Bootcamp or Boot Camp is the weekly class that gives you the most playtime. Ukulele Bootcamp will UP your level of playing and fill in the gaps, if you’re self-taught or have not been playing regularly. In Zoom, you are playing while MUTED but you get the most rigorous workout, more than any other music class. Each bootcamp is different from the previous. You can repeat bootcamp as often as you like, the way you take an aerobics or weight training class at the gym. These chord switching exercises exemplify what’s meant by “chord choreography.” Take the ukulele crossword puzzle challenge.
Bootcamp Fall 2023 includes tab reading and fingerstyle ukulele so you can fingerpick the most common riffs used in introductions, interludes, intros and spice up your ukulele playing. Register for the course which runs for 8 Tuesdays at 6:30 PM EDT from 31st October 2023 (except 31st Oct starts at 7:30 PM).
The bootcamp concept rose out of a gap in technique-based classes. Both strum and fingerstyle focus on the right hand (the strumming or plucking hand). What about the left hand (the fretting hand)? Coordination between the two? How about people who are self-taught?
Each class delivers bespoke exercises and tips for fingering and switching chords, strumming techniques, coordination, and application to a song each week.
Pre-requisite: not a complete beginner, have already taken a beginner level class or equivalent, can comfortably hold a ukulele, read chord diagrams, play the basic strum patterns and chords, including two-chord songs.
After each class (one hour workshop in Zoom), you will receive an e-mail with the handout (PDF) and links to the unlisted Youtube video recording of the session so that you can follow it during the week.
Testimonials
Ukulele Bootcamp was the 5th or 6th class that I’ve taken with Anne. If there are holes in your ukulele knowledge, this class will catch them. A good amount of time was spent learning about your singing voice as it relates to a song. It is a great class with inspiring lessons and performances, along with fun group interaction. Anne always follows up immediately with class notes and videos which is so helpful. I highly recommend. ~ Ginny Smith, Owner, Imagine Art and Music
Bootcamp (or its progeny, if no longer named this) is good for a general expansion of ukulele playing. It’s beyond basic chords, but covers a little of all the other “special” classes. You’ll understand more about relationships within keys, more about strums, more about picking, more about performing. It’s like the sunflower course, expanding from the center. Data scientist, Boston, MA USA
I highly recommend this class. I’ve taken it twice, and it was different each time. The focus is mostly on strumming, but you learn different patterns, challenging songs, and a little music theory. A great overview for beginners and advanced beginners. Anne is a patient teacher who is nimble enough to adjust the materials and pace to suit her students.
This is the course to move you beyond beginning ukulele. Anne has the chops and communicates the “How To” in an engaging and very easy-to-grasp manner. It really helped me understand new concepts and learn skills that I may have missed earlier. It made me a better ukulele player. I am so glad I took this course.