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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS (VIA ZOOM)
Beyond the Boom Ditty: Country uke strumming workshop
Thursday, June 3, 6:30-7:30pm EDT Gaithersburg Ukefest - Register for one or more workshops Known variously as the Carter Family Strum, the Carter Scratch, the Church Lick, the Johnny Cash Strum or the Boom Ditty, this strum pattern can make almost any country song (and many folk or rock songs!) sound better. Learn about the legendary Mother Maybelle Carter and how this strum pattern evolved and can be simplified for use on the ukulele. We'll experiment with an easy-to-play basic version and some variations for strumming or picking, and we'll play some great country songs ranging from Carter Family and Johnny Cash staples to "Jolene" and even a Taylor Swift song. All levels. Women of the Blues Uke Workshop Thursday, June 10, 6:30pm EDT Gaithersburg Ukefest - Register for one or more workshops Blues -- which developed out of the struggles faced by African-Americans -- has been around as a style of music since the late 1800s, but really took shape in the early 20th century, largely due to the often-overlooked contributions of women. Learn about several of the women who shaped this enduring style of music, from "Mother of the Blues" Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith to Memphis Minnie, Tracy Chapman, and more. Looking at songs written or popularized by these women, we'll cover the essential 12-bar blues form and how to play blues in any key, followed by some embellishments to make your blues songs sound even cooler on the ukulele. Facility with barre chords is helpful but not required. CCAE Intro to Ukulele (summer term) | Registration coming soon 8 Thursdays, 6:00-7:30pm Eastern (via Zoom) Begins June 24 The approachable ukulele, more popular than ever, is the instrument of choice for great-sounding, portable music. You'll learn the basics quickly so you can start playing songs you love right away. Simple chords will have you sounding great after just one class, and you'll soon have a repertoire ranging from Tin Pan Alley ukulele classics to current pop hits. You will learn tricks for hunting down ukulele song chord charts online and adapting them for your own strumming and singing pleasure! No prior experience necessary; Bring Your Own Uke. |
PRIVATE UKULELE LESSONS VIA ZOOM
Learning an instrument remotely is a great activity to do while social distancing. Playing a cheerful ukulele might help combat depression and could have several other health benefits. I teach weekly lessons Tues-Thurs afternoons and evenings, and also less frequently on weekends. Email me to set up a time for us to meet online! GIVE THE GIFT OF UKULELE LESSONS! (ZOOM ONLY)
Ukulele lesson gift certificates are now available for online purchase via PayPal or Venmo! Use the button below, or Venmo me (see prices in drop-down menu) and include your email and a note that says "gift certificate." I will email you a full-color, printable PDF you can forward or print to give as a gift. I offer individual lessons in 30, 45, or 60-minute time slots. 30 minutes is recommended for kids; 45 is good for teens and absolute beginners (or people with busy schedules!). Select your amount from the drop-down menu below and enter the email where I should send your gift certificate. Email me if you need other amounts, want a customized certificate, need me to mail you a physical copy, or if you have any questions. Please note: Scheduling is subject to availability; please email me to schedule. 
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Amy is available for group classes and private lessons on ukulele. She has taught and performed at ukulele workshops throughout New England, including group classes at Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Ukulele Melee which she headlined in 2018. Recently, Amy taught at Spring Into Uke and The Sounding Board's Uke U. She founded Somerlele, a new ukulele festival in Somerville, MA, in 2019. Some of her workshops descriptions are listed here; Amy frequently develops new or custom uke workshops as well. Amy is based in the Boston area and teaches out of her home in Somerville, MA. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all lessons are virtual via Zoom.
SAMPLE WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Rhythmic Fingerpicking: This intro to fingerpicking class will help students get comfortable with playing, or plucking, one string at a time. We'll explore rhythmic fingerpicking patterns as an alternative to strumming, starting with arpeggios, and work our way up to more complex patterns. The class will culminate with a "pluck-along" appropriate for many levels.
