SIXTEEN hours?

 i would def need a carpool.  would it have to be unpaid leave, or could i act somehow as a company ambassador?  i can't help wishing and wondering...

http://www.folkalliance.org/conference/volunteer/

Festival Notes 2014

Eaglewood Folk Festival

I laughed so much during Wendell Ferguson's set, my face hurt.  And, Arthur Renwick commented from stage beside the pony rides, that 1994 is not even 20 years old yet!  I took it as a sign that he wanted me to stop by his open stage to play my first music teacher's original tune I'd once mentioned to him.  But, when I asked my fellow open jammers at the time, original or cover? they said original, so I played The World Just Keeps on Turning.  

At Ian's song circle, he congratulated me for taking a turn, by splaining he'd first heard me do this tune at Molly Bloom's, with Rob Kerr providing the guitar, and he'd swooned.  How romantic is that?  While I'd been trying it out there with uke gals, I'd been trying to remember how my friend Tony always exclaims after I try it, "That song is a    h i t !" ha.

i was so totally satiated by playing that, and a guitar cover, followed by a celebratory beer, I am surprised I even made it to the other performance option of the festival.

At Shelter Valley, BTW, during David Newland's uke workshop, I am sorry to say that I packed up my uke, and walked up the mountain with my raincoat on.  Too much talk, or just the weather?

I was singing with my friend Aimee, and some lady told ME, I have a lovely voice.  ha.  singing with Aimee is liberating, yes. and we have shared many an environment where sometimes there is good music and sometimes there is just the liberating vibe of being able to try any crap lol.

Wasn't it sweet when Susan from Accessibility Matters said you can hear my gift with kids on the radio show?  

More Random Record Keeping

Folk Music Ontario Conference 2014

Drew took this photo and posted it on fb!

This annual conference feels, to me, like a mega-mini folk festival, but with bathtubs and hotel beds for the camping.  I used to say that all the artistic directors of all the Ontario folk festivals attended, along with thousands of musicians that want festival bookings, and that I got to sit in audiences of 5 or 10 to see the showcasing bands that I would watch with a crowd of thousands at Hillside or Mariposa or Summerfolk or Blue Skies or Eaglewood the next summer... but the turn out was small this year.  My guess is about only 800-900 folks attended this time.


I arrived in time specifically for and enjoyed the set from keynote speaker CharlieAngus, MP who reminded us how folk music is needed to tell Canadian stories that otherwise go unheard. I noticed with so many people to chat with after the talk, he wasn't making it to the food table at the SOCAN reception, so I brought him a random plate of samples. What a great way to meet a facebook friend in person, finally! I also really enjoyed taking in the official showcases by Peter Katz, Catherine MacLellan, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer. Steph Cameron, and Trent Severn, as well as the private showcases by Jess Reimer, Trent Severn, Drew McIvor, Coco Love Alcorn. I remember helping to rearrange the lighting before Lindy's private showcase, not to mention repeatedly passing through a hallway jam that included QuiQue Escamilla, and singing along to Scott Cook's "the lord giveth and the landlord taketh away."

You should see the awesome thumb rest installed on Emm Grnyer's u-bass!  Apparently she had it installed by a luthier in Stratford!

Isn't it nice how folk songs travel? In the big Borealis song swap at FMO this weekend, instrument petting zoo Todd Crowley said he played on autoharp and sang a song he learned years ago from a Bobby Watt cassette. On the last verse, "come away from the firelight and lay your body down," the voice of an older man joined in. At the end he asked where I learned it and I told him. Then he told me he had written it -- the great Doug McArthur, another Canadian folksinger! "It was nice to bring this beautiful song full circle back to its source."

Here's the only picture I took all weekend.  It's of some of my favourite room-mates ha.

Like

Random Band Practice?

Yes, I get an employee discount.  And yes, I sometimes
use it!!

I am hoping that as the weather turns colder, and I am wrapping up my farm "jobs" for the season, I will find more time for developing my own music...  to that end, would you believe I just bought myself a nice, small bodied guitar that fits in my treefort, and fits me, much better than my old, heavy, yamaha solid-top, dreadnaught??  It really rings.  What a sweet new friend!

What I love about this picture that Trish took, is that I reported to the friend buying my old guitar at the shop the day after it was taken, that I was the piano player at the 3 way girl jam/after party; and that Trish was playing guitar, and Stacey alternated between bass and drums.  I had no recollection of holding a stringed instrument.  Was I even there? lol.  I guess I wasn't thinking of time on guitar, because I didn't bring my new little beauty to the festivities...

However, our 3 part harmony was low and awesome, if memory serves, ha.  For sure we jammed on When Doves Cry.  What else?

