ABSOLUTE BEGINNER GROUP UKULELE LESSONS

 

 

Four one-hour lessons 11am to noon on Fridays at The McMillan Arts Centre, 133, McMillan Street in Parksville

October 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th 2017

Have you been thinking about playing the ukulele but don’t know how to start, what to buy or how to learn?

In this four-week course, I’ll start by showing you the different sizes of ukuleles; you’ll be able to see which size suits you best. I’ll be covering the basics of picking and strumming and you can see if the ukulele is the instrument for you.

The cost is $60 and includes the course book. I will have ukuleles available to rent if you don’t have your own (damage deposit required) or to buy. For more information or to register, email ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca or call 250-586-5803.

I am a Level 1 JHUI Certified Ukulele Teacher; play in a local band, teach ukulele at Arbutus Music in Nanaimo and at my home studio in Parksville.

Why play the ukulele

Everyone has their own reason for wanting to play a musical instrument. But, why play the ukulele? Below is a list of my top 10 reasons that I choose to play the ukulele.

  1. It is easy to learn. I learned to play a song in a few minutes with just a few simple chords.
  2.  I can take it on my trips and play it by the beach or up on a mountaintop.
  3. It makes me and people around me happy.
  4. I can play any kind of music on the uke…jazz, blues, pop, soul,  country, oldies, or even Hawaiian!
  5. I have learned so much about music and music theory.
  6. The ukulele suits the size of my smaller hands so I can even play barre chords.
  7. The ukulele is affordable. I got started with a $40 ukulele that I bought at an outdoor market in Hawaii. 
  8. I have met so many amazing and wonderful people at home and in places that I have travelled. Ukulele players are very friendly and fun loving people.
  9. There’s no right or wrong way to play an ukulele, there’s only your way.
  10. I’ve never met a grumpy ukulele player.

I’d love to hear from you. What are your reasons for playing the uke?

We are up and running

 

I am happy to say that our website is up and running with loads of information on the upcoming Nanaimo Ukulele Festival on July 15 and 16th, 2017. 

Visit our Facebook page and like us and let your friends know that we are here. New and fresh and raring to go. 

We are so excited about James Hill coming to teach us some new ukulele tricks in his intermediate workshops and get us tappin’ our toes at the Saturday evening concert. Rob Wilkinson of Arbutus Music will be leading the ukulele newbies with two beginner workshops. 

The Nanaimo Ukulele Festival will be at the Neighbourhood Church on Rutherford Road in Nanaimo. Check out the location on our website map. 

You can buy your workshop and concert tickets on line using your PayPal account. Your tickets will be waiting for you on Saturday morning at the festival site. There are a few places in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum that you can pick up your Nanaimo Ukulele Festival tickets: Arbutus Music, Fascinating Rhythm in Nanaimo and the Mulberry Bush Bookstores in Parksville and Qualicum.

We’d love to hear from you so send us a message. There is a contact form on the right side of the site.

It’s going to be a great ukulele festival in 2017.

Hope to see you there.

Carol

Announcing the Nanaimo Ukulele Festival 2017

 Announcing the

2017 Nanaimo Ukulele Festival
A great little festival
July 15-16, 2017

Workshops Saturday, July 15th
Don’t miss an opportunity on Saturday morning and afternoon to take a workshop with James Hill or Rob Wilkinson of Arbutus Music. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate player we have a workshop for you.

More about James Hill here: https://jameshillmusic.com/bio

More about Rob Wilkinson here:
http://www.arbutusmusic.com/about-us/our-teams/instructors/rob-wilkinson/

Saturday, July 15th evening concert headliner is ukulele virtuoso James Hill and Anne Janelle on cello.

Click the link below to listen to James and Anne perform Assam/Like a Bird using the clawhammer technique. https://youtu.be/KV2nZF-pZ1g

Sunday afternoon kicks off with a performance from Parksville’s own Revolving Doors band, followed by a Jammin’ Jamboree. Imagine 200 ukesters playing along together. What fun! And all of Sunday’s festivities are by donation so if you feel like providing a little monetary support to the festival you can but there is no pressure.

It’s all taking place at Nanaimo Neighbourhood Church, 4951Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, BC.
No worries about the weather this year.

We are working to get the nanaimoukulelefestiva.ca website up so you can stay up to date with news and information. We expect to launch by the end of April. You will be able to buy your workshop and concert tickets on line or at locations in Nanaimo and Parksville.

Stay tuned and mark those dates in your calendar. It’s going to be “a great little festival”.

Cheerio

Carol