Jenny is on the News Featuring the Ukulele!

Jenny is on the News Featuring the Ukulele!

by | Sep 5, 2020 | Concerts & appearances | 2 comments

We’re excited to share that Jenny is on the news! Recently, our local news ran a segment on the ukulele keeping people happy during this pandemic time. One of Jenny’s lessons was a part of the clip. Check it out!

Ukulele online groups, lessons and festivals are keeping the ukulele community alive.

The ukulele is the happiest instrument in the world. And, the people who play it are kind and decent. Hanging out with ukulele players is a great way to take your mind off of the troubles in our world right now. 

Ukulele works great for people from ages 3-103. Young children can sing and strum and feel the beat. Grandparents can learn simple folk songs to play with their young grandchildren. Ukulele can build community within groups and within families. 

The ukulele is not very expensive, nor is it hard to play. You don’t have to make a big commitment to discover the  joy of learning music. Play for a little while and you will get the hang of it!

Jenny is on the News

Matt owns the store, “Aloha City Ukes.” Matt and Daphne Cantlon are a father-daughter duo who play together all the time.  He shares his passion for music with his daughter, which has been a wonderful father-daughter bonding experience. 

Recently, Matt was the subject of a documentary on Channel 11 TV in Chicago. Because I teach at his store and I teach online lessons, one of my clips was in the segment. 

 

Can you teach yourself the ukulele?

It was great that Jenny is on the news to promote the ukulele.

Can you learn an instrument online? Well, with our books and courses it is possible.

We are the Ukulele Sisters and we start simply. Our first songs use only one chord. You get the coordination of singing and strumming without having to change chords. Then, you move to two-chord songs and then three-chord songs. You develop the ability to play and sing in rhythm without pauses between chord changes.

We start with simple material

We help you master simple material before moving on to more complex music. At the two-chord song level, we keep you on the easiest chord change on the ukulele, F to C7. We offer 12 songs with those changes. Then we move to the C to G7 chord change where you get to do many of the same songs with the new chord change.  You can concentrate on the technique of changing chords, rather than learning new songs. Because there are 12 two-chord songs, you can pick and choose the songs you know and only learn those songs. Whatever song you choose to practice you’ll be learning the techniques you need with it. 

With our first book, you learn only 5 chords, but with 21 songs, you’ll know these 5 chords well by the time you’re done. Then you are able to move on to more complicated chords and strumming patterns.  Ready to read tab and learn basic music notation, you are excited about your progress. Soon you will be ready to progress to a simple chord melody. With a solid foundation that will help you to progress into the world of ukulele playing, you are ready to enjoy the ukulele wherever you go.

Get a copy of 21 Songs in 6 Days by clicking the link below or visit our shop to check our products.

 

Are you struggling with strumming?

With our book and course, you’ll become a fluent 3-chord strummer.

Get your copy now!

Jenny is a Guest on “Ukulele is the New Black” Podcast

Jenny is a Guest on “Ukulele is the New Black” Podcast

by | Jul 5, 2020 | Concerts & appearances | 0 comments

Jenny is a guest on “Ukulele is the New Black,” Meredith Harper’s podcast where guests discuss how ukulele has changed their lives for the better.

“Ukulele is the New Black” is a fun podcast hosted by Meredith Harper

You can listen to Meredith interviewing Jenny on “Ukulele is the New Black” podcast here.  Don’t forget to download your free gift after you listen to the podcast!

Meredith lives in Australia. She has traveled the world playing ukulele and interviewing ukulele players. Having the violin when she was younger, she wanted to find an instrument that was more forgiving. So, she picked up the ukulele in 2016. 

Her theme song is fun and all the facts in it are true!

Meredith states that she is not a great ukulele player, but she sings pretty well, so no-one seems to mind. She is interested in how playing ukulele has changed your life. It is cool how ukulele brings happiness and goodness to the world.

Listen to her podcast and your cares will melt away. I am sure you will be glad that you did. Here are the lyrics to her theme song.

Ukulele is the New Black

Song by Meredith Harper

I wanted to play an instrument
Cos musicians are so cool and I wanted to be cool
But I found that playing an instrument is kinda hard
I tried the harmonica but I really sucked
Also, I tried the guitar but my fingers couldn’t do it
I was ready to give up…
Then I saw a little instrument in the shop
It didn’t cost too much so I gave it a shot
Now I play all the time and my friends do too
And who knew? Ukulele is the new black
Yeah it’s the new black
Everybody’s playing it……..cos it’s the new black

Are you struggling with strumming?

With our book and course, you’ll become a fluent 3-chord strummer.

Get your copy now!

California, Here I Come! To Visit Family and Have Ukulele Fun

California, Here I Come! To Visit Family and Have Ukulele Fun

by | Mar 6, 2020 | Concerts & appearances | 2 comments

I am looking forward to my trip to California to visit family and of course have ukulele fun as well.

As a public school teacher, I have the wonderful benefit of a Spring Break. I am traveling to California to visit Rebecca and other family members. While we are together, we are going to have fun and finish up 21 Easy Ukulele Hymns.

We are planning a photoshoot in San Francisco. We are also visiting a local ukulele club to present some of our new music. Finally, we will visit our new great-nephew who was born in December!

Northern California is pretty and green in the Spring, so I am looking forward to that. It will probably be a bit warmer than Chicago, but not beach weather. I love being outside in nature, so that will be a lot of fun for me!

If you live in California and would like us to come to visit with your ukulele club, please comment below. I will also be heading to Los Angeles for part of my time in the Golden State.

 

 

Do you want to play hymns with confidence?

In our Hymn Kits you'll find something for varied learners, from beginners to a little more advanced.

Get your Hymn Kit today!