Notes From Uke Club

Random Snippets From A Day In The Life

I got an email from a pal the other day that said the line of my song "well anyway, we're killing bees, with these, awkward silences" drifts into her head, once in a while, even these years later.  Isn't that lovely?  I remember having the tune reviewed back then at an SAC function, Neville Quinlan said "Who thinks of that?!" reading it aloud, so, I spoke up and explained it.  Oh, those were the days lol.
*
Its true that I like to sing so much, I've learned to wear instruments.  And that I got myself a job at a music shop so I could get paid, at least a little something, to learn about music...  I wonder if I'm making any progress at all.  I haven't written a song in ages, and I forgot to keep working on my voice and I worry if it will come back.  I know I should take advantage of the invites to jam after work more often, especially with the multi-instrumentalist teacher who is keen to.

I got to make a noise on a trumpet the other day, along with all the kids checking out the brass instruments...

Lately everyday I try and "take a 15" to do something on the Casino, but I'm not plugging it in.  I also do my C scale on the uke and G and C scale exercise on the piano at least, as well as singing to at least one mando song.  I'm lucky there's not a u-bass in the store right now!  I guess I should be practicing G Em Am Dm G on the uke or some instrument or other, in case it turns out that's how we do 500 Miles ha.  I'm glad I'm allowed to do some promo for an upcoming bass clinic that I think I will actually attend.

And, I'm working on a New Horizons radio show that fits in nicely to the day job too...

By my best calculation, I have worked over 600 shifts to 9pm, essentially all in a row, excluding just a few vacation days and such.  I am starting to really, really miss being a part of a choir or attending an open stage once in a while...  so many things seems to start at 7 lately!

Summerfolk 2014

I was a first timer at this festival this year, and have already put it on my calendar to go again next year, despite the cold on Friday and pouring rain on Saturday.  Now, that's the sign of a fantastic festival!!!  

Did you attend the audience vs. performers game Down By The Bay?  Seeing Drew earn my team points with his "My Funny Valentine" rendition was a total highlight of the festival for me.

Another moment that made me happy was to find the wonderful musical petting zoo, an interactive exhibit of FOLK instruments.  At least 100 unique instruments!!!  It makes sense to me that Todd's Musical Petting Zoo is well received at FOLK festivals across North America, including Summerfolk, Mariposa and Home County, year after year.  Todd Crowley is an exhibitor, not a vendor, which I see as a shame in some ways, because I think the zoo helps to sell instruments, or at least sell the idea of playing a folk instrument.... What's the difference between an autoharp and a zither?  I can't wait to visit again to find out! 

I remember seeing a cello in action, and at least one fiddle.  I know there was at least one concert-sized ukulele, a banjo uke and a baritone uke, because I played each of them for a while.  Is there a difference between a bazooki and an octave mandolin? I think I tried both... as well as a regular mandolin.  With I was trying out the hammer dulcimer I said to the zoo proprietor that if this was MY zoo, there would be a laminated card taped to every instrument that told us what it is, where it comes from and a little bit about how to play it, ha.  I was happy to find the Merlin in tune and to have it in my hands when a celebrity passed by because you can't make a bad sound with that thing, and it really projects!  I think I browsed an accordian, charango, cuatro, harp, kantele, limberjack, psaltery, requinto, and a vihuela.  I forgot to try the saw, but enjoyed meeting the tres.  I thought the drum and percussion section was a little lame.  Was that because of the weather? I'd never known before how drum heads have to be protected from damp, rainy weather, even more so than all the stringed instruments... 

*

At the late nite/early morning campfire, I don't know why I didn't think to borrow a guitar! Instead of continually crashing and burning on uke, with botched and unfinished tunes, because I have been practicing too much piano lately ha. D'oh!  For sure another of the magic moments for me was when Aimee did 100 Miles (both nights), and I also loved joining in with Heather singing accompanied by tuba and two harmonicas!

*

It's true I broke my festival tradition of random wandering by ear, and checked out all 4 of the sets Danny Michel and Six Shooter had mentioned on facebook and twitter in advance.  I was glad I did, even though he never did pass around any of the percussion toys in his workshop suitcase!  I got to sit on Adam's couch for that workshop, while he borrowed my umbrella to return back stage - putting his djembe into said carrying case for him afterwards was hilarious, because I was trying to fit it in upside down!

Did I mention I really liked Allysha Brilla's music?  Groovy guitar, clarinet, saxophone and a delicious voice to singalong with -- And, the rest of her band was also really awesome!

