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Recent Posts
- 123 Ready Set Go for high G ukulele April 1, 2025
- B-A-C-H in a Waltz for high G ukulele March 31, 2025
- Waltz for Chief Noda for high G ukulele March 30, 2025
- Unfinished Waltz by Anne Ku March 28, 2025
- Waltz Down the C for high G ukulele March 26, 2025
- Tweak the Twinkle for high G ukulele March 25, 2025
- Thirst for Third for high G ukulele March 25, 2025
- Step In and Out for high G ukulele March 25, 2025
- Thrive on Five in Five (pentatonic) for high G ukulele March 25, 2025
- Thrive on Five (pentatonic) for high G ukulele March 25, 2025
- Gallop on First for high G ukulele March 23, 2025
- Skip the Second for high G ukulele March 23, 2025
- Harmonizing B-A-C-H March 22, 2025
- B-A-C-H in a Minuet for high G ukulele March 21, 2025
- Waltz Up the Neck for high G ukulele March 21, 2025
- Wander on One for high G ukulele March 20, 2025
- Walk With Fingers for high G ukulele March 19, 2025
- Inch with Index Finger for high G ukulele March 18, 2025
- Snake Eyes for high G ukulele March 5, 2025
- Sacred Cow for high G ukulele March 5, 2025
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April 2025 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Recent Posts: Concert Blog
REVIEW: Discovering Fingerstyle Ukulele Songbook by Colin Tribe
Colin Tribe’s new book offers new possibilities for ukulele players who aspire to fingerpick their way through thirty of the most popular songs of all time. These chord melody arrangements show a variety of ways the high G ukulele can be used for instrumental solo or duet (such as chord accompaniment and melodic fingerpicking) . […]
REVIEW: Piano Animals (duet) by Heleen Verleur
This 31-page book of four hand piano music is sheer FUN with a capital F. The composer Heleen Verleur knows just what pianists love playing: music that is easy to read, sounds hard to play, but is so much fun that you don’t want to stop until it ends.
REVIEW: Ukulele Picking Tunes Classical Gems by Paul Mansell
This 40-page book is the latest contribution to the ukulele repertoire by the UK-based ukulele and guitar composer Paul Mansell. Guitarists who play the ukulele are few and far between, for many adult learners pick up the ukulele without knowing the guitar. Yet it takes a guitarist who understands the possibilities of the re-entrant tuned […]
REVIEW: Modern Pieces for Ukulele by Paul Mansell
Review of first three pieces from the new book Modern Pieces for Ukulele by Paul Mansell
Group piano class in Zoom
Introducing my group piano class online: Group Piano Class in Zoom. The first series of seven weekly one-hour class started in June 2021. The second (continuation of the first) started in October 2021 at alternating weeks, until end of December (seven sessions). The third series of 16 consecutive weeks started at the beginning of 2022. […]
Tag Archives: chords
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee or God Save the King
On an American air base in the island of Okinawa, I grew up singing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” before I learned that the same tune was known as “God Save the Queen” or “God Save the King” depending on … Continue reading
God Bless America
Irving Berlin initially penned the words to “God Bless America” while serving as a sergeant at an army camp in 1918. As typical of many of his songs which didn’t fit the occasion at the time, it was put away … Continue reading
Correct fingering for error-free execution with ease
“Pencil in your fingering for both hands. Use a pencil in case you want to erase later. Decide on the fingering. Practice with the fingering you wrote in the score.” Why? The students in piano and ukulele classes ask. Why … Continue reading
Pachelbel Progression
When I learn of a musician’s departure, I instantly hear his or her music in my head. Last week, I checked my phone and read “RIP George Winston” in my Facebook feed. His Pachelbel Canon Variations entered my sound space … Continue reading
Piano Harmonisation (Harmonization)
By special request, I am offering a new 8-week piano course in Zoom to take beginners to the next level of playing. Read from lead sheets and play songs you’d like to play. It’s open to all levels though not … Continue reading
Music Theory: HARMONY
What’s the difference between melody and harmony? Both require notes to define and describe them. One is ordered sequentially through time. The other can also be stacked vertically. We associate melody with words and harmony with emotions. Is there more?
Chord Choreography
Fingering and switching chords on the ukulele (or the guitar) is akin to the way a pianist changes fingers to play different chords on the left hand. It’s easier to stay in the same position (that part of the keyboard) … Continue reading
3 Chord Thursday Waltz
On Thursday 1st December 2022, we gather to play chords following a medley of famous waltzes. You can also request to perform a waltz via this Google Form. A waltz is a dance in 3/4 time. A waltz does not have … Continue reading
3 Chord Thursday Spicing up songs with few chords
On Thursday 17th November 2022, we explore different ways to spice up few chord songs (that have two or three or four chords). Have you ever wondered why some people are able to spice up a three chord song? See … Continue reading