Mamma Mia II: here I go again!

Won’t it be great to sing ABBA songs and see the new Mamma Mia movie? That seed of intention was planted back in April when my ukulele group in Boston dedicated one of our weekly jam sessions to songs from the ABBA GOLD album.

Yesterday, we did just that. After our outdoor ukulele gig at Kew Village Market, I followed Lisa on bicycle to nearby Richmond to celebrate our friend Sue’s birthday with ABBA songs and the Mamma Mia II movie. We brought our soprano ukuleles in anticipation. Should we play and sing before the movie or after? Time decided for us.

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Set list: menu for music making

The way a musician prepares a programme for a solo concert has similarities with the way a chef puts together a menu for his guests, be it a private event or daily menu in a restaurant. Both are thinking about selecting what they think will be a suitable fit for consumption within given time period, ensuring a variety of tastes, tempos, dynamics, and textures to avoid boredom while meeting the constraints of time and feasability. Having a theme or occasion helps guide and constrain the set list.

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Ukulele repertoire: song sheets for amateur music making

Ever since getting introduced to the ukulele on Maui, I have been curiously witnessing and participating the rituals of ukulele groups and clubs in Maui, Boston, London, and Amsterdam. The ukulele allows self-accompaniment for singing without a conductor or leader. What fascinates me is how little (if any) this explosion of amateur music making is mentioned in the academic literature and the amount of time we spend on “repertoire selection” to find suitable song sheets for our jam sessions and gigs, whether we search for them, adapt and transcribe them for our needs, or write them from scratch.

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For the absolute, complete, total beginner in ukulele

The ukulele is the quickest and easiest way to make music and connect with others. The first step is getting a ukulele and learning how to play it. Then you can strum, sing, and socialise!

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn with others, interactively online with others in a group class. Register via Google Form or Eventbrite. Minimum enrollment applies, otherwise class will be postponed or rescheduled with notice.

Complete Beginner Classes $139
No pre-requisites except a ukulele and clip-on tuner. This is the very first group lesson in Zoom: how to hold, tune, and strum your ukulele; how to read chord diagrams, how to finger chords, how to switch between chords; two chord songs; three chord songs; how to read song sheets; other tips and advice. For more information and free taster workshop dates, visit my ukulele page.

  • 5 Mondays 5:30 – 6:30 pm (9/14 – 10/12/2020)
  • 5 Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30 pm (9/15 – 10/13/2020)
Anne Ku welcomes you to Historic Lower Mills in Boston, Massachusetts
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Remembering dad on Father’s Day

Today may be the first time I’m joining everyone else in cyberspace, to remember my dad on Father’s Day. In Mandarin Chinese, the word for father is “ba ba” which sounds like “eight eight” — thus the eighth day of the eighth month is the preferred day to celebrate Father’s Day for the Chinese.

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The Handy Man Can

When my friends posted a video of their business called “The Handy Man” on Facebook, I was suddenly reminded of a parody I wrote years ago on the song “The Candy Man” because I was so fascinated by what one man could do.

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Leavin’ on a Jetstream

It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re in a bathroom store buying your first bath tub together. You just want a no frills tub for two for a small bathroom. Each tub you try not only gets bigger but comes with more bells and whistles until you get the largest one with jetstream and massage options. Once you get home, you discover that you can barely move around in the bathroom. You’ll also need to knock through a wall to fit it. Continue reading

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Safely dance the safety dance: riffs and meaning in music

Still reeling from the high energy ukulele jam of the “Eighties Extravaganza,” I can’t stop exploring the songs we didn’t get to sing. One of these is the one hit wonder by the group “Men Without Hats.”

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Selecting songs for a select audience: eighties extravaganza

In music, the formal or official term for song selection is “repertoire development.” It sounds sophisticated and significant, and it should be, for it is not trivial at all. Repertoire development refers to creating a balanced portfolio for performers. In programming a concert, it refers to creating an attractive programme for the audience. How does this apply to selecting songs for ukulele jam sessions? In particular, songs from the eighties?

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Ukulele Crash Course for Complete Beginners

After giving different kinds of ukulele workshops in Massachusetts, I’ve decided to offer a crash course for those beginners eager to participate in the ukulele scene that’s spreading across the world like wild fire. For time-challenged adults, it’s about making time to get a 1.5 hour dose of instruction in a group setting.

[Related entry: for the absolute, complete, total beginner in ukulele]

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