Other highlights from the various stages included:

Seeing Union Duke from Toronto again was a blast, big-city rocking bluegrass-country, with banjo, boy harmonies, chicken-pickin’ electric guitars and a fast driving, heel-stomping beat. I love the tambourine cymbal technique!

Coco Love Alcorn was so, so awesome - especially at the gospel set with her tiny trumpet and extraordinary and stunning voice, and a fresh sounding mix of jazz, soul and folk.  What a playful, witty, joyful, genuine, and compelling performer.

Mike Stevens and Okaidja Afroso with their complex interlocking rhythms of Africa that meet the soulful and rich melodies of North American blues and country. 

Quique Escamilla is a powerful guitar player with a voice and passionate delivery to match, that fuses traditional Mexican styles of music such as ranchera and huapango with modern flavours of rock, reggae, ska, pop, jazz, cumbia, bolero, It was interesting to learn about the various social and political issues such as human and civil rights, immigration reform, global conservation, anti-racism and Indigenous rights that he supports.

"The strongest heart is a tender heart," Metis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume offers a catchy, moving singing voice and guitar style in her  accessible roots-pop arrangements.

24th Street Wailers blew me away. A most original and exciting band with a woman on lead vocals and the drum kit, one of the best guitarists I have ever seen - another young woman.  The quartet had tight grooves, inspirational energy and an unadulterated live show.

*

It was also fantastic to meet an occasional jam buddy, and be thus encouraged to join in the Jumble Jam.  Out celebrity song co-writer was David Sereda.  Whether a cappella, solo at the piano, or with his stellar ensemble, David’s joy of singing is irresistible. He blends folk, gospel, soul and pop with a restless flair.  Ours was a piano based tune - I wish that I had a photo of our turn on stage to perform it.  I remember being willing to share a mic with Barry but not with one of the other singers, who's voice wasn't such an easy match for mine, and thus a whole new mic and stand had to be brought out, which made me feel so high maintenance I asked them if they could also bring me a new hat.

Gonna drive, gonna drive across the prairies to the mountains

So alive so alive I can almost taste the sea

Gonna drive gonna drive thru the mountain to the the coastline

So alive so alive wanna feel you close to me

                           floating thru the afternoon

                             knowing i will hold you soon

Seattle in the Summertime (with echo)

Seattle in the Summertime (echo)

 ~ spicy bazouki and bell solo

I'm never gonna go back again X2

Seattle in the Summertime etc etc  including la la la's

[G] Gonna drive, .... across the [Em] prairies to the [D] coastline

We're alive ... [ same chords]

[F]And I'm never gonna  [C]  go    back  [G]  again ,

[F]And I'm never gonna  [C]  go    back  [D]  again ,

[G ] Seattle in the summertime  [Em  D]

It is true that I did buy myself a nice new warm layer from Sylph!  

Hillside 2014

So great to see a pic from last year's uke workshop in the program!!!

Instead of a write up of what I loved about the festival, here's a few radio shows to check out:
1. Live to Air, Sat Jul 26
2. Hillside Revisited

Mariposa 2014

here's the view from the tent

Overall it felt like quite a feminist line up to me, with Hydra, Rosanne Cash et al as closers, and the chance to dance a bit to Ani Defranco, and also Dar Williams (yes, I did cry once), as well as the chance to sing along with Ariana Gillis and Craig Cardiff, twice each, ha.

 

One of the highlights of the festival this year for me, was seeing my very first guitar teacher and a bass/cello teacher I have been woo-ing for the shop, each supporting different acts, at a workshop. Steve was actually staying on from the previous guitar playing workshop, at the request of the next acts up on stage!

 

Another of the highlights was being asked  "what song would you play Kim, if you were to play a song?" at a late nite campfire, with random strangers, as i was passing by, with a uke, and wanted to SIT down ha…  Some of the other tunes moments before had been kind of intimate, "Probably a quiet one" I was suriprised that I actually answered, and sort of experimented with the fingering of a song I know, and then suddenly she was singing backing vocal sounds, as was my other seat neighbour, with all the words and the melody I was essentially whispering, although trying to project...  i left room for an instrumental and the host on the guitar took it when i nodded at him. What a treat!

I also loved serenading Annie while she swam the next morning.  I hadn't had a chance to do my personal private uke sing on her loaner instrument yet, but she wanted to meet up for the pre-breakfast coffee and swim.  She wants the paperwork for the Miss Ohio ditty, reminded me about the Have An Awesome Day song and then I also noodled around with Dreams, Werewolves of London, the Peg and Cat problem song, before turning to her paperwork... it was a fun little singalong.

