‘Ukulele Festival

 

Workshop Schedule

All workshops held at Upper Valley Campus of the Napa Valley College in St. Helena

October 11, 2008

Workshop Descriptions

9:30 am—10:45 am

Beginning ‘Ukulele – Keoki Kahumoku

You might wonder why a Grammy-Award-winning musician would be teaching beginning ‘ukulele. That’s easy.  He wants to. Keoki has made it his mission in life to share his love of Hawaiian music and culture, and we are the lucky beneficiaries. If you’ve never picked up an ‘ukulele before, this is as good a place to start as any.  If you know a few chords and want to work on technique—perhaps a little finger-picking—this, too, is the place for you.  If you simply want to sit in and share an hour with one of Hawai‘i’s most engaging characters, feel free to sit in.  All are welcome, we just ask that you respect the beginning students who have come to learn to play ‘ukulele from Keoki.

‘Ukulele. Pass It On – James Hill

Sooner or later you're going to find yourself teaching ‘ukulele to someone else. Whether it's your grandson or grandfather, daughter or mother, friend, neighbor, niece or nephew, or a classroom full of kids (young or old), it won't be long before they're saying "teach me how to play!"  In this class James will give you tried-and-true teaching strategies and piles of fun, gratifying songs for students of all ages and stages.

Intro to Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Mark Kailana Nelson

Left with a few guitars by visiting cowboys from Spain, but not sure how they were supposed to be tuned, the Hawaiian’s came up with their own, unique style of playing called ki ho`alu. It is recognized today as one of the signature sounds of Hawaiian music.  In this workshop you’ll explore some of the tunings and nuances of this deceptively simple style of guitar playing.  Adventuresome beginners are welcome. Bring a guitar, but leave the flatpick at home! It is all about tropical rhythms, finger picking and aloha.

Learning to Listen and Buying an `Ukulele – Mike Da Silva

With so many fabulous ‘ukuleles available today at the International Marketplace, how do you decide which is the best one for you? In this class, master luthier Mike DaSilva will guide you through the myriad of options available with a few simple tools, starting with knowing how to listen and what to listen for. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or one of those people with a severe case of  that dreaded disease of the pocketbook—‘Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome—this might be a very good way to start your day.

10:00 am—2:00 pm

Hawaiian Craft and Culture – Nimbus Arts

Drop in and join the fabulous artists from Nimbus Arts and adorn yourself in tropical island accessories after learning to make them with traditional, fresh ingredients!  You’ll have an opportunity to string fragrant leis from fresh flowers that you will enjoy wearing all day, weave traditional head bands from palm fronds, and knot together a hula skirt from long-stemmed ti leaves. You’ll also have an opportunity to send aloha to your loved ones after using collage to craft a custom island greeting card. And that’s just the beginning.

11:00 am—12:15 pm

Hawaiian Stories and Keiki Hula - Liko Puha

While this workshop was designed for the keiki (children), their parents, too, will enjoy this brief emersion in Hawaiian culture with master story teller, Liko Puha. Close your eyes, and listen, and you will imagine you are actually in Hawai‘i, sitting at knee of your kupuna, ready to learn. In this workshop, Liko will also be offering a brief introduction to hula geared primarily toward the keiki.

Slack Key Guitar – Keoki Kahumoku

Traditional or contemporary Hawaiian music, played on slack key with a hint of the blues, and played with passion—this is what Keoki Kahumoku is best known for. This workshop is for those who already have a little experience with ki ho’alu or for those who feel comfortable enough with traditional guitar to jump right in. What is actually taught will be driven by the students, who’ll have an opportunity to ask Keoki for specific instruction, guidance, and technique.

Swing, ‘Ukulele, Swing – James Hill

 

It's swing time in ‘Ukulele Land. East coast, west coast, all around the town, swing is happening.  Sweet-sounding swing chords are easy to play and they sound oh-so fabulous. Your friends, will thank you, your ‘ukulele will thank you, and your strumming will never be the same again.  Regardless of prior experience, James will have you swinging your first tune in five minutes and fly you to the moon from there.

Surfin' Uke! – Mark Kailana Nelson

Calling all beach bums, surfer girls, and gremmies. Come learn the instrumentals that defined an era: “Walk Don't Run,” “Apache,” and “Pipeline.” This workshop is for intermediate to advanced players comfortable with chords up and down the neck and who know a bit about playing single notes. You’ll need an instrument that has at least 14 frets with either a high or low G. Baritones are welcome, as well. All songs approved by the Hana Hou Daddies.

‘Ukulele Song Arranging – Herb Ohta, Jr.

You’ve got your basic chords down and can move easily between them, but unless you’re singing, no one else knows what you’re playing. So how do you do it?  How do you add melody notes to a song as you’re strumming along?  And what about those arpeggios?  Thirds? And Sixths? Don’t panic if you don’t know what it means and don’t worry about music theory. In this workshop Herb will introduce you to a few tips and techniques that will take your ‘ukulele to a whole new level.

12:30 pm—1:45 pm

Building and Playing a One-String ‘Ukulele –Mike Da Silva

You, too, can become a luthier for a day in this fun workshop for kids of all ages. Mike DaSilva will teach you how to build a simple, one-string ‘ukulele and teach you how to play a couple of songs devised just for this instrument by non-other than ‘ukulele virtuoso James Hill! Wow yourself and amaze your friends!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Slack Key Bass - Konabob

The coolest member of the band is often the one playing bass. Or is it the one playing slack key guitar? Hawaiian steel guitar? ‘Ukulele? Never mind. With strings tuned to an open G, or taro patch tuning, you will learn the fundamentals of playing the bass with one finger on the left hand. What could be easier than that? In fact, the most difficult part of playing the bass may be loading it in and out of your VW Beetle.  But, never mind, Konabob has a solution for that, as well, the Kona Walkingbass^tm. See it here, first. The only instrument required for this class is an open mind, but if you already have a bass, feel free to bring it.  (If you bring your own bass, you’ll also need your amplifier.)

