More Weekly Notes from Uke Circle etc.

Do you think listening to music, supports you as a musician, as much as playing it?  For sure I'd rather hang around with musicians who want to hear the singing, the words, more than to spend time with those that want to show off their chops as a player.  I so enjoy those that can listen while they play!

To that end, I went to see Charlie Cares & Shannon Kingsbury from 7-9 on Sunday.  Hoo-ray for singalongs!  And instrumentals, ha.

I arrived late to the uke jam, and was tuning the loaner soprano in a rush, as folks rearranged seating to fit me in, and then was instantly put on the spot to start Angel From Montgomery that someone else had brought.  I grabbed my glasses and began! I guess it was a version in the key of G?  That goes to the 4&5? In the verses there's an F.  I remember we also then did Da Do Ron Ron, and I tried to share 500 Miles (C Am Dm F Dm F G).  We must have ended on the Lion Sleeps Tonite?  I don't understand the Chord Accompaniement chart (a chord diagram in columns of 3 Majors + 3 Relative Minors), but isn't it nice that it was shared? I love how little paperwork there is in general.

Next time I am planning to bring the 2 Ukuology strumming pattern pages, just for fun.

I thought it was nice there was one guitar there.   Apparently, our previously invited uke wanna be/current mando player didn't show up to play because his dehumified instrument had crumbled.  Again, this week I saw Seth in the pub, near the end of our uke club meeting.  I have had a crush on him ever since I found out he did Aimee Mann's album artwork once.  ha.

NHB-Guelph, Instrument Orientation, Jan 2015

I think it would be good to post the raw audio from the session here, until we decide if/how to use it on New Horizons Radio...

It was amazing to have Brent walk me through all the various windband instrument options, and to be able to try making a sound on each.  I'd gone thinking I would choose flute or percussion, then took pictures of how to put the clarinet together...

But in the end, that's not what I went straight to work to rent.

When I burst in the music shop, my co-worker said, you're beaming!  And rented me the best trombone he could find in warehouse for the duration of the current New Horizons band term.

NHB-Guelph, Thur Jan 15, 2015

Much of today's session was spent learning how to put together my chosen instrument, and, learning how to piece together those of my also-newbie neighbours.  Clarinet, Coronet, 2 Flutes and a Trombone in beginner class, also learned about whole and quarter notes shown in our text book, and the positions to make each of those 3 notes in the little musical segment.

What fun!

What a great teacher, suggested to me I am going for that exhale of a relaxing horse.  It's one of my favourite sounds in the whole, entire universe.  Giddy up!

Happy New Year!

Turton-Lewis boxing day jam - photo Brad Mayes

It's been a long time since I posted an update here.  Since the last post, I've made a lot of New Year's resolutions, did you?  Over the holidays, I even started re-working an abandoned tune called Christmas Trees written on guitar, but forcing myself to rearrange the chord pattern for the verses, to force a new vocal melody and create some variety.

random jam nite at greg's - photo Maria Shallard