PLEASE NOTE: This song line-up has been slightly changed from a previous post. My perogative, I’m the boss!

Feb.5 – Pop Radio Uke Hits – “I’m Yours”, “Hey Soul Sister”
Feb.12 – Valentine’s – “Have I Told You Lately “, “The More I See You”
Feb.19 – Springtime with Al Jolson: “April Showers”, “Red Red Robin”
Feb.26 –  Smile! – “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” , “Smile”

Mar. 5 – Simon & Garfunkel – “Cecelia’, “59th St. Bridge Rag”
Mar.12 – Neil Young – “Harvest Moon”, “Sugar Mountain”
Mar.19 – BLUE – “Blue Bayou”, “Blueberry Hill”, “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue”
Mar.26 – Antonio Carlos Jobim – “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”, “Girl From Ipanema”

AND WHAT ARE THE UKULELE SESSIONS? HERE ‘S A RE-CAP:

The Ukulele Sessions is a series of themed, one-hour evenings, each focusing on a specific artist or genre or era……everything from Fleetwood Mac to Cole Porter to Adele to ..…the list is endless…. a super opportunity to get some hands-on learning in an intimate, fun atmosphere, and meet some fellow players. Although generally geared to the Advanced Beginner, many of these classes will cater to you Newbies, with cool, easy to nab 2, 3 and 4 chord tunes from every era.

You can purchase a package of 10 classes, then attend ANY 10 you wish.
OR- Attend single classes. Drop-Ins are welcome, merely pay at the door.
DATES:
Feb:  5, 12, 19, 26
Mar:  5, 12, 19, 26
Apr.: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

TIME: 7:30 – 8:30
LOCATION: 157 Queen St., Newmarket, ON
CALL:  905 717 8696
COST: $160 for package of 10 classes
——–$85 for package of 5 classes
——–$20 at the door for Pay-as-you-go

This is the reference sheet we use at our workshops. To me, these are the basic chords to get under your belt. There will always be more, but I’ve found that this collection will cover most of what a beginner is going to need.

It’s 2015. Another year done, another one ahead. As always, I’m reminded of how blessed I am, in so many ways. Reminded to not sweat the small stuff. And most of all, reminded of Friends – friends, from every corner of my life – professional, family, neighbourhood, partners, peers, cohorts, pals and lovers. You are so very appreciated, and I thank you with all my heart….for your support and involvement and laughter and love. Here’s to a rich and healthy 2015, abounding with granted wishes and hopes fulfilled, best said in one of my all time favorite lyrics from “It Goes Like it Goes”: “…..and maybe what’s good, gets a little bit better, and maybe what’s bad gets gone”. My wish for us all this New Year. xoxo

(And here’s to Music, ongoing and ever evolving, the soulfood that never runs out.)

Since I know that Santa will be bringing a few of you brand new ukuleles this Christmas – YAY!! – and having received a few requests for Newmarket, I’ve added a 2-Hour Intro Workshop to the new classes for 2015. Don’t want those new ukes to sit all lonely and confused come January, do we? (Check the ‘Classes’ page for details)

What’s the hippest Christmas gift this season? – A UKEOLOGY Gift Certificate!
It’s Canadian and it’s music. Two thumbs up right there.

Your gift can be for any amount and used towards any UKEOLOGY service:

A 2-Hour Introductory Workshop
A 4-Week Workshop
Private lessons at your home or mine
Skype lessons
Coaching for uke performance
A package of classes for ‘The Ukulele Sessions’ in Newmarket

AND….Take advantage of the UKEOLOGY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL – Buy a gift certificate before Dec.24/2014 and get a complimentary Mini Chord Fret Stamp and Ink Pad. (a $20 value)

Or order them separately, as perfect stocking stuffers for all those musical types in the family.

Check the ‘Classes’ page for info on classes and rates.

Dec.11 – Patsy Cline – ‘Crazy’, ‘Walkin After Midnight’
Jan. 8 – Burt Bacharach – ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’, ‘Close to You’
Jan.15 – Sarah Mclaughlin – ‘Angel’, ‘Ice Cream’
Jan.22 – Bob Dylan – ‘Knockin on Heaven’s Door’, ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’
Jan.29 – Hawaiian Pop Hits – ‘Drop Baby Drop’, ‘Honey Baby’

Another wonderful Christmas Workshop with a lovely bunch of folks. Thank you all, for strumming the first heart-warming sounds of the season into my home. Can’t wait to hear that you led your friends and families in caroling with your ukes. Wow, what a wonderful image. Considering that most of you started learning with me as ultra ultra newbies, I was pretty impressed with the level of playing I heard here on Sunday. (And the beautiful harmonies!) Way to go! Ho Ho Ho!!!

