Category Archives: Fun Ukulele Stuff

Uke Heads

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For the past 18 months or so, I’ve been involved in this amazing Uke Heads recording project with James Hill and today is the day that our album is finally officially released into the world! While we mostly rehearsed and recorded our parts in our own little studios, I did get to meet and play with some fellow Uke Heads in Vancouver last spring and also had the privilege of attending the Uke Heads Gathering in Santa Fe, NM last October too. You can hear a live episode of James’ Uketropolis Podcast from that event about the making of the album. (Yes, that’s me, getting a little emotional about it all, at around the 36 minute mark :/)

The album was just reviewed in the latest issue of Ukulele Magazine too! (Spring 2024) If you don’t already subscribe, get it now. I still love getting the paper copy in the mail even though the digital version is also available and there are always a few arrangements and tips and tricks to learn in each issue of this quarterly publication.

I hope you’ll have a listen here or on your favourite platform. It’s also available as a good old fashioned CD which I have as well, autographed by all my friends from the gathering.

Pussywillows, Cat-tails

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Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful mom! This Gordon Lightfoot original from his record, ‘Did She Mention My Name’, was released in 1968 which is the same year she became a mom.  She had this record in her collection and it was often part of the Sunday morning stack in queue on the record player while our parents made us brunch. I’ve always liked this song and the imagery conjured up by its lyrics.

Last fall I arranged this piece for 4 ukulele parts as a project for our C.U.T.E. music circle (we call ourselves the Carpooling Ukulelists of Toronto Ensemble). This is a group of wonderful women I met through the Ukulele Orchestra of Toronto. When I found out 2 members commute all the way from Lindsay to play in the orchestra, we began carpooling to rehearsals together in early 2019. We usually meet ahead at my place to play, practice or just have a bite and hang out together before the rehearsals. Last year, on Mother’s Day weekend, we played a couple of pieces together at the Ukes of T recital and were hoping to present this one at this spring’s event. Of course none of that will be happening again for a while now but we’ve been continuing to meet via Zoom every week and decided to try and put this one together as a video. Here we are in our very first virtual “unsemble” performance together. https://youtu.be/SdkwW6pKDJs

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, as we continue doing our part in social isolation. We are now completing week 8 here in Ontario. It’s been a time of creativity for me and connecting virtually with friends, students and family members. I’m looking forward to a time when we can all be together again.

Merci Maman, d’avoir toujours rempli notre maison d’amour et de musique. On se revoit bientôt! Je t’aime.

One more time! Play ‘O Canada’ at 67s game March 20th

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It was so much, fun they’re doing it again! I’m encouraging my students and fellow players to come out and play ‘O Canada’ again at the  game on March 20th. This is an evening game this time, during the March Break. Here’s the Ottawa Folklore Centre’s link to purchase and receive a free ticket for the Uke Choir member (limited to the first 60 to sign-up to be in the Uke Choir).

There is a chord sheet and video lesson on their website. I’ve also created sheet music of the planned arrangement in C, for anyone who would also like to learn to play the melody. Accompanying chord diagrams and tabs are also indicated in C6 tuning.

Kicking off 2015! Registration info for Winter – Spring adult programs

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Now that was a fun way to kick off the new year! Here’s a great shot my husband took of our Ukulele Choir playing ‘O Canada’ at yesterday’s Ottawa 67s game at TD Place. Many thanks to the Ottawa Folklore Centre for organizing this event! I was very happy to participate and help to lead this beautiful group and also very proud that 2 of my young Suzukulele students and 2 of my adult students came too! There’s talk of another opportunity to play again, coming up in March.

There’s also an audio clip of a story on CBC Ottawa Morning here, and some Facebook videos of our pre-game rehearsal and of the actual performance on the ice!

Photo by Steve LeBlanc.

Photo by Steve LeBlanc.

Registration is now available for the following Adult Ukulele Programs from Winter to Spring 2015:

Play Ukulele Level 1– Tuesday nights from 7-8:30pm at Brookfield HS starts Feb 3rd. Course #75051

Play Ukulele Level 2– Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm at Brookfield HS start Feb 4th. Course #75053

To register for the OCDSB’s Continuing Education programs go to https://e-connect.ocdsb.ca or call 613-239-2751

Ottawa Folklore Centre Ukulele Choir– Thursday nights from 7-9pm

To register contact the Ottawa Folklore Centre

If you have any questions about repertoire, how much practice required, level of knowledge required, etc… please feel free to contact me directly.

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Come play ‘O Canada’ on January 11!

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I’m encouraging my students and fellow players to come out and play ‘O Canada’ at the  game on January 11. Here’s the Ottawa Folklore Centre’s link to purchase and receive a free ticket  (limited to the first 60 to sign-up to be in the Uke Choir).

There is a chord sheet and video lesson on their website. I’ve also created sheet music (updated on Nov 22) of the planned arrangement in C, for anyone who would also like to learn to play the melody.  Accompanying chord diagrams and tabs are also indicated.

This is a must have piece that all Canadian ukulele players should have in their repertoire!