Perform Like a Pro! – Ralph Shaw

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or the thought of getting up in front of an audience to perform has never crossed your mind, you won’t want to miss this wonderful opportunity to learn most of the do’s, don’ts, shoulds and should nots of performing from the consummate entertainer, Ralph Shaw. In this workshop Ralph will cover how to prepare, how to connect with the audience and the microphone, and more. Participants who wish to perform a song will receive a gentle critique and learn ways to develop their performance skills even further, though performing in the workshop is not mandatory. He’ll also teach you how to recover from things that can go wrong…not that they ever do.

Beginning ‘Auana Hula for Men and Women - Liko Puha

An introduction to hula for those who have little or no experience in this ancient and beautiful form of Hawaiian storytelling. In this workshop you will learn some basic movements and gestures, the story behind the mele (song), Hawaiian vocabulary, and hula terminology. If you already know the basics, Liko will help you perfect them.

Pick Your Way Through the Hawaiian Turnaround – Herb Ohta, Jr.

OK, so you know the standard D7-G7-C routine and are comfortable with your basic chords. Now it’s time to add a little pizzazz to your Hawaiian turnarounds (or vamps), by picking your way through them.  In this class you’ll receive an introduction to reading tablature, learn a wee bit of theory, but mostly work on a variety of  Hawaiian turn-arounds in a couple of keys. You’ll finish off with a classic Hawaiian song that pulls it all together, Henehene Kou Aka—Ohta-style.

2:00 pm—3:15 pm

Luthiers and How They Can Make You a Better Player – Kimo Hussey 

We are blessed here in the Bay Area with a number of outstanding luthiers and even more so at the Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival with an additional one who has joined us all the way from Hawai‘i. In this double-session workshop you will learn the how and why of ‘ukulele construction (a.k.a. luthiery) and its very direct effect on the music we enjoy. You will explore relevant issues like sound, playability, looks, and value. And you’ll have an opportunity to jam and kani ka pila, with Kimo Hussey—one of the authors of “the book,” He Mele Aloha—playing ‘ukuleles made by local luthiers.

Strum-cersizes and Ornamentology - Ralph Shaw

Even the simplest songs can be made more interesting with the creative use of varied rhythms. In this class, Ralph will help you enhance your strumming and develop an intuitive instinct for rhythm through a series of different practice techniques he calls “Strum-cersizes.”  He will also teach the clever use of certain “ornament” notes (known as ‘Ornamentology’) that will give you a variety of new tools for your ‘ukulele kit bag! Students should already be able to play one or two simple songs and be able to make chord changes quickly and smoothly.

Intermediate Hula: Lei Nani – Robyn Mahealani Kneubuhl

If you already know how to kaholo, your `ami is smooth, and your `uwehe has just the right pop, if you know your i luna from your i lalo, and don’t hela when you are supposed to lewa, this is the class for you. Robyn Kneubuhl will be teaching “Lei Nani.” While beginners are welcome, please note that this class is geared for those already familiar with hula.

Hawaiian Song & Pronunciation - Liko Puha

“Sprinkle, sprinkle little jar, How I thunder hot you far.”  A little ridiculous, right?  Well, that’s the kind of nonsense many of us are singing as we bumble our way through the multitude of beautiful songs written in the Hawaiian language. In this workshop, Liko will take us through a couple of Hawaiian songs, helping us understand the words and meaning and teaching us the correct pronunciation, so our stars can twinkle instead of sprinkle. ‘Ukuleles welcome.

3:30 pm—4:45 pm

Luthiers and How They Can Make You a Better Player – Kimo Hussey  (cont.)

 

Stretching your Chord Repertoire – Robyn Mahealani Kneubuhl

Have you ever wondered what adding a D^#dim or A^b9 would do for your songs?  You’ll learn this and more in this `ukulele workshop for intermediate players taught by Robyn Kneubuhl. You’ll also have an opportunity to explore bar chords and the more common chords in different positions and to sing with one of the most beautiful voices in Hawai‘i today. Robyn will be teaching "Pua Pakalana" (a beautiful tribute to Robyns sweetheart grandmother) in the key of D with one of her unique chord stylings that will leave you longing for tropical nights and gentle surf.

Fun with Your ‘Ukulele – Mark Kailana Nelson

It’s all about playing and singing and having fun with your `ukulele in this popular workshop for beginning and intermediate players.  Mark has a veritable grab-bag of great songs—from jug-band music to Hawaiian to rock-n-roll—to share with his students.  Not only that, he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve that’ll make even the most beginning players leaving the workshop feeling like Jimi Hendrix, only more alive.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar-no experience needed - Konabob

You’ve got to love the musical ingenuity of the Hawaiians. In the late 1800s, a young Hawaiian boy named Joseph Kekuku, picked up a bolt, laid his slack-key-tuned guitar sideways across his lap and, running the bolt across the strings, gave birth to what is known today as the Hawaiian steel guitar. In this class Konabob will teach you the very basics of this instrument and a style of playing that evokes the islands unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. For this class, any acoustic guitar with steel strings will work, but bring a spare set of medium to heavy gauge strings if the ones on your guitar are old. If you have a steel bar, bring it, but Konabob will also bring a few extras for people who need them.