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It’s a good idea – maybe I’ll also create sub-folders for my electronic files. I practice from paper, though, so I can lay out the whole song with no scrolling or clicking required.
You can try out Daniel Ward’s book with an article built on the first song in the book from ukulelemag.com. Here is the link:
Ukulele Lesson: Unlock Big Changes in Your Playing with Daniel Ward’s Meditative Arpeggio
Because the picking pattern is repetitive and the chord changes are easy, the song is simple to learn. My first feeling of being actually musical came on this piece. Easy to make it expressive with dynamics or speed changes. I play it almost every time I pick up a uke and it’s a good warm up. And if I’ve had a rough day, I really make it wail!And I still think you’re cool for your live public performance courage! 🙂
One of my holiday time off projects is to get my stacks of printed music into a binder, so I have been pondering this very question. I’m leaning toward having 4 sections, organized to support practice time (though likely not as easy access as alphabetical…). The sections would be:
Polished – for the (few) pieces I play fluidly and enjoy relaxing with
In Work – for pieces that I can barely play and are coming along, but need more practice to fix hesitations and improve musicality
New – the 1 or 2 “active learning” pieces (likely to include current monthly challenge piece and prior month’s depending on degree of additional work still needed)
Other – these may be seasonal, or songs too far beyond my skills for now, or the few songs that are not of a style I want to spend time on, etc.
The idea would be split my practice time playing through a couple polished pieces for fun and to keep them polished, then work on taking an in work piece a little further with the goal of graduating it up to polished, and then to spend the rest of the time on the challenge piece. I do also enjoy playing from Daniel Ward’s Arpeggio Meditations book, so that is another resource at practice time.
So that’s the notebook approach I plan to try, rickeymike. If the hunt for a particular song becomes frustrating, I can always go back to my A, B, Cs. But I think this apptroch will motivate me to keep moving more pieces into the Polished section, and at some point I’ll be cool like Lisa and have a performance playlist – if only for a small concert for my husband and dogs. 🙂That’s a great one, gahanby. I’d love to have the musical knowledge to “just play” what I want and make music. I have made a little progress on this front. I can pick out intervals and melodies on ocarina and recorder, but doing that for chords with 4 strings is way more challenging. Interestingly, when i was able to add a little embellishment to the ending of The First Noel this month for fun, ideas from prior songs I had learned were useful more than my current level of music theory understanding. Good luck in progressing toward a great goal in 2019!
Lisa, that’s hilarious! Gave me a good laugh.
I’m thinking of 2 ukulele resolutions…. The first one is pretty straightforward: Participate in every monthly challenge Andrew puts out there for us in 2019. That means even if I have a crazy busy month, I will do the beginner piece at a minimum, and otherwise will aspire to challenge myself with intermediate or advanced selections.
My second resolution is to be more like rickeymike! Creative, expressive, and a positive encourager in our uke community. I get way too serious…. Rickeymike reminds us that it’s fun to play this great little instrument! (Thanks rickeymike!)
Good for you! Congratulations on your courage and uke skills! I’m sure you added significantly to everyone’s enjoyment of the party. Way to go!
It’s a beauty! Congratulations! And I agree with rickeymike — Would love a demonstration so we can hear it!
Stephen, thanks very much for the feedback! I definitely noticed it sounded plodding by the end. I was much less satisfied with my playing than your kind and positive feedback would suggest. I’m going to keep working on this one til I really master it so I can play it with the dynamics and expression that you’re talking about.
SherylFirst, I’ll say I’ve really enjoyed listening to those who have already posted — great job, everyone.
Here is my December challenge entry – Auld Lang Syne. (A lovely arrangement, Andrew)
I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER.
And I follow my performance with a little creative writing below — the voice in my head while recording. Maybe some of you can relate. I wish all you fellow-learners, trying with Andrew’s help to coax the best music we can out of this delightful little instrument, a joyous holiday season.
SherylOK, here we go, Sheryl. Make this a good one; lots to do today. No need to be nervous, it’s not like you have to post the first take, so relax. But TRY to do it on first take, because your list for today is a long one.
OK. Tilt camera down — ukulele, not face. (camera falls) Really. Slight tilt down. Oh, fine. But try to not do that thing with your lips when you’re concentrating.
OK. Deep breath. Camera. Record….
Why is my fretting hand shaking? Too much caffeine this AM. Doh! Stop recording. Delete. Confirm delete. OK, more deep breaths to get rid of the shakiness and try again.
Camera. Record….
OK, here we go. Doh! Stop. Really, Sheryl? You messed up this easy part? You sight read that before viewing the lesson, for crying out loud. OK, no problem. Delete, delete.
OK, here we go. Nice. Still OK. Maybe this one….. Arrrrgh! No. Delete, delete.
OK. Wait. Maybe it’s not just the coffee, it’s cold in here. Change to long sleeve shirt.
OK. Record….
Calm start this time. Nice. Alright there. A little plunk, but keep going… NOOOOOOOO!!! The ukulele slipped from my strumming arm. Unbelievable. Stop. Delete, delete. Roll up right sleeve.
OK. Camera. Record.
OK. Doing OK. I kind of like this one so far. Still OK. And then totally miss one lousy note. Save this one though, just in case it only gets worse as I keep trying….
OK. Camera. Record.
Here we go. Early mistake this time. Stop. Delete, delete.
Again. Here we go. $%#D@$ Stop. Delete, delete. (Repeat ad nauseum.)
OK. Record. Plunky, but there. All notes ok, but several hesitations. Delete. Delete.
OK. Record. Good start. Liking this one. This may be it. Yes! This is going to be a keeper! And then, with that excitement, Sheryl, your two-fret slide just zoomed halfway up the neck! Stop. Delete, delete.
Another take. Wait…. Unbelievable, someone I’ve never seen is walking a giant furry sled-dog looking beast around my cul-de-sac, no way my dog won’t bark through the recording. Awwwww. What a sweetheart; my little Charley-boy is sensitive to my recording angst and is remaining completely quiet.
OK. Record. Here we go…. This is OK; not my best, but OK. I wonder if my wrist looks straighter. Andrew is trying to teach me to keep my strumming wrist straight. (Glance at screen to check wrist. Yep, curved again…). aaaaaaand another mistake. Stop. Delete, delete.
One more, then I really have to get on to the rest of my list today….
Record. Got through it ok. Listen. No….
You know what? I generally like that one with the one lousy note. I’m posting it. It’ll be a good step for me in trying to improve on my perfectionism issues and relax….
Share. YouTube. Copy link. Post to RockClass101.com December challenge forum.
Smile.Hi all,
I checked today and Ukulele Kids Club is already on an approved list of charities for my employer’s matching gifts program. So Boeing will match my donation dollar for dollar!
If you work for a company that has a matching gifts program check it out and Rockclass101 can help bring even more ukuleles to children who need the healing power and joy of self-made music!
Sheryl
I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER
Here’s my recording of St. James Infirmary. I love playing this song…. Why does hitting the record button make my playing sound less like music?! 😉
Great arrangement, Evan. Great teaching, as always, Andrew. And great contest. Thanks!!!
Sheryl