Sakura Easy Ukulele Chord Melody

Sakura Easy Ukulele Chord Melody

by | Oct 14, 2019 | Chord melody, Concerts & appearances, Video lessons | 17 comments

 

Vote for the version you like:

I recently posted an easy chord melody version for Sakura. Chord melody on the ukulele means that you play both the melody and the chords at the same time. It sounds really cool, but has often been reserved for ukulele artists with incredible technique and musical background. I am writing out arrangements that newer ukesters can play, because they are easier.

Your opinion counts

Recently, I got a lot of comments on Facebook about how I could make my versions easier to read. Now I want to know which one you like better, the first or the second.  We are trying to create new and better content, so your opinion matters.

I want your opinion on which version is the most accurate. I also want your opinion on which version looks the least intimidating for learning the song.

Please leave your opinion in the comments below.

 

Sakura chord Melody version 1: 

This version has the lyrics and a simple sing and strum version on the top staff of music. The chord melody is written out below and has rhythmic stems added to help the player know what to do.

Sakura chord Melody version 2: 

This version has no lyrics. The upper staff is the same as the lower one with all the notes that you play written out.

Jenny and Sakura easy ukulele tutorial

I have always liked Sakura. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed the cherry blossoms on the University of Washington Quad when I was in college. The trees bloomed every Spring there and all the students enjoyed the blossoms. Some of these trees were a gift from the Japanese to the University. 

Sakura is in our newest book, 21 Easy Ukulele Folk Songs. If you would like like to learn a much easier version of this song, check out our easy ukulele tutorial for Sakura below. You can also get a copy of our book to learn this song and other easy folk songs. 

Get the Sheet Music to Sakura in 21 Easy Ukulele Folk Songs!

Do you want to sound convincing on folk songs? You know basic chords and strumming patterns. And you’re interested in folk music. You’d like to take it to the next level.

Get your copy now!

Great Lakes Ukulele Gathering with Little Rev

Great Lakes Ukulele Gathering with Little Rev

by | Oct 14, 2019 | Beginners, Concerts & appearances, Improvisation and song writing | 0 comments

I just got back from the Great Lakes Ukulele Gathering that was held in Milwaukee, WI yesterday. We were at Anondyne Coffee Roasting Company which was a fun venue for this event.

There were ukulele workshops all day, including an early bird sessions about Ukulele Jug Bands, Ukeing the Beatles, Intro to Fingerpicking, Hawaiian strumming and a great sing-along. At the end was a wonderful concert with MC Petey Mack, The Ukulele Kings, Lanialoha Lee, The Sheboygan Hokum Boys w/Lil Rev and Steven Kanahe Espaniola.

 

Jenny Peters during RAGBRAI 2019
Here’s me with Kevin Mason, a luthier from Illinois.

I had fun with all the workshops. Here’s a short clip of the Ukulele Jug Band mini-session.

 

There were a lot of beautiful ukuleles for sale. You might want to check our other recommended ukulele products here. 

Jenny Peters making music on RAGRBRAI 2019

 

 

Here’s a clip from the concert at the end of the day..

I had fun and learned some new tricks at the Great Lakes Ukulele Gathering. I also saw old friends and met some new people. It was really fun singing and strumming together. Ukulele Festivals are a great way to do this!

Have you taken your ukulele or other instrument with you on your travels? Have you had fun experiences making music with fellow travelers?  I’d love to hear about it – leave me a comment below! 

Do you want to sound convincing on folk songs? You know basic chords and strumming patterns. And you’re interested in folk music. You’d like to take it to the next level.

Get your copy now!

Jake Shimabukuro and Sakura Easy Ukulele Tutorial

Jake Shimabukuro and Sakura Easy Ukulele Tutorial

by | Aug 3, 2019 | Concerts & appearances, Video lessons | 2 comments

This summer I had a wonderful opportunity to hear Jake Shimabukuro play “Sakura” in the park. First he played with The Acoustic Generation from Aloha City Ukes, and then he played a solo. The solo he chose was Sakura, a Japanese folk song meaning Cherry Blossoms. I also got to meet him and we talked about our ukulele books.

Spring and Cherry Blossoms

Sakura is a Japanese word which means cherry blossoms. During spring, these stunning cherry blossoms appear all over Japan but only last for several days. The cherry blossoms appear in Tokyo usually from late March to early April. In other parts of the country, they come out as early as January.

Hanami

The Japanese observe a ritual called “hanami” during the cherry blossom season. Basically, hanami is the Japanese custom of taking time to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of flowers or hana in Japanese. Frequently, these spring flowers are those of the cherry blossoms but there are others such as the plum blossoms.

Jake and the Koto

Jake imitates the sound of the 12-string koto, a traditional Japanese instrument, in his performance of Sakura. Here is a video showing what the koto sounds like.

 

Watch Jake Shimabukuro Play Sakura!

Here is Jake’s rendition of Sakura. Notice how beautiful the ukulele sounds and how well he is able to imitate the koto.

Jenny and Sakura Easy Ukulele Tutorial

I have always liked Sakura. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed the cherry blossoms on the University of Washington Quad when I was in college. The trees bloomed every Spring there and all the students enjoyed the blossoms. Some of these trees were a gift from the Japanese to the University. 

Sakura is in our newest book, 21 Easy Ukulele Folk Songs. If you would like like to learn a much easier version of this song, check out our easy ukulele tutorial for Sakura below. You can also get a copy of our book to learn this song and other easy folk songs. 

Get the Sheet Music to Sakura in our Newest Book

Do you want to sound convincing on folk songs? You know basic chords and strumming patterns. And you’re interested in folk music. You’d like to take it to the next level.

Get your copy now!

More About Sakura

To read more about “Sakura,” check out the following articles:

 

More About Chord Melody

Want to read more about ukulele chord melodies and the arrangements we have created? Check out the following articles: