Ukulele Connect

I had a GREAT group lesson last night. Here are some takeaways for my student's Solo Practice until next time:

1. Start with the most difficult part of a song when practicing. Highlight or add a post-it to a section when you notice high-processing or a stumble. If you like, play from the beginning but, do so only after playing the part that trips you up multiple times.

2. Song Sheets or "Charts" (Lyrics with the chords above them) presume you already know the melody well. The Melody "leads" or "Drives" the song. The chords and the Rhythm support (or accompany) the melody. The melody tells you A LOT about what everything else in the song wants to do. Listening is learning.

3. Rhythms are divisions. A line of music has 4 measures, each measure is (often) "measured" with 4 beats... 4 quarter notes per measure is called 4/4 time. Playing "on the grid" means beats are equally spaced out. Be a robot about it. Use a metronome or beat machine (both Free on Google). Count the beat and evenly divide it as such: Whole notes, 1/2 notes 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes. Can you think of other ways to divide musical time?

4. Swing is a VIBE: Much of the music we love "swings" -- this means it's played slightly ahead or behind for emotional effect. Like emotions themselves, this is easily FELT but difficult to explain in technical terms. Trust the process: learning to play technically well, on the grid, makes it easier to express yourself rhythmically later.

5. Send me a video for personalized feedback: Sounding good in your practice session? New discovery? Send us a video and let's celebrate together! Having trouble with a technical issue? Send me a video and I'll provide exercise to support.

Send a message to learn more