Melodic Fingerpicking for Uke: This workshop presents a handful (no pun intended) of exercises for developing finger strength and agility. We'll cover how to read tablature and transfer that to the fretboard with some short, recognizable riffs. Then we'll look at a couple of melodies you can play now with an accompanist friend, or later on by incorporating chord melody techniques.
Ukulele blues jam: What is 12-bar blues and can you play blues on the ukulele? In this workshop, we'll analyze the basic blues form and some variations and learn how to make up our own blues in any key. We'll discuss the etiquette of the jam, and then participants will get an opportunity to strum along or even take a chorus or solo in a participatory blues jam.
Uke 101: Just starting out? Learn how to hold, strum, and tune your ukulele, basic chords, and a couple of strum patterns. We'll cover simple 2, 3, and 4 chord songs in 4/4 and 3/4 time. Discussion of how to change chords, play & sing at the same time, build finger strength, and avoid bad habits.
Stepping up to the open mic (and beyond)...: You've mastered playing alone in your living room and maybe even ventured out to some strum-alongs, but now you want to take your uke performance to the next level. This class will teach you some microphone techniques, ukulele modifications, and performance tips such as choosing songs, banter, what to do and what not to do on stage, etc. Participants will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and strum a few chords into microphone.
Songwriting on the Ukulele: How does writing songs on the uke differ from any other instrument? Do you need to be a virtuoso to begin composing intros or hooks for your original songs? This workshop explores how the deceptively simple ukulele can help unlock your songwriting potential. Award-winning songwriter Amy Kucharik will demonstrate a few music theory and instrumental skills (such as chord relationships, hammer-ons, moveable chords and ukulele picking patterns) and how they inspired some of her original music. As a group, we'll experiment with how any of these might trigger, cultivate, or enhance a new song seed. Students will come away from this workshop with a few new techniques under their fingers and ideas for incorporating those into songwriting projects.
Rhythmic Fingerpicking: This intro to fingerpicking class will help students get comfortable with playing, or plucking, one string at a time. We'll explore rhythmic fingerpicking patterns as an alternative to strumming, starting with arpeggios, and work our way up to more complex patterns. The class will culminate with a "pluck-along" appropriate for many levels.
Melodic Fingerpicking for Uke: This workshop presents a handful (no pun intended) of exercises for developing finger strength and agility. We'll cover how to read tablature and transfer that to the fretboard with some short, recognizable riffs. Then we'll look at a couple of melodies you can play now with an accompanist friend, or later on by incorporating chord melody techniques.
Ukulele blues jam: What is 12-bar blues and can you play blues on the ukulele? In this workshop, we'll analyze the basic blues form and some variations and learn how to make up our own blues in any key. We'll discuss the etiquette of the jam, and then participants will get an opportunity to strum along or even take a chorus or solo in a participatory blues jam.
Uke 101: Just starting out? Learn how to hold, strum, and tune your ukulele, basic chords, and a couple of strum patterns. We'll cover simple 2, 3, and 4 chord songs in 4/4 and 3/4 time. Discussion of how to change chords, play & sing at the same time, build finger strength, and avoid bad habits.
Stepping up to the open mic (and beyond)...: You've mastered playing alone in your living room and maybe even ventured out to some strum-alongs, but now you want to take your uke performance to the next level. This class will teach you some microphone techniques, ukulele modifications, and performance tips such as choosing songs, banter, what to do and what not to do on stage, etc. Participants will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and strum a few chords into microphone.
Songwriting on the Ukulele: How does writing songs on the uke differ from any other instrument? Do you need to be a virtuoso to begin composing intros or hooks for your original songs? This workshop explores how the deceptively simple ukulele can help unlock your songwriting potential. Award-winning songwriter Amy Kucharik will demonstrate a few music theory and instrumental skills (such as chord relationships, hammer-ons, moveable chords and ukulele picking patterns) and how they inspired some of her original music. As a group, we'll experiment with how any of these might trigger, cultivate, or enhance a new song seed. Students will come away from this workshop with a few new techniques under their fingers and ideas for incorporating those into songwriting projects.
