Besides strumming the chords, what else can you do to accompany a song? Every song has its instantly recognizable riffs, repetitive chord progressions, percussive patterns, and other unique units hidden in the introduction, instrumental interludes, outros, or between verses, refrains, etc. In this ukulele course in Zoom, we will explore these elements to take your playing to the next level. The course is scheduled for five consecutive Wednesdays at 6 PM EDT (3 PM PDT, 12 NOON HST), starting 29th May 2024.
According to Motley Fool, one of the “five habits of money habits savvy investors” is investing in yourself. This translates to self-learning: take a course to learn something new, meet others with similar goals, and continue your musical journey.
What are you doing about improving your ukulele playing?
About the Course
Ukulele Riffs & More! is a new course designed to take you deeper into playing the ukulele to accompany singing.
Most song sheets give just the chords and lyrics. For a group to play and sing in sync, we need additional information, such as the starting note of the melody, count in (for the time signature and any incomplete measures), introduction, and outro (or how to end together).
To bring out “more” from a song, we employ what’s called “authentic replication.” With our ukuleles we can do more than mimic what the rhythm guitarist plays in a band. We can add riffs of the drummer, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboardist, and other instruments.
During the first five weeks, we will explore best practices in introducing and ending a song. Learn to read tablature effectively and simplify the replication of riffs. Make use of accents, particularly in syncopation. Get more out of your ukulele!
If you choose to continue into July, we will apply these skills of authentic replication to your requests and further selections to enable you to produce your own solos.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the recognizable riffs and unique units of songs in their “official audio” or “official video” recordings
- Identify repeating patterns
- Replicate by listening and reading tablature
- Examine different ways to introduce a song
- Explore different ways to end a song, e.g. one strum on the last chord, repeat a line, “cha cha cha” on last two chords, and unique outro (instrumental)
- Learn the “riffs and more” in the 22-songs from the recent music marathon
- Use different parts of your ukulele for percussive effects
- Vary your dynamic expression and texture
- Apply the above to songs you love and want to play
Registration
This course is offered for five consecutive weeks. One hour per Zoom session. There’s an opportunity to continue into July for three additional sessions (the day of the week to be finalized in June – July 10th, 17th, and 31st). Those who missed the June sessions can register for July separately (tuition fee to be determined in June).
Tuition includes all instructional material, class video recording, and entry to 3 Chord Thursday until end of September 2024. Register via this Google Form.
Testimonials
from the ukulele accompaniment course Winter 2024 (January – March)
This course was an excellent overview of many skills and concepts for the ukulele. Some of what we learned was picking and plucking, strumming, and chord progressions. We even got to make requests, which inspired me to practice and learn an intermediate song that I’ve been wanting to play.
I’ve taken multiple classes with Anne over several years now and I have enjoyed every class. As much as anything, I appreciate her enthusiasm for the ukelele as an instrument, and for music as a whole. And she takes each individual wherever they’re at and is always positive. I find her classes to be fun, challenging at times, and always full of information. And the post-class videos and materials she shares are always helpful!
J Austin, Arlington, MA
This course was a helpful next step experience (after the Ukulele Bootcamp) to be exposed to varied techniques on the ukulele. It served to dispel some of the anxieties I had about learning new varied ways of playing. Although my personal opportunities to practice were limited, I now can review the tools and dedicate time to internalizing some strumming, picking, percussion, timing, and chord progression work on my own. It was a good blend of techniques to make me feel more confident in some skills, brave enough to venture into some areas where I struggle, and serving to make me feel more confident as a blossoming musician. Great teacher who not only instructs but inspires and helps to connect fellow ukulele enthusiasts. I LOVE my newfound ukulele community!
Boni-esther Enquist, Educational consultant of educators serving English Learners in Massachusetts and beyond.