And, what about that instrument petting zoo!?  I stopped in there every time I passed by...  One time, I was singing and playing the L&N on an out of tune Luna teeny tiny acoustic, with a pic a kid had brought over specially to me, just before i had a great conversation with an older girl.  She was wearing a purple Girls Rock Camp Toronto t-shirt, and I told her I liked it, and asked if she went there.  She had. And, of course she'd met Magali! She'd also found a bandmate who'd written a song there, that she taught me:  verses Am Em G Am, chorus Am Em G C Am;  That was after she tuned a resonator guitar by ear and I explained to her what all the metal stuff was, and then she tuned my zoo-guitar too! Did she say she was 11?  By the way, shortly after our jam, the zoo owner stopped over to ask her if she needed a guitar tuned lol, If he only knew. (I saw him perform later as a tweener, mostly on autoharp).

 

 

Summer 2014 Uke Club Meetings, Sundays at PennyWhistle 7-9pm

Working Man
Book of Love
Best Day of My Life
Yellow Bird
I'll Fly Away
I Will
Stand By Me
That's The Glory of Love
Tiny Bubbles
Spiderman
Lion Sleeps Tonite
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Mr. Bojangles
What Colour R U
You, Me & Mexico
Boots
Bye Bye Love
The End of The Line

I think we were 9 participants at the uke circle/jam on July 13, 2014.  Here's what we played:
- Stand By Me
- Will The Circle
- Paradise
- Dear Abbey (no paperwork, Jude will email out)
- Brown Eyed Girl x2 with more sha la la's
- It's A Heartache
- Ruby Tuesday
- Down By The Bay
- Don't Worry
- Raindrops Keep Falling
- Lace & Pretty Flowers
- Me & Julio
- Lay Down Sally
- The End of The Line

We had a fun time last night! I think you'll like meeting at the Penny Whistle. We even got some applause! I wanted to pass along the song list, it's not in order because I wrote it on a small piece of paper…

- You Ain't Going Nowhere
- Brown Eyed Girl
- Wagon Wheel
- End of the Line
- You Can't Always Get What You Want
- What Colour Are You
- Lion Sleeps Tonight
- Moody River
- Paradise
- Three Little Birds
- Lace & Pretty Flowers
- Wake Up Little Susie
- Five Foot Two (Eyes of Blue)
- These Boots Were Made for Walking
- Tennessee Waltz
Both Steve and Jim also performed a song each, but I didn't get the names…

Farewell Friday Uke Club Meeting, Fri Jun 27, 2014

I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again

Me & Julio
Margaritaville
Monster Mash (with trumpet!)
Mull of Kintyre
Moody River
One Love (did I actually vote to abandon ship? for the 1st time?)
Ruby Tuesday (missed it, dang, i knew we would hit it out of the park ha)
Stuck In The Middle (done a second time so i didn't actually miss it!)
Singing in The Rain (great exercise song)
Spider man (thanks so much team! my fave of the night. so fun!)
  after break
Tiptoe through the Tulips (good luck getting your seat back etc)
That's The Glory of Love
Under The Boardwalk (with more trumpet, hoo-ray!)
Wooly Bully
The Lion Sleeps Tonite (only 2 people needed paperwork, but i did a deja-vu verse instead of the missing 3rd one ha which we did in fact proceed to do).

Uke Club, Fri June20, 2014

Hallelujah
Hit The Road Jack
Harvest Moon
Hey Good Lookin
I Will Remember You
Into The Mystic
I Still Miss Someone
It's A Heartache
I've Been Working On The Railroad
I've Just Seen A Face
   after break:
I Walk The Line
I Have A Dream
Its A Heartache wasn't recorded by the secretary, but I'm sure it was run at least 3x
Just When I Needed You Most
Lay Down Sally

Would you believe we had no rental P/A gear available for demo by the time of uke club? No one asked after the open mic idea, so we skipped it.  And, blasted through the binder, with little re-filing.

And, a sorry lack of horn solos, if I may say!!  Next week the shop's resident horn player is plotting an appearance!  Does anyone mind if I take their picture?

Jim brought lovely rope for us to each draw from for a free uke strap as desired.  We made sure to take a list of new e-mail addresses to ensure Mary's list keeps us all up to date....

the Farewell Friday uke club at the music store is next week, and many can't make it.  who is volunteering to "host" an informal uke gathering and jam at the Pennywhistle for our first Sunday nite gathering?  Details will follow...

In the meantime, perhaps we should consider private lessons?  Or the group uke class? i'm just sayin'

T-jam, Tues Jun 17, 2014

So, I've decided that Book of Love on the uke is the way to go.  And, I sat down at the piano and almost remembered "Happy Birthday" before experimenting on drums.  Then I borrowed an acoustic guitar for The L&N.

