Ukulele Workshops

Schedule | 2023 

POP UP UKE Lessons via Zoom
Sundays 6-7 pm ET

EPIC SUMMER WORKSHOP TOUR!

Steve Kaufman Bluegrass Camp
Marysville, Tennesse
June 18-24, 2023

The Taproom
Nashville, Tennesse
June 30, 2023

Huntsville Ukulele Group
Huntsville, Alabama
July 1, 2023

Ernie Williamson Music
Springfield, Missouri
July 8, 2023

Ernie Williamson Music
Joplin, Missouri
July 8, 2023

Omaha Conservatory of Music
Omaha, Nebraska
July 13, 2023

Damm Music Center
Wichita, Kansas
July 15, 2023

Edmond Music
Edmond, Oklahoma
July 16, 2023

Stillwater Ukulele Association
Stillwater, Oklahoma
July 18, 2023

Bentley Guitar Studios
Parkville (Kansas City), Missouri
July 22, 2023

Maplewood Ukulele Group
Maplewood (St. Louis), Missouri
July 23, 2023

Arthur’s Music Store
Indianapolis, Indiania
July 29, 2023

Buckeye Ukulele Society
Columbus, Ohio
July 30, 2023

BECOME A POP UP UKE PATRON FOR ONLY $12 PER MONTH!

Become a Patron!

 

3 Questions Interview: James Hill (Playing By Ear)

Posted on: August 31st, 2009 by dville

Unknown-3Today we debut a semi-regular Monday feature entitled 3 Questions in which we interview ukulele luminaries with the goal of gaining insights into their approach to learning. Today our guest is Canadian ukulele virtuoso James Hill. Not only is James a great player, he is also a fabulous teacher. Together with Chalmers Doane, James created an entire ukulele curriculum entitled Ukulele In The Classroom.

1. What does the phrase “playing by ear” mean to you?

JH: I’ve learned a lot from Chalmers Doane about playing by ear. I learned that “playing by ear” really means “playing by intelligence” (that’s Chalmers’ terminology) . In other words, “playing by ear” means using everything at one’s disposal (e.g. ears, eyes, experience, intuition, attitude, preferences, etc.) to make musical choices. The phrase “playing it by ear” usually implies that there’s a certain amount of guesswork involved (e.g. “when should we meet for lunch?” “Oh, let’s just play it by ear.”). That’s not what “playing by ear” is in music. “Playing by ear” is a skill that can be developed and refined over time.

2. Where do your ideas for new music come from, experimenting with chord progressions or melody lines?

JH: I get a lot of ideas while I’m out walking. I think it’s the increased blood flow to the brain and the steady rhythm. I’ve decided that whenever I go for walks from now on I’m going to take a soprano uke with me and write music as I walk. For me it’s usually melodic and rhythmic ideas that come first and I experiment with harmony later. If melody and rhythm are the gift then harmony is the wrapping paper… so many colours and patterns to choose from!.

3. Do you have any shortcuts to quickly memorizing new songs?

JH: Look for patterns and group as many things together as you can. For example, don’t think of the opening phrase of “Joy to the World” as eight separate “events” (“Joy to the world, the Lord is come”). Just think of it as one event: a descending major scale. Also, with practise you’ll come to recognize common melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic patterns in the music you play. Once you know the archetypes, you only have to memorize the parts of a song that break from those archetypes.

James Hill Website
Ukulele In The Classroom

Tags: ,

One Response

  1. Ukulele buzz says:

    James Hill is an amazing musician. I always looking for his new cover. The great musician ever I seen.

Ukulele Tutorials

Playing By Ear


Play Ukulele By Ear 1
Vol. 1 DVD or Download
more info


Play Ukulele By Ear 1.5
Playing By The Numbers
Download Only
more info


Play Ukulele By Ear 2
Vol. 2 DVD or Download
more info


Play Ukulele By Ear 3 Download Only
more info

 


see all products
& descriptions

read reviews


© 2012-2023 Jim d'Ville play ukulele by ear  |  graphics and layout by lindesign  |  built and maintained by Gray's Web Design