Musical tributes

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Anne Ku

Homage. Tribute. These are words reflecting past accomplishments that live on. Here is the start of a project paying tribute to a composer or artist or other famous person through a re-interpretation of his or her music.

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Kanikapila in Hawai’i (part 3)

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Anne Ku

In part three of this blog series, I write about getting together to play music outdoors on the beautiful island of Maui. Subtitle: making music on Maui.

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3 Chord Thursday workshops

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Anne Ku

On 13th and 20th January 2022, we will be giving free workshops in Zoom instead of hosting song sessions for 3 Chord Thursday. Doors will open 10 minutes before start time. We will use a WAITING ROOM to let you in, ready to start BEFORE each workshop. The times are 2:50 pm EST, 3:25 pm EST, and 3:50 pm EST. If you’re too early, you have to wait in the WAITING ROOM. If you are too late, you’ll have to wait for the next workshop.

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Kanikapila in Hawai’i (part 2)

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Anne Ku

At the beginning of the pandemic, I watched Facebook livestreams of “Unko George” Kahumoku, Jr making music on his farm on Maui. It looked like such fun. He had introduced me to Daniel Ho who then introduced me to the ukulele just before I left Maui.

Two years later, I am on Maui. On the Thursday before Unko George took off for his annual concert tour of the East Coast USA, we visited his famous farm, cutting grass for his animals and taking part in his morning feeding. He instructed what to do. After making us lunch, he brought out several copies of his songbooks (what he uses in his ukulele and slack key camp). We sat together and engaged in kanikapila in front of a small audience.

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Kanikapila in Hawai’i (part 1)

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Anne Ku

Upon my return to Maui, I got introduced to “kanikapila” — a Hawaiian term describing a spontaneous, impromptu music making with others, usually outdoors.

The pandemic made us cautious about indoor activity. Portable instruments such as the ukulele and guitar made it possible to go outside. Most of all, the tropical weather during winter and beautiful locations on Oahu and Maui lured us to kanikapila.

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Autumn 2021 Classes

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Anne Ku

As this term comes to a close, I reflect on what worked well. In early August 2021, I sent out a request to indicate music class interest in a Google form. The responses helped me plan and schedule classes starting in October. When there wasn’t sufficient enrolment to offer Hum & Strum, Stand Up Ukulele, and Performance Series, I combined them into one class on Tuesday mornings.

For 2022, I plan to offer a Chinese songs for ukulele class, two Beatles classes, classical ukulele ensemble, music theory, and piano classes in Zoom. Below are what was offered in Autumn 2021.

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Simple Gifts for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Anne Ku

The music that enters my head sometimes takes over my life. Today it’s the Shaker tune, Simple Gifts, perfect for Thanksgiving each November. The way to get rid of the ear worm is to write it down. Put it in Sibelius notation. Export as PDF. Upload it. Give it away.

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3 Chord Thursday: Year of the Cat

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Anne Ku

On Thursday 27th January 2022, we invite you to share songs about cat or cats or other feline creatures. We celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, which falls on 1st February. It’s Year of the Tiger!

DRESS CODE: if you love cats and other feline creates, wear and show it. Otherwise, STRIPES.

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3 Chord Thurs Hawaiian Theme

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Anne Ku

To open and welcome the new year in Hawaii on Thursday 6th January 2022, we invite you to share Hawaiian songs or songs about Hawaii. Wear your aloha shirts, mumus, leis, and other colorful, flowery clothes that you’d wear in Hawaii.

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Beatles love songs for Valentine’s Day

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Anne Ku

Every year I try to select songs to fit the annual occasions, such as love songs for Valentine’s, Irish songs for St Patrick’s, nature songs for Earth Day, etc. In my deep dive Beatles songs for my ukulele classes in Zoom, it makes sense to select love songs for the second course in this series of pluck, strum, and riffs, a.k.a. authentic replication.

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