The 4th Peg

Ok.. a bit overdue (hey, I’ve got a library book from 1974) but a wonderful addition to Curt Sheller’s marvelous ukulele lesson books is the Guide to Ukulele Strums. This is the one (and only, in my opinion) book to get to work on your right-hand technique and put some pizazz into your playing.

Curt starts with the basics such as what is a strum and some practice exercises. He proceeds with important items such as what do the symbols in the book mean. Curt moves straight on to the strum patterns showing how the strum are accomplished and gives a brief explanation of each. Strum patterns include basic rock strums, ska and reggae strums and many others. Curt also explains how to use single notes (such as bass notes) along with strums to liven things up. These are invaluable for those who truly want to take their playing to the next level. By the way, on page 21 is a Cut Time Strum. This strum is a staple of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) and no Cliffy fan should pass this one up.

This is a great learning resource, a bargain of a price and I salute you, Curt! You rock (and reggae.. and waltz.. and mambo..)! Surf on over to Curt’s ukulele home on the web and check out his other offerings too.

I’m Sparkles, Doctor Sparkles. Ukulele artist, sparkling doctor and host to a monthly ukulele cabaret in San Francisco. Called the Jumping Flea Circus, admission is free and the audience is friendly. Standout performances are posted online.

Check it out on the Jumping Flea Circus Cabaret MySpace page and also on the Jumping Flea Circus’ YouTube page. Next time you are in the San Francisco Bay area, come and play. Contact the Sparkling Doctor for details & directions @ jumpingfleacircus@doctorsparkles.com) and don’t forget to visit his little sparkling home on the web.

Also, he’s just released a new album of original swing music titled Monkey Swing Monkey Doo. It reflects upon our lively origins, our enlightened potential and our capacity to love & express ourselves through such artforms as flinging poo at the zoo. It’s kind of a hybrid of David Bowie and Cab Calloway, sort of a Ukulele Ike meets George Formby in Space… and it’s got a beat that any primate can swing to.

Keep sparkling, good Doctor!

In beautiful Indiana, a bit north of Indianapolis, lies the historic town of Noblesville. It’s here the Blue Stone Folk School calls home in a roomy Victorian house just off of the town center. The Blue Stone Folk School is becoming a mecca for musicians wanting to jam and relax. Geoff Davis, Executive Director for the Blue Stone Folk School, hosts jam sessions on the front porch of the old Victorian and it really doesn’t matter how well you play or what you play. Just bring it along and enjoy the camaraderie.

On select Sundays, the Blue Stone Folk Music’s Front Porch Swing plays host to ukulele players, mandolin players, harmonica players, guitar players and just about anyone else willing to spend a bit of time creating music and fellowship. The group is a diverse one. The lineup changes according to who’s busy or who stops in that day or even who might be in town visiting. 50 year old guitar players who love sea shanties arrive. 7 year old ukulele players join in.

Ok, so perhaps it’s not in the thousands but if Geoff and the gang keep up, the headcount might very well grow to those numbers. Would be quite a sight on that front porch. Aren’t you jealous? You should really show up. Read the full article in the Indy Star and also visit the Blue Stone Folk School and join up as a member.

Bill Tapia can play the ukulele better than most people. Who is Bill Tapia? Bill is a jazz man. An accomplished jazz guitarist, he has jammed with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Billy Holiday, Fats Waller and Charlie Barnett. He made a career of playing superb jazz guitar starting at the tender age of 12 when Bill dropped out of school to hit the road in a vaudeville show.

But Bill Tapia didn’t always play guitar. He started on the ukulele when he was  a tender age of 5 and, by the time he was 10, was giving ukulele lessons. Bill was one of the first on the Islands to play jazz ukulele. However, by the time Bill hit teenager status, he was hooked on jazz guitar and off to pursue his passion for performing.

At 93, Bill chanced upon the ukulele again. He helped a lady at a music store who seemed to have trouble playing one of the ukuleles she was thinking of purchasing. He became hooked again. So after 55 years, Bill is teaching, performing and recording on the ukulele again.

Bill played at the most famous spot for Hawaiian performers, the Royal Hawaiian, when he was younger. He went back, ukulele in tow, to play the final night before they closed the hotel for renovations. Bill plans on playing it again when they reopen.

So if you are looking for an ukulele hero, here’s one of them for you. I also list Aldrine Guerrero as one of mine. A dichotomy of age but twins in talent and love of the ukulele. Read more on Bill Tapia at the Orange County Register and also Aldrine at the terrific Ukulele Underground website. Gotta love ‘em.

Toryn MacDonald from Greenfield, Lancashire, UK has only 6 months of lessons under her belt. Yet, she topped all others in her grades to qualify for the Bronze Ukulele Award. The seven year old received her prized green Mahalo ukulele 3 years ago. She reveled in sitting in with her brother while he practiced his guitar. Soon, she was taking lessons formally. Now, at the ripe old age of 7, Toryn is well on her way to putting Jake Shimabukaro to shame. Maybe not, but she’s doing terrific anyway so deserves our applause!

