Category Archives: sheet music

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 … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday chord melody arrangement for ukulele

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Anne Ku

A chord melody arrangement is one in which the melody (of a song) is embedded in the chord. While you can play the melody separately from the harmony, the idea is that the notes you need for the melody is … Continue reading →

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From concert to entertainment: Earth Day celebrations

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Anne Ku

When does a concert turn into entertainment?

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Marmie (Birmingham, May 1998 – London, April 11, 2017)

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Anne Ku

“My cat died last night,” I texted my friend who owns four dogs and two cats in Denver. “I didn’t know you had a cat,” she responded. “I don’t. I gave him away years ago.” I can’t remember when exactly I … Continue reading →

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New music to calm your soul: Giovanni Allevi

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Anne Ku

The piano solo music of Giovanni Allevi is so addictive that I had to find the sheet music and play it. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop. It’s like an ear worm that digs into the core of you. 

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Moving out, moving over, and moving on

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Anne Ku

During the pressure-cooker months of May and June,  I often wanted to wave a magic wand and make everything disappear. My tendency to collect, accept what others give me, organize, make good, and keep meant that I didn’t like throwing … Continue reading →

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Like-minded souls and their passion to collect sheet music

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Anne Ku

“If Bart were still here, he would never let me go through his sheet music and take what I want,” I said to his widow after spending hours looking through the densely packed shelves downstairs and upstairs.

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What you’re also learning when you take a piano class

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Anne Ku

Rough draft for a future article or blog post Time management Multi-tasking Planning Listening Public speaking Presenting Overcoming stage fright Timing, rhythm Body coordination Focus Concentration Real time crisis management Problem solving Interpretation Individual self expression Accompanying Improvising Collaboration New … Continue reading →

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Most commonly used chords for ʻukulele

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Anne Ku

The common chord progression assignment I gave to my beginning music theory class caused an uproar. It was the secret formula that explained the Pareto Rule of Pop Music: 80% of pop music used only 20% of the chords. “You mean, … Continue reading →

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Chord shape thinking from guitar to ukulele

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Anne Ku

In my forthcoming paper on teaching yourself to play the ʻukulele, I venture into similarities between guitar and ʻukulele chords. If you already play the guitar, thinking in intervals and chord shapes will give you a head start to playing the … Continue reading →

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