Wasn't it great how the team pitched in for The Werewolves of London? I am so sorry to have cut all the experimenting so short, lol.

into the mystic
sounds of silence

"Did you really not know all that about Burke Carroll?  p.s.  I am so sorry to have missed that gig."

and p.s.
watch the graduate

Backyard Jam, Mon Jun 16, 2014

"I agree, I hate that totally materialistic bullsh*t verse," Aimee and I while were way too chatty, while she was finally playing an instrument... (not to mention also when others were, ha.)  I'd wanted to watch her play The Book of Love, while proving i knew all the actual, real proper words, and to practice coming in on the vocal on time, ha.  It worked.  It was great to sing with her, before she walked me part way home...

Uke Club Fri Jan 13, 2014

"Okay, it's 10 after 7 and we haven't even played 1 song!" We rearranged the seating, a few times this week, to create new pathways to the private lesson studios...

Down By  The Bay (2x)
Me + Julio
Big Yellow Taxi (2x, with applause from the private lessons waiting area, ha)
Can't Help Falling In Love
City of New Orleans
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Don't Worry, Be Happy
DaDo Ron Ron
End of The Line
Hey Jude
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Next Up:
Open Mic Format with P/A
Song Responsibility Sign Up Sheet (Re: Penny Whistle Meeting, Sun Jul 6, 7pm)

Here is the Group Uke Shot -- Does it look like we are on the way out?

T-jam, Tues June 10, 2014

What, only 9 vocal mics?  And more singers than that? It was awesome to have to share... and to blend voices together so closely, especially with a lovely former roomie, Heather, before the amplification.  We positioned ourselves well in front of the very directional mic I thought, and overall it was an especially nice vocal nite...  I remember exclaiming at one point, "That felt like Aimee was here!"

It is cool to experience the difference of each mic in the room and its own unique setting in the P/A, and i love squishing into random corners to try and keep up with at least a few chords on the uke!

Thanks to the encouraging and generous souls for insisting I plug in both the giant, heavy Epiphone hollowbody guitar (Book of Love), and the red hot Gibson ES330 (Essence, Miss Ohio), and made music with me! Are we sure that's not an ES335?

Some of my other faves of the night were Wonder Woman, Can't Let Go, and the piano, electric guitar and vocal jam ones at the end.  Do the three of us that were there that late have some tight harmonies or what?  It must be just where the voices lay, ha.

I am tempted to start keeping a full song list, and snapping a photo to commerate each jam, now that I am back in the neighbourhood!

Backyard Campfire Jam, Mon Jun 9, 2014

a turn on the uke, mando, acoustic bass, and guitar + folks to sing with = a very fun backyard jam!

i lead at least two tunes:

Dreams, uke

West Virginia, mando

my fave of the night might have been when James did Stuck In The Middle with You i think.  here's a pic that Valli took

Uke Club Fri. Jun 6, 2014

Under The Boardwalk
Hallelujah
O Canada
Tennessee Waltz
What Colour Are You
Blowing In The Wind (2nd time with instrumentals)
Big Yellow Taxi
Imagine
I Have a Dream
Down By The Bay (2nd time with no/less paperwork and 5 volunteer vocal line leaders)
Have you ever played a uke while wearing a toque?
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Recent Comments:

"My DOCTOR recommended the uke club while I was in the HOSPITAL!"

Is it true Danny Michel wants us to record our uke cover of his tune?  That would be fun! Of course it might even be more fun if he stopped by to hear it live, don't you think?  We could teach him our version!

It seems like there is interest in doing an open mic portion of the meetings, while we still have easy access to P/A equipment to practice with.  Who wants to sign up in advance for a spot on the line up June 20th?

We still haven't settled on our July meeting plans.  So, I haven't replied yet to the message received "Does that mean you don't have a club any more? I was hoping to do a piece on you."  But, I hope to have details soon -- how does Sunday at 7pm work for you?

Uke Club, Fri May 30, 2014

Yay, I was able to participate in the uke club meeting this week!

You've heard about Project Ukulele Gangsterism, right?  It was fun for our group, to be back in the lessons waiting area -- to me it always feels like a step towards the flash mob uke events we've discussed aspiring to...  As a benefit, customers seem to like overhearing the fun and music, or so my co-workers frequently tell me, and someone shopping even told me it sounded nice!  Maybe, since I'd approached him, he was just trying to tell me very kindly that he didn't need my help on the shop floor, ha.