Remember Toryn the next time you are strumming a difficult part or you see a song you’d like to learn but think it’s too hard. Perseverance wins. Small steps achieve mighty goals. Practice, practice, practice.

So why is a Hawaiian man teaching ukulele building in Wisconsin? When the the Lake Menomin Arts Institute wanted to offer a ukulele building program as part of it’s traditional arts program, they turned to Kazukiyo “Jiggs” Kuboyama to lead the class.

Mr. Kuboyama graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stout in 1957 with a degree in Industrial Arts. Since then, he’s taught at least a couple of hundred people how to build ukuleles. Mr. Kuboyama started teaching others to build ukuleles as an Industrial Arts teacher at Waianae High School in Hawaii and later as an apprenticeship coordinator and instructor at Honolulu Community College. When Mr. Kuboyama retired, he continued teaching ukulele building and shows no signs of slowing down.

Mr. Kuboyama has been honored by the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii for his promotion of ukuleles and dedication to the craft of ukulele building. Mr. Kuboyama reveals that dedication by not charging to teach the classes at the Lake Menomin Arts Institute, merely for his expenses.

For spreading the love of the ukulele well into the heartland of America and for all he’s accomplished, I heartily salute Mr. Kuboyama. He believes that once someone makes a ukulele, the instrument will become a family heirloom. After making my first ukulele at the Blue Stone Folk School in Noblesville, IN, I couldn’t agree more.
Read a bit more at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram site.

Curt Sheller has contributed a ton of his knowledge to the ukulele world via his books, website (www.curtsheller.com) and free lessons. From Jazz Progressions to understanding theory, there has been relatively few musical areas Curt hasn’t touched on for ukulele beginners on up to ukulele advanced players.

One topic that Curt recently addressed is strumming; taking a rhythm and applying it to the ukulele strings. I love that Curt has written on this topic as so many ukulele players I meet are strummers. I’m sure that most beginners would love to advance out of the straight up and down, 4/4 method of strumming and branch out into more interesting styles of strumming. Want to sound like Bob Marley? Learn to strum reggae. Want a soft, soothing sound? How about strumming in waltz (3/4) time? Explore these and lots more. Let Curt take you to a new world of playing that promises more fun and excitement for years to come.

I haven’t seen the book yet, just the preview pages on Curt’s brand new Ukulele Strumming website. Therefore, I can’t really comment on how wonderful or not the book is in total. But I do have other Curt Sheller books and downloads and expect this new addition to be no less than his others. Curt has a natural teaching style about him. He’s clear, concise and light and an overall fun read. You’ll learn something for sure and perhaps more than you expected.

Oh yeah, there’s going to be ukuleles galore in the City of Big Shoulders.. my hometown.. Chicago. The Windy City Uke Fest is quickly approaching on August 1, 2 and 3 at the fun Tiki Terrace in Des Plaines, IL. Easily accessible from the major airports and outside of the hassles of downtown Chicago. Hotel accommodations are inexpensive and close to the event (easy walking distance).

There will be Workshops for beginners, intermediates and advanced players, vendors, stage events including inclusive strumming such as the sing-a-long stage! Open Mics and performers such as Chicago’s own Steve Slivka and the Boar’s Head Orchestra, The best Midwest Island band.. the Windy City Islanders, Kimo Hussey, Mark Gutierrez, Abe Lagrimas Jr., Uke and Steel Slide Guitar Extraordinare.. Gerald Ross, One of my Favs… Lil’ Rev, Victoria Vox and others!

It’s going to be a blast all weekend long and you’d better not miss it! Read more about it here and don’t forget to get tickets. They are limited and going to get hard to come by. Move it!

Mike DaSilva makes terrific ukes. They are right up my alley with interesting sounds, choices of wood and grace to their design. Mike’s love of the ukulele runs deep and long. He’s also profoundly grateful for the luck he’s experienced (I’d call it “hard work with passion”). Mike’s first ukulele was a $100 Martin. Since, he’s found a few other incredible deals but mostly he loves making them.

Mike began running into others who had a passion for the uke, perhaps talented musicians who couldn’t afford a quality instrument or someone with such a passion to just learn to play the uke that they’d settle for anything.. anything at all. He had a simple idea. Just give them one. When Mike came across someone that he believed deserved a uke that didn’t have one, he give the person one of his. Just gave it. No strings. They were free to do with it whatever they wanted as it was theirs to use as they saw fit.

I know we all would love to be on the receiving end of such generosity. After all, Mike builds fabulous ukes. But would it be terrific if instead of receiving, we put giving into the forefront of our minds? I imagine that most who might read this pathetic ramblings of an old uke dude probably also have a passion for the ukulele. Heck, you might be like me and have a few here and there. Is there someway to pass along the joy it’s brought to you and me? Think about it. Maybe go buy someone a clip-on tuner. Or what about purchasing a music stand for someone? It doesn’t have to be a uke, just something to pass along what we’ve all been very lucky in receiving… the joy of uke. Please.

Got a yearning for something special? Check out Mike’s ukes. I promise that you won’t be sorry.

DaSilva Ukulele Co.
2547 8th Street, #28
Berkeley, CA 94710
510 649-1548
www.ukemaker.com