Temptation of the tropics in winter

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Anne Ku

It’s been over a year since I last posted to my Maui blog for newcomers. I had long left and travelled to mainland USA and Europe, back and forth. However, every winter I experience withdrawal symptoms, that is, looking back and wondering why I left that tropical paradise called Maui? If everything was so perfect, why did I leave?

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Ukulele Workshops & Jam Sessions in Historic Lower Mills

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Anne Ku

To introduce the joy of ukulele to this area of Dorchester, Milton, and Quincy around Boston, Massachusetts, I’m giving workshops followed by thematic jam sessions. A workshop is a group learning experience, where I teach specific skills needed to play the instrument. A jam session is group playing and singalong, where I provide song sheets and lead everyone in playing together. Workshop participants are encouraged to stay for the jam sessions, especially for the warm-up. If you don’t have your own instrument, I have extras I can lend you for a small fee.

All jam sessions are free. Doors open 15 minutes before the workshop and session. To get on the mailing list, please fill out the Google Form so that I can contact you for your reservation. If there is sufficient interest, I will organize a separate workshop to cater to different age groups. At the moment, the workshops are geared towards preparing participants for jam sessions.

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Valentine’s Day at Heartbreak Hotel ukulele jam

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Anne Ku

The approach of Valentine’s Day isn’t always welcoming for the heart broken. While lovers dine in restaurants or stroll hand in hand, the jilted and the scorned sit alone, at home, hiding from the rest of the world, mourning love’s labour’s lost, and drowning themselves in love songs that make them cry even more.

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Dido’s Lament for ukulele

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Anne Ku

Dido’s Lament is one of the saddest but most beautiful arias, sung by a woman grieving over a broken heart before she dies. Such is the famous lament of Dido, Queen of Carthage, when her beloved Aeneas leaves her for a greater calling in Henry Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas.”

The four-minute piece begins with a recitative of Dido saying farewell to her sister Belinda. It’s followed by the famous descending chromatic bass, paving the ominous path to her end. Originally written for a baroque ensemble, the piece has been transcribed for many kinds of ensembles and instruments, but not yet the ukulele. Why not?

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Auld Lang Syne for ukulele

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Anne Ku

There are many versions of Auld Lang Syne, which is traditionally sung to bring in the new year. The original one is beautiful but rarely heard these days. The lyrics come from the Scottish poet Robert Burns and the song is also celebrated on Burns’ Night.

Visit the workshop webpage  for video recordings. Check out new arrangements in 2025.

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Annie’s Song in C for ukulele

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Anne Ku

When I was growing up on the island of Okinawa, I listened to John Denver whose songs of love, nature, and beauty described my childhood. I took a personal interest in “Annie’s Song” identifying myself with the name.

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When I was growing up on the island of Okinawa, I listened to John Denver whose songs of love, nature, and beauty described my childhood. I took a personal interest in “Annie’s Song” identifying myself with the name.

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Easy peasy ukulele duet on open strings

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Anne Ku

After arranging music for easy piano solo and duets for several years, I am now developing material for teaching the ukulele to complete beginners. It’s an eye-opener to observe how quickly, after a short introduction to this four-stringed instrument, one reaches a positive conclusion: “I can play it. I want to play it.”

Next questions: where can I get one? how much does it cost?

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My last grandma (1917 – 2017)

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Anne Ku

6 October 1917 – 3 July 2017

We called her “Ah Po” – an endearment in the Hakka dialect.

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Only You by Yazoo for ukulele and four-part harmony

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Anne Ku

During Freshman orientation week, I heard the Pitchforks sing a song that was so beautiful that I spent the rest of my life looking for the sheet music. When I eventually found a copy with piano accompaniment, I begged my friend to sing it in his barbershop quartet. I wanted to hear it again.

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Opus: Live is Life for ukulele

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Anne Ku

On my first trip to Europe, I heard a song in the Greek islands that roused me to get up and dance. Because I heard it everywhere, it became the single defining song of my first backpacking trip as an independent solo traveller.

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