Songlist:
End of The Line
Ain't She Sweet
Brown Eyed Girl (chosen by a new attendee from Waterloo)
Margaritaville
What Colour Are You
Me & Julio
Wagon Wheel
These Boots
Tennessee Waltz (for sure we did this one twice)
Imagine
Stuck In The Middle With You
Ruby Tuesday
Lion Sleeps Tonite

I like how we are learning to build in instrumentals, for those with the experience or talent to offer intros and solos and such.  And, I like that we are working on our endings to tunes, so that they each have or get an ending!  Such a collaborative, constructive club we have become.  Meanwhile, I am also relieved to report that the focus on the future of the club I founded seems pretty positive! I guess its all in the delivery?  As discussed last week, one series of events is expected to start up in a private home on Sunday evenings.  I also got a nice chance, when Gayle passed through, to mention her class.  One person took a poster home!  Here's the ad, in case you know someone who might be interested.

Here's some more random uke inspiration to share:
1. ukulelemovement.com/101-reasons to play
2. “People go off in their own little groups and have their own little ukulele circles,” said Shaw. “People are playing music again. You’d think, with all this technology, they’d be sitting in front of screens. But they’re not. They’re connecting through music again.” - See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/ukulele-circle-strikes-chord-with-beginners-and-pros-

Do You Remember The 2011/2012 Veggie Pick-up Jams?

I recall they started in the park, during the CSA veggie pick-ups.  One of the farmers also had a rarely-practiced-uke and so, we agreed to meet that once a week, with ukes in hand, to try and get at least that much (mutual) uke practice into our week...

We didn't make it an exclusively-uke jam tho, and, even provided percussion instruments to share...

Once upon a time, others would also gather and sit with us on the grass, and help to serenade fellow CSA members as they collected their fresh weekly produce!

The gathering grew organically over the weeks.  Would you believe every single pick-up had good weather?  That's how I remember it, ha.

Some of the 2011 events doubled as the Guelph Regional Writers Group Meetings I was still running then for the Songwriters Association of Canada...

In 2012, invited some of the previous ukers to join with me their instruments at the Ignatius Farm & CSA veggie pick-ups.  There might still be a donated uke in the farmer's office to this day !!!

When the seasons changed, the participants discussed how a music store would be the perfect venue for such a musical gathering. And eventually, at work, I got my hands on on the Kala brand step by step guide to creating a Ukulele Circle, created in collaboration with ukulele virtuoso and educator, James Hill.  (The Ukulele Circle Starter Kit is available as a free download to dealers). I was convinced that uke circles are a great way to attract new customers, create new musicians, and increase sales. And that they also generate a positive customer experience and a sense of community. I could see that they would be easy to organize at very little cost, and that they would really work to the benefit of both the store and the participants... I remember having to decide about whether to create the email invitations and marketing of the sessions as a personal endeavour, or as part of my role at work -- I was thrilled when my bosses at the time and I decided it would be a good fit for the shop's 2013 plans...
*
p.s.
I see Kala is promoting Uke Circles again -- they've said they are coming to your town!

"We are providing resources to  your local Kala Dealer so that they can put on a great Uke/U-Bass event at their location. Find your local Authorized Kala Dealer here...."

Uke Club, Fri. May 23, 2014

Once again, we were short staffed on the shop floor, so I didn't get to participate in the gathering in the reserved practice room...  but I heard some lovely tunes being sung and strummed from up there and came in to sing along and jokingly create a dance floor, ha.  I also snapped a pic or two during the signature, farewell, closing number...

Here's the song list:
Ain't She Sweet
Big Yellow Taxi
The Cup Song
Brown Eyed Girl
Can't Help Falling In Love With You
Yellow Bird
These Boots Are Made For Walking
What Colour Are You
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Uke Club, Fri. May 16, 2014

Bye Bye Love
Brown Eyed Girl
Don't Worry Be Happy
What Colour Are You
Yellow Submarine
I Have A Dream
Margaritaville
Yellow Bird
When The Saints Come Marching In
These Boots Are Made For Walking
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Uke Club Meeting Fri. May 9, 2014

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
5'2"
Hey Good Lookin
Lean On Me
Love Is A Rose
These Boots Are Made For Walking
Moody River
Going Up The Country
Stuck In The Middle With You
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
The End of The Line
The Cup Song
The Lion Sleeps Tonite.

Here are the link we shared on the email list for the cup song:
This is the video from the latest incarnation of the song, from the movie Pitch Perfect, by Anna Kendrick:
http://youtu.be/cmSbXsFE3l8
Here’s just a great video of the Cup Song that’s fun to watch:
http://youtu.be/6y1aOg_UO_A
And here’s a bit of the history  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cups_(song)

Wasn't that a fun one?  I was really glad to participate this week in the session!

