June 18, 2024

LearningUkulele.com June 18, 2024 Newsletter

I’m keeping the Forever Special of $199 and never pay again for the remainder of 2024. Many members and fellow musicians believe the current pricing is undervalued considering the depth of content offered. Therefore, starting in 2025, the price will increase to $399.

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Updates

Your First `Ukulele Lesson – • Let's take a journey with our hypothetical student, the ukulele player in the "Uke Groove Trio" and tag along for his first few lessons. His name is Bernard or "Barney" and is just starting out and has a goal of getting better and developing a more in-depth understanding of how music works and how to apply it to the ukulele. Lesson Link: Your First Lesson ⇒

Open Mic, Kanikapila, & Jam Session Etiquette

Here are tips and tricks you do to make you experience and others experience pleasant and fun.

Kanikapila is a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session, most commonly taking place at a beach, or family gathering. The term comes from kani which means sound. and pila which means any string instrument in the Hawaiian language.

Over the last few decades it formed into a conceptual style reflecting more emphasis on acoustic instruments including the ukulele and free following speed to reflect the emotion of the players. The term has started making its way in the dialog of mainland US musicians as well. (from Wikipedia)

• Arrive Early: This applies for live and virtual online jams, Kanikapila, and open mics. But not too early. Don't be that artist who comes, plays their song or two, and then leaves.
• Check Your Ego at the Door: It's not a contest. You're there to explore, test out new material, and hob-nob with fellow musicians.
• Bring Your Own Mic: This is especially true in the COVID-19 era. Many open mics, Funky Frets, included, are suggesting you bring your own microphone. And get a good one. You can't go wrong with a Shure SM58 —Humble Beginnings, Happy Rock Stars, Angry Frank Sinatra: Talking SM58 History ⇒, As it's the industry standard, it will last a lifetime. Curt still has his Shure microphones (SM57, SM58) from 40 years ago. Tune Up: Yep, it's a good idea to tune up before you actually go up and perform. Use a tuner, not need to go by ear in this day and age.
• Bring Your Own: Instruments, cables, music stands, etc… The only thing you will not need is a PA system. Beyond that, you have no idea what the venue, jam or situation will supply. Be prepared for anything. Most open mics will have what is called a backline: amps for guitar, bass, DIs, and maybe some instrument mics when your guitar or ukulele doesn't have a built-in pickup.
• PG or PG-13: Keep it clean, as there might be children in the audience. And not everyone likes to hear the F-bomb dropping. Read your audience. Stick Around and Support the Other Performers: Don't just come, play, and then leave. Stay awhile, relax, and enjoy yourself.
• No Politics or Religion: An open mic is not the place to push your views. Be Able to Perform in Low Light: There might be a case where there is great stage lighting, and it will enhance your performance but be difficult to see your music, instruments, or even the audience.
• Have More Than One Song Ready: If your first song goes well, you'll be asked to perform one or two more. If it goes really well, you might be asked to do a feature (20 to 30 minutes or more) at a later date.
• DO NOT Noodle Between Songs: There is a great studio trick to rehearsing your part right before going live. Visualize your instrument and move your fingers over your thumb, mimicking what you're trying to recall.
• Listen to the Host: Wait until the sound man tells you it's OK to plug in or unplug. They need to prep the PA before it is safe to unplug. We've all heard those loud pops on stage—that is what it typically is. Save our ears.
• Don't Apologize: or announce any mistakes in advance or after. open mics are a place to tryout new material. The audience is on your side, for the most part. Open-Mics are the place to try out new material or what you are working on.
• Support the Venue, Buy Something: This is especially true if the open mic is at a commercial establishment. Chances are, they are not making a “Killin'”. I know that at your family Funky Frets Music Store, we have a community room and host an open mic every month just to support the community and advertise the store.
• Have Fun: Everybody is on your side and supportive. Especially for the ukulele community with its Aloha sprite and sharing nature.
• Introduce Yourself: And talk a bit about yourself; you have the stage.
• Introduce the Song: But, please keep the story behind the song brief. Don't make the song's introduction longer than the actual song. Just a good general tip. Unless you're a great storyteller like Arlo Guthrie, keep the stories short.
• Do Your Originals: Originals are favored over covers. This is actually the real purpose of an open mic—to try out new material, “Off Broadway,” as they say. This allows you to hone and polish a performance before taking it to the masses.
• Doing Instrumentals: There are two ways of letting the audience know the song you are doing. 1) Actually announce the song. 2) Let them figure it out as you are playing it. An announcement is the better option, unless it is so obvious that the audience gets it before a few measures go by.
• You Can Just Come and Listen: There's nothing that says you have to perform. You can just come and support other musicians — just check the scene it out.
• Mingle and Meet New People and Fellow Musicians: This is a great place to hook up with fellow musicians and even get some gigs. Gig recommendations always come from fellow musicians, and one's reputation does precede them.

Please let me, LearningUkulele.com, know if you have any other tips and goodies. I'll (Curt), will add them (with credit). The Ukulele Community as all about sharing.

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