Ukefest Workshops
Workshop Levels
Beginner: You are brand-new to ukulele or perhaps know a few chords, but stop in-between chord changes to work on where your fingers go.
Intermediate: You can keep rhythm and know your basic open chords (A, Am, B7, C, C7, D, Dm, E, G, and G7). Understand simple chord progressions (such as 1,4, and 5 chords), can sing and strum at the same time, and learns chords to simple tunes fairly quickly.
Advanced: Plays lead and backup easily with others and keeps steady rhythm. Can play melody lines, barre chords, 4-fingered chords and some chord inversions.
Open to all: There are elements in the work shop that will apply to each level of player (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced).
Friday, May 18
@ The Oriental Theater Concert Hall
Soloing with Jake Shimabukuro
w/ Jake Shimabukuro
Location: Oriental Theater, Concert Hall
Time: 3:00 pm
Level: Intermediate and Advanced
Learn from the top ukulele player in the world, Jake Shimabukuro! Jake will share some of his favorite licks, techniques, and rhythm patters with workshop attendees.
Saturday, May 19
@ The L2 Arts & Culture Center
Acoustics, Intonation, Action & Strings
w/ Gordon and Char (Mya-Moe Ukuleles)
Location: Café Concert Hall
Time: 10:55 am
Level: Open to all
Instrument builders Gordon and Char of Mya-Moe Ukes will help you understand what to do to improve the tone and playability of your uke. They’ll cover string selection, re-stringing, action, fret-buzz, intonation, and tone.
Breaking Out of the Strumming Rut
w/ Aaron Keim (The Quiet American)
Location: Main Concert Hall
Time: 2:05 pm
Level: Open to All
Are you tired of the same old strum. . . . .or strums? In this workshop Aaron will teach you a few ways to enhance your standard strumming with some unique patterns, a couple of single-note riffs, and a couple of new ways to arrange your songs. This workshop will also be helpful to anyone who leads an ukulele group or orchestra and is looking for some fresh ideas about how to spice things up!
Cello/Tenor Ukulele Interplay
w/ Tina & Quetzal (Tina & Her Pony)
Location: Café Concert Hall
Time: 2:05 pm
Level: Open to all
Tina and Quetzal will show how they make their unique sound with cell and ukulele. Learn how the ukulele’s sound works with the cello and other instruments. They’ll cover their songs Sweet Love and Medicine.
Finger Pickin’
w/ Nellie McKay
Location: Main Concert Hall
Time: 3:15 pm
Level: Open to All
Learn how to outline chords and proceed to learn “Meditation”, then learn to sing over the chords.
Hard Uke Rhythms Make Easy
w/ Aldrine Guerrero
Location: Main Concert Hall
Time: 10:55 am
Level: Intermediate and Advanced
Take a ukulele journey through strumming and picking. Learn to play a strumming pattern, then play it twice as fast; then twice as fast as that! Intricate timing and rhythm made easy.
Six-Two-Five-What?
w/ Ronnie Ontiveros (Hapa Hillbillies)
Location: Café Concert Hall
Time: 12:55 pm
Level: Intermediate
Unlock the secrets of the E and A string and get you to start thinking like a Bass player (gasp), by learning relationships of Chord Roots and their common patterns. We will look at two easy chord shapes, which along with knowing the notes on the E and A string, can help you transpose songs into any key. This class will also help you to control animals with your mind and breathe under water.
Strum and Sing-a-Long
w/ Denver Uke Community
Location: Main Concert Hall
Time: 12:55 pm
Level: Open to all
Take it easy and learn a handful of fun songs from David Bowie to Tin Pan Alley. Relaxed, group therapy for the Uke.
Swing and Ukes and You
w/ Larry Wyatt (Hapa Hillbillies)
Location: Main Concert Hall
Time: 9:45 am
Level: Intermediate
If you want to get started playing swing tunes but feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect, come to this class. We’ll take some well known standards and figure out how to interpret the chord changes. We’ll also cover getting a good swinging rhythm, symbols and terminology unique to fake books, as well as tips and ideas to get you improvising solos. You’ll leave with charts for all the tunes we cover. And… you’ll know how to play them!
Uke 101
w/ Chris McGarry
Location: Café Concert Hall
Time: 9:45 am
Level: Absolute Beginner
For the absolute beginner. Learn basic chords, strums, and some simple songs. Ukes provided if you don’t have one. We will loan you a ukulele for the full day!
Uke Orchestra
w/ Chris McGarry
Location: Café Concert Hall
Time: 3:15 pm
Level: Intermediate and Advanced
Learn how to play a song in 4 parts. Beginners though advanced players can participate. Parts will be divided out to strumming, melody, harmony and singing. By the end of the workshop you will be playing as ensemble in the Uke Orchestra.