi_gi – That’s such a sweet, sad melody. Really pretty & obviously so heartfelt & personal. I hope your friend is well or recovering & that you played it for them, what a charming tribute them & to your friendship. ♥️
And thank you for so much for your kind words about my attempt. It’s so encouraging. It’s great to be part of such a positive uke community.
@anikali Wow. I’ve been keeping an eye on this challenge but somehow missed yours. I’m so glad I came back to listen to them all again & saw yours. That was brilliant you & play beautifully.
@annemarie – I love your song. It’s got a real Nick Drake vibe about it. It’s of my favourites of the challenge & another one I’d be keen to learn.
@anyon1 – That was really cool. I especially love the slide up the neck in the middle. Your song has such a happy vibe… & an adorable name.
@rebeca – That was really lovely. So contemplative. I’d like to try playing it & your filming & playing are so crystal clear that I might actually manage to work it out, thank you. Absolutely beautiful.
@misterbones – That was more than worthy of being called a composition. It’s so catchy & toe tapping, I can’t believe it’s your first time writing something. It makes me think of klezmer/Jewish folk music. What chords are you using for the little bridge bit (at about 43 seconds)?
@leb397 – You are one rockin’ grandma!! That really made me smile. Really cool! I hope you’ve played it for the grandkids & that they’re suitably impressed. I really want to try some blues music now!
@swissconsinboy – I love Celtic music (of course I do, I’m Scottish). This Scottish lass approves! 😃 Really cool mixing that style with claw hammer. Your main theme/melody made me think of Puff the Magic Dragon doing a jig – I hope that doesn’t sound too insane. 😂
@dianna – What an amazing concept. I’m so glad I read your description because now that I have I can really hear it in your song. You’ve captured the scene perfectly with music, that’s quite a skill.
@kelsey91 – Your song is really adorable & super catchy. It’s been running through my head all day. You’ve captured the sunnny summertime vibe absolutely perfectly.
@akukes73 – Oh that’s such a lovely concept & you’ve captured each stage just right. I can’t believe you went from not planning to enter to writing a whole mini suite! Wow, I’m so glad you changed your mind.
@morrieuke1 – That was so relaxed & easygoing. You looked & sounded like you were just having such a chilled out time on your porch. So lovely that you wrote it with your son too, what a great way to spend time together. You’re clearly a talented family.
@emiliano – Holy crackers! That was absolutely stunning. Bravo!! It’s so beautiful & so relaxing to listen to that now I want to visit Playa Del Carmen! 😂 I’d love to learn this one too, although I doubt I’d ever play it as beautifully as you do. What a wonderful composition.It’s exactly a year since I got my first uke & between you guys & a few other online teachers I’ve learned so much, thank you. It’s such a lovely community & I’ve learned more than I ever expected. I still have so very much more to learn & I look forward to it.
I sure as heck didn’t expect to be writing my own song. . .ever! Honestly, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. I’m playing something that sounds nice to me from a few chord progressions I like to play when I’m just twiddling about. I just expanded them a bit/joined them together. I don’t really know how well it hangs together? I always leave recording until the very last minute because it makes me so nervous, so there are a few fluffs but I’ve run out of time & want to submit something in time for feedback. All advice & analysis (including from other students) is most welcome. 😃
Congrats to all who entered this month. It’s been brilliant to hear such a wide range of styles & creatively & to hear from folk the process of how their songs came to be. Your talent, enthusiasm & encouragement are all wonderful. ♥️
Please excuse me from the prize draw this month.
@shmu88 I loved that. Can’t wait to hear your next song. 😃
**I am a premium member**
After several technical issues, & much anxiety here’s my “Mad Word”. I’d played it so many times and was relatively happy with this one until I got to the very end and completely forgot what the last chord was, sorry! 🙈 It’s 3.30AM here in Scotland though & I’m nearly out of time so I’m submitting it as my least bad attempt. 😂 It’s the trickiest one I’ve tried to learn off tabs with a deadline like this & although it’s far from perfect I’m glad I challenged myself. Thank you.
Thanks Andrew (& co) for all the great lessons & the feedback. So many great lessons to choose from this month. And as always thank you to everyone who shares their music here, it’s always so inspiring to watch other folk’s entries.
Cheers,
RuthieI AM A PREMIUM MEMBER.
I’m still pretty new to this (both ukeing & filming) but here’s my best attempt at “Dream a Little Dream of Me” – slightly adapted because I really wanted to try playing it on the baritone.
Thanks all for sharing your music, it’s inspiring to see so much talent.
*I am a premium member*
Hi, I’m new(ish) to uke (started playing Aug 2023) & joined rockclass101 a few months ago. So far I’ve just enjoyed watching other people’s videos but thought I’d try joining in this month. Can’t believe how nervous the camera made me and how much it made me mess up, but here’s my “best” take. 😂
Thanks Andrew!
I bought an Enya Nova U(Soprano) for my little cousin (he’s 6). It’s brilliant. He loves it, but I also own one in each size and I love them too. It’s made of carbon fiber which means it’s extremely durable (I’ve bounced my own one off the kitchen floor multiple times & it’s still absolutely fine). It can also be wiped down if needed which is a huge plus with kids (I’ve used a Detol wipe on mine with no ill effects). It has a narrow neck which will make it easier for small hands to play. I’ve heard some people say theirs have a zero fret (which means less pressure is required to fret at the top of the neck) but none of mine have that so I’m not sure if that depends where (what country) you buy it maybe. Best of all it sounds really great. Obviously it’s not a Kanile’a, but I was surprised at how good they sound (which is why I bought more). There is a side sound hole on the instruments too so the player can better hear what they’re playing which I find really helpful while learning. They look really snazzy too and come in different colours I think black, pink, light blue & white are the standard colours. I’ve seen some in red, lilac and orange too but not sure if they were special edition. I’ve seen that either Octopus or Makala Dolphin are often recommended for children, but I also own one of each of them and never pick them up. They’re both ok and if you want a more traditional uke I wouldn’t discourage you, but in my opinion neither sound, feel or look as good as the Enya Nova U. The Enya is also more practical because it’s basically bullet proof which means a child so young can just enjoy playing the instrument without any worries. The soprano I bought was about £50. You can shop around because they’re made to a standard mould and that means no set up is required.
Sorry to have rabbited on so long. I sound like an Enya salesperson. 😂 I’m just really enthusiastic about them. Particularly for young children they are easily my top recommendation – I’m not an expert my any means, but I’ve played many different ukes from different brands, I’ve worked with children all my life and I did a LOT of research before buying for my cousin.
Hope you find something you both like and enjoy playing with your wee one. 🥰