This class only happens once a year. An opportunity for ukelele lovers to learn some awesome holiday tunes, get a couple hours of focused instruction, get to sing to your hearts content, have tons of Christmassy fun with goodies, cider, and a kick-ass complimentary 22-page chorded Xmas Songbook. Hohoho!

We’re over half full right now, so sign up sooner than later to reserve your spot! $60.

Last night, I was blessed with a profound moment of pride and joy. As our Ukulele Session was ending, one of my students said, “I want to thank you for the gift you gave me last Christmas”. I didn’t remember giving her anything, and was about to feel embarrassed when she explained. After taking my Christmas Workshop last year, she decided to take her ukulele to her mom’s retirement home and play her a few of the songs she’d learned. Her mother was suffering from dementia and had not spoken a single word in 8 months. As soon as she started playing, her mom began singing along, … full verses, sometimes singing in harmony. She thanked me. This is the power of music. I feel it everyday. Sing to someone you love.

Here’s this month’s line-up for THE UKULELE SESSIONS. Songs listed are what we’ll aim for, though we may only nail one of the two.

Oct.30: Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams”, “Over My Head”
Nov.6: ‘Happy’ songs – Pharrell Williams “Happy”, Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
Nov.13: Jazz Ballads – “My Funny Valentine” , “Our Love is Here to Stay”
Nov.20: Jack Johnson – “Breakdown”, “Banana Pancakes”
Nov.27: Beatles – “Eleanor Rigby”, “When I’m 64”

Here we go, Newmarket, Aurora and vicinity! I know that the onset of the holiday season often makes it difficult for people to commit to 4 weeks in a row , so I am offering these brand new UKEOLOGY classes at a special rate to warm up those fall & winter nights. (Toronto folks….perhaps a carpool?)

The Ukulele Sessions will be a series of themed, one-hour evenings, each focusing on a specific artist or genre or era……everything from Fleetwood Mac to Cole Porter to Adele to ..…the list is endless. This is a super opportunity to get some hands-on learning in an intimate, fun atmosphere, and meet some fellow players.

Although generally geared to the Advanced Beginner, many of these classes will cater to you Newbies, with cool, easy to nab 2, 3 and 4 chord tunes from every era.

AND, as you garner more skill and confidence, I plan to incorporate some ‘orchestrating’ – assigning parts for ukes and vocals – with strumming, picking, solo-ing, singing, harmonies and percussion….hopefuly, the beginnings of an ongoing Ukulele Orchestra!

You can purchase a package of 10 classes, then attend ANY 10 you wish.
OR- Attend single classes. Drop-Ins are welcome, merely pay at the door.
Hope to see you one of these Thursday evenings!

Man, I love this part of my career. Yes, I love working on stage, in film and TV, radio, and live gigging with the many gifted musicians I’ve worked with over the years. But teaching was not something I planned on feeling passionate about. Thorough, professional, smart, capable, entertaining, even inspirational……these are all things I would have guaranteed when I started…..but I never expected to feel such passion, joy, devotion and utter gratification. With every student who starts fresh, knowing zero, feeling ‘un-musical’ and ‘un-talented’, who finishes a workshop with a binder full of songs and a huge smile of accomplishment, I feel that same joy that they do.

Here is another proud Beginner Ukeology Class at the end of their 4th week. Much laughter, enormous learning curves, new friends, …..
These are just a few of the tunes we covered:
“Eleanor Rigby” – The Beatles, “Kiss Me”- Sixpence None the Richer, “Like an Eagle” – Mighty Oak, “Big Yellow Taxi” – Joni Mitchell, “I’m a Believer” – The Monkees……and more….

I love my happy new sign, designed with love by my son, Nick Bujnak ( pardon the plug, but I AM a mom). Lucky me, to have a gifted graphic designer in the family. Doesn’t it just make you want to smile? And doesn’t that pretty much say it for the ukulele? I think my favorite thing about this instrument is it’s multiple possibilities for ‘happy-making’: the fact that you can not only play it with brilliance and if you choose to commit with passion, and embrace almost any piece of music that’s ever been written (with an instrument that doesn’t weigh much more than a bird,) OR, just have it be your new best friend and get a barrel full of easy peasy songs under your belt to play on the dock by the lake with friends and family and feel that undeniable joy that comes from music that YOU make. That’s ‘happy-making’.