Happy 2022!
My birthday falls in the first week of January, so the new year always feels like a double reset for me. Like many others at this time of year, I find myself reflecting on the past and looking to the future, and I thought it would be fun to share what some of my music-making goals for 2022 are. In addition to setting specific goals, I also pick an overarching theme for the year. In the past I’ve chosen themes that were designed more for my life as a mom—some prior themes were “play,” “home,” and “style.” But this year I’m planning something different. This year my theme is…
Read MoreClawhammer strumming is typically associated with the banjo, but it's a great option for the ukulele as well. In this video tutorial, I break down the clawhammer strum into really manageable steps and share an easy play-along for Li'l Liza Jane, my favorite song for practicing new techniques.
Read MoreIf you’re a teacher looking for resources to use in the classroom, look no further! Today I’m sharing a roundup of some of my most popular resources, all of which can be used FOR FREE in the classroom setting.
Read MoreShoo-Lie-Loo is one of my favorite American folk songs, and its simple lyrics and call-and-response format make it an easy and inclusive song for groups to sing and strum. The hope and optimism in this song make it a joyful choice to sing any time, but especially this Juneteenth, as we celebrate the emancipation of all enslaved people in the United States.
Read MoreSummer is quickly approaching, bringing a lot of wonderful opportunities to play our ukuleles. Today I’m sharing a very happy (and free) digital download to help you make the most of your music-making this summer, and there are a couple different ways you can use it.
Read MoreFor this third installment in my series on time signature, I break down what 12/8 time signature feels like for those of us who don't have degrees in advanced music theory! Learn technical terms like "dreamy" and "swishy" and learn how to spot 12/8 time by singing through two great examples of it—"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and "O, Holy Night" by Mariah Carey.
Read MoreI was introduced to The Four Stages of Learning through a podcast (can’t remember which one, though!) a handful of years ago, and it’s a concept that’s really stuck with me. I find myself reflecting on it when I’m teaching and also when I’m thinking about my own development as a musician. If you’ve ever felt impatient by the pace of your progress, I think you’ll find this framework to be really valuable as you continue on your musical path. First I’ll explain the framework and then I’ll share a few tips on how to handle the frustration that inevitably arises when we’re learning something new. Ready?
Read MoreThere is a grand tradition of folk singers and musicians repurposing a melody to create a new song, and This Train is Bound for Glory is just one example. This Train shares a melody with The Crawdad Song, though the songs feel very different. The Crawdad Song has an easy-breezy quality to it, but This Train has much more of a raucous, rock-and-roll energy. Even though we’re using the same combination of chords and the same melody, we have two very different songs!
Read MoreMany people take up a musical instrument at the beginning of a new year, but making a habit out of playing consistently is hard! In this video I give you some things to think about, so that you can go forward with your new instrument in a way that’s more purposeful and practical, so that you can build a practice that will last a lifetime.
Read MoreToday I have a very easy song to share with you! It uses only two chords, it’s really short, and it has very simple lyrics. I’ll show you how to play it in two different keys, and then I’ll show you how to turn this into a holiday song so you can sing about your own family traditions.
Read MoreOne of the things that appeals to me about Christmas music is that it is, essentially, a type of folk music. Each year we hear many of the same songs, and we often have our own favorite versions of those songs. And of course, new versions of those classic carols and pop songs get recorded every year. Today I'm sharing a song that was written three hundred years ago—it’s sung by artists and choirs around the world, and it’s one you may already know by heart.
Read MoreHappy holidays! This is a wonderful time of year to be making and sharing music with loved ones, and even brand-new players should be able to join in on the fun. Here are play-along videos for the three easiest songs from my holiday songbook, Oh, What Fun! Christmas Songs for the Ukulele. Play them using just the C, F, and G/G7 chords, then use the guide in the book to learn how to play in different keys.
Ready to start making merry?
Read MoreI’m spending so much more time at home these days, and as a result I’ve been looking for ways to make my environment as welcoming as possible. Since coziness and comfort are on my mind, I focused on curating a gift guide that would spark joy and/or make playing your ukulele more convenient or comfortable. I love trying to pick out the perfect gift for my loved ones, and I hope this list helps you find a thoughtful gift for you or your favorite ukulele player. Ready? Let’s get gifting!
Read MoreWhat is it about sad songs that make them so fun to sing? “Don’t This Road Look Rough and Rocky” is a three-chord ballad that packs a lot of melodrama and melancholy into its chorus and three verses, and it was one of the very first songs I memorized the chords and lyrics to.
Read MoreOftentimes, we musicians can be quite hard on ourselves when we aren’t mastering skills as quickly as we think we should. But the problem isn’t our skill level, it’s our expectations.
Read MoreDown in the Valley is a two-chord song in 3/4 time, so it's a great choice for experimenting with different waltz strums. And because the lyrics are so simple, you can probably memorize the first verse after playing it just a few times!
Read MoreOften times, we ukulele players start our musical journey by learning how to play a few songs with a basic down-up strum. Then we might learn a more complicated strum pattern only to find we’re having little trouble matching the strum to a song. Often times this is because a song has pickup notes. And the good news is that this is something you can make sense of even if you’ve never had a formal music lesson or learned any music theory before.
Read MoreDuring overwhelming times such as these, we can take comfort in strumming songs that have been played by generations of humans who have survived their own hardships. Spirituals in particular tend to help us cope with life when it feels like the sky is falling, and I'll Fly Away is an easy three-chord folk song that sparks my hope for the future.
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