Friday May 2, 2014, we were short staffed in the store, so I didn't participate...  there is still a song list tho:

Mull of Kintyre
Tennessee Waltz
These Boots Are Made For Walking
Lean on Me
The End of The Line
I Have a Dream
Iko Iko
Margarettaville (Jim & Steve)
Dreams
What Colour Are You?

Uke Club Fri April 25, 2014

There were 11 participants, and use of the washboard was recommended since we ran out of ukes.  Would you believe a tambourine was tastefully played?

The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Down By The Bay

I Have A Dream

Come By The Hills

End of the Line

First of May - Steve

Waltzing With Bears

I felt there was conflicting leadership and confusion so, suddenly I took over hosting at this point collecting votes with comments like "i have __ copies of _______.  how do you feel about that?"

Ruby Tuesday

What Colour Are You

The Lion Sleeps Tonite

How would the powers at be feel about a weekly open mic in the store Friday nites 7-9?

It's true I can't stop thinking about how its an honest, people's instrument.  Or wanting to continue to participating in a uke revolution and creating an alternate musical universe, lol.

I would like some tips for learning to match pitch at a campfire.  Is it just that I need to know more chords, or where to find notes?
Also, does anyone have tips to memorizing chord patterns, or for that matter, lyrics?

Uke Club, Fri April 11, 2014

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
Da Do Ron Ron
Don't Worry Be Happy
5'2"
These Boots Are Made For Walking
What Colour Are You
I Will
Me & Julio
Lion Sleeps Tonite

Uke Club, Fri Apr 4, 2014

We sent a text to my mom for her 70th b-day.  Have a listen:

 Songlist:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Me & Julio
Happy Birthday
I Will - fingerpicking
I Will - strum
What Colour Are You (i made a voice memo on my phone of this one to practice with)
Altogether Now
Red Bird (i played the red guitar for that one and then gave it away)
5'2"
Song For A Winter's Night
Don't Worry Be Happy
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Uke Club, Fri. Mar 28, 2014

So, the good news is that the uke club meetings at the music store are totally free from now on!

The published (but not enforced) $6 cover charge was suggested in the first place, in the hopes that the store's SOCAN lisence covered "concert distributions" regarding orginal music for live performance at the uke club... you know because anything from a large outdoor music festival to a small club/bar performance can be considered a live performance that may be eligible for a concert distribution, if the venue or promoter is licensed by SOCAN, and if there is a minimum of $6 cover charge. But, I've just learned that the venue's performing right's licence of musical works in repetoire of the Society of Composers, Authors ad Music Publishers of Canada only covers music under Tariff 15A anyway -- that is, "background music" in establishments.

Here's an update from the store about the club "In other news, while the club has enjoyed a successful run, it's time to try out a new venue and so sessions at the music shop will be winding down by the end of June.  The store will continue it's pursuit of Ukulele through more structured group classes, aimed at providing students with knowledge of standard tunings, strumming patterns and basic chord progressions."

Club members were pleased to hear more good news about the group classes in ukulele available through the music store in future - and club members will begin alternate venues for informal uke circles/jams in the meantime... What do you think about "uke orchestra" practices?

The Song List:

The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Song For a Winter's Night

Stand By Me

Scarborough Fair

Don't Fence Me In

To Make You Feel My Love

Blowing in the Wind

Wagon Wheel

You Ain't Going Nowhere

What Colour Are You

Yellow Bird

The Nicest Letter Came In Last Week!

it read kind of like this:

Dear Store Manager,

I want to thank you, the store and especially Kim Logue for the weekly Ukulele club. It provides an opportunity for ukulele enthusiasts, such as myself, to gather on Friday evenings. It has become a very important part of my week.

Kim Logue is a wonderful leader. Her love of music and particularly the ukulele has a positive effect on everyone. She has a quiet effectiveness and gives people in the club opportunities to shine both musically and organizationally. Everyone, from first time beginners to advanced players feel comfortable.

Because of the Ukulele Club I feel a loyalty to the store. I wanted to let you know that the Ukulele Club provides Long & McQuade a good opportunity to sell merchandise, both during the Friday evening break and at other times during the week. Since joining the group I have purchased a new ukulele and case, a music stand, a harmonica and have attended a harmonica workshop at Long & McQuade. I also follow Long & McQuade on facebook.

It is difficult to put into words how much this club means to me. The ukulele club has helped keep my spirits high, despite personal challenges and the difficult winter.  My ability to play the ukulele has greatly improved and I am now playing at song circles and open mikes in Guelph, something I would never have considered previously.

Thank you, Mgr, Kim and music store for your support of Guelph music.

Uke Club, Fri. Mar 21, 2014

Iko Iko
Just When You Needed Me Most
Hit The Road Jack
This Land is Your Land
I Can See Clearly Now (Steve & Cynthia)
All My Loving
Fisherman's Blues (no paperwork)
Wagon Wheel (no paper)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
What Colour Are You
Lay Down Sally
Blowin' In The Wind

Practice Room Rental $31.80

Uke 101, Mar 26, 2pm

The activity manager from a retirement residence in Cambridge reached out to our store with a note, "I was on your website and read about Ukulele Club and wondered if Kim Logue would be interested in doing a feature event here.  If interested Kim could come in and talk about the instrument and then do a simple interactive session that residents can participate in."

We set the date and time, and then she borrowed 8 ukuleles, and I brought 6.

We spent a lot of time getting comfortable with tuning, and passing around different ukes to experience first hand the different sound and feel of each.

We learned the so-called z-chord, and practiced a lot of G-C-E-A open string plucking, before trying the c-chord.

Then we sang lots of songs together,
Row Row Row Your Boat
Three Blind Mice

We even tried to master the F chord and enjoyed more tunes together:
Skip To My Lou
Iko Iko

And also Mary Had A Little Lamb, which one participant had in their uke kit booklet!

"The residents are still talking about how much they enjoyed that afternoon, so you were awesome!!"

Uke Club, Fri. March 14, 2014

"Watch, it will only be the two of us..." said the first arrival this week, who had brought a music stand, as did others that did in fact join us!  I kept thinking, how like Bev, who wasn't there this week, I really like to sit back and listen sometimes.

Do we need to bring back name tags? How did we do on the mailing list updates? We did not do well with the re-filing as we went, lol.  Also, the group-uke shot was taken before everyone arrived, oops.

Also, I think during Christmas break, we should offer some special extra sessions through the lesson centre, instead of fully shutting down.  And, that maybe it could work in the store's favour that the lesson parents haunt the sales floor, while the waiting room is too uncomfortably full of uking carollers? ha.

Songlist:
Me & Julio
Pay Me My Money Down
Tennessee Waltz
Hit The Road Jack
Wagon Wheel
Hey Good Looking
The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Uke Club, Fri. March 7, 2014

Song List:

The Lion Sleeps Tonite

Down By The Bay

What A Wonderful World

Fever

I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl

Brown Eyed Girl

Happy Birthday (to Peter)

You're Looking At Country

What Colour Are You

Yellow Bird

Carmelita (no paperwork)

Tennesee Waltz

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

We didn't have enough staff in the store that I could actually participate very much.  I rang in uke club practice room rental contributions at $17.  

For next week I propose some new steps:

[ ] back to group teaching room #7

[ ] free pass for role takers (secretary re: set list, librarian for refiling paperwork, host with a new song or 2?)

[ ] practice room contributions will be processed during intermission aka "shopping break"

[ ] MAXIMUM 3 NEW TUNES PER WEEK

[ ] MAXIMUM 5 COPIES OF EACH, no take homes

[ ] members will provide and share music stands

I also want to use some some sort of audio/photo permission sign in page.  I forgot to take the group uke photo, but I have a snap of participants in action that I don't know if I have their permission to publish or not.

Family Uke Jam, Sunday Mar 2, 2014

I am so glad I crashed the family jam hosted by Momma Uke.  I sure do want to be in her band!

It was fun to walk into the pub to be reunited with one of my ukes!  I should have handed out a biz card or two, or mentioned that I can sell them, because Cynthia gave it such an introduction, one man came up to meet it after the music.  He even took a picture of it, if you can believe it!  I thought it was a bit out of tune, and I hadn't loaned my tuner with it for the return that had just happened, so I have really GOT to learn to tune by ear.

my cfru toque made the video posted on facebook

I got there just in time for my "favourite" song, the Danny Michel one.  My kid seat neighbour didn't have the paperwork, and we couldn't see the projected song sheet  overhead screen run by the stand up bass ipad dad, ha, from where we were sitting, but I know a lot of the words and have practiced all the chords, and i love singing it!

One of our other-uke-club adult buddies was there, but she said she couldn't keep up, and admired how I snuck right in and at least tried to...  I was also there for Hey Soul Sister, Five Foot Two, Down By The Bay, one i didn't know but love, as they clearly did too, by Owl City.  It was so nice to hear all the kid voices! And to see them strumming their ukes.  Especially on the lyrics of a song called Brave, that they did by duress, yet all sang, "you can be amazing… be the outcast or backlash of somebody's lack of love...or you can start speaking up...say what you wanna say...let the words fall out... honestly, i want to see you be brave."  It was so beautiful!