Uketropolis: Ukulele Q&A with James Hill

The Uketropolis podcast is now taped LIVE on the first Thursday of every month.

Join James live every Thursday in May for Uke Heads Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_FUXbUQfwo Follow Uke Heads on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukeheadsmusic Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ukeheadsmusic

Links for in this episode: Melanie Doane Uschool Ukulele U on CBC Kids

Mentioned in this episode: 1879 Apparel Booster Uke JHUI Teacher Certification Program

Download the free handout for this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h5sqyp11pvdq47f/Uketropolis-Podcast-Note-Wheel.pdf?dl=0 (Note: you do not need to register for Dropbox to download the file. If prompted to register, simply close the pop-up and proceed to the download.)

What is a delay pedal? How is it like a house of mirrors? And how can it help you in your teaching and practice? Listen in as James creates soundscapes on-the-fly with the help of a BOSS DD-5 digital delay.

Links: Ukulele Funbook by Zsolt Schäfer: www.ukulelefunbook.com Treasure map activity: www.canonclub.ca (near bottom of page)

Free handout of Plaisir d'amour, the song James demonstrates in this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ct39zcovmk95ua/Uketropolis-Podcast-Plaisir-dAmour-Handout-C6.pdf?dl=0

When you're teaching (or self-teaching), how much truth is too much? When does information become counter-productive in the learning process? Explore these questions and more as we grapple with an interesting student question about the Harmonized C Scale.

Free sheet music: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4lx26j04hvlgpp/Dona-Nobis-Pacem-in-F-C6-Tuning.pdf?dl=0

Let's tie up some loose ends with a "lightning round" of questions from Uketropolis this week. Felt picks vs. guitar picks, thumb position for chording, figuring out the chords when there are no chord diagrams, and how to manage a melody once you add harmony parts to it.

For information about the California Ukulele Hideaway, go to: https://www.musicworldretreats.com/ca-ukulele-hideaway-2022-james-hill

Lorna MacPhee's 1980 article on canons: https://ukuleleintheclassroom.com/ukuleleyes/canons-as-reading-weaponry

Why are minor keys so confusing? Why are there multiple minor scales? Why can't life just be simple?

Strumming will never make sense until you stop trying to make sense of it. In this episode, James leads you in a strumming meditation to help you master the fundamentals of rhythm in the most relaxing possible way. Headphones highly recommended!

Follow the full discussion about the chord 2-0-2-2 in the Uketropolis Community: https://app.kajabi.com/admin/sites/61347/comments (note: you must be member of Uketropolis.com to access the community page). Ready for more jazz ukulele? Take a free video lesson with me: Ukulele Jazz for Beginners (6 mins).

Go to www.uketropolis.com/bach for free scores and audio. Piano performance of Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846 by Pater Bradley-Fulgoni is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Links to music featured in this episode: James & Barry Hill: The Brookfield Sessions James Hill: The Old Silo Click here to learn more about Baritone Ukulele Jazz and take a free lesson!

Vibrato is that "elusive wobble" that makes the ukulele sing! In this episode we explore what vibrato is, why we like it, and how to practice it efficiently.

When we listen to music we're simultaneously in the past, the present and the future, re-evaluating what we've heard and anticipating what we're going to hear next.

A question about modulating between keys leads to a deeper exploration of the space between worlds and why, in the end, there are no rules.

This episode gets a little technical! To view the handouts for this episode (highly recommended), go to: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vtjwo9kzymyjkkn/Uketropolis-S2-E7-The-Infinity-Scale.pdf?dl=0

Get the sheet music, audio and backing track for James' composition Goodnight Moon: www.uketropolis.com/goodnightmoon.

Simple ways to spice up common chords. Because variety is the spice of life and music is the food of love and love makes the world go 'round.

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF showing the most essential notes on the ukulele fretboard: https://www.dropbox.com/s/omk2y7we61wrzzm/The-Ukulele-Way-Beginner-Chords-and-Notes-C6.pdf?dl=0

What is gesture? How can gesture be used to open new doors to music-making? In this episode, James explores the concept of musical gesture and shows you how to create unusual "sound sculptures" in your lessons and personal practice.

What do the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dire Straits and a traditional Bulgarian folk song have in common? And what does that have to do with my fear of whales? This week we explore the haunting, evocative world of two-note chords called "diads."

Uketropolis student Andrea asks the question: is it possible to harmonize the Blues scale? To find out, James demonstrates what a harmonized scale is, what a Blues scale is, and one possible answer to the question. Free play-along handout available in the Uketropolis Community. If you're not already a member, sign up for a course and join the fun at www.uketropolis.com/register!

Here's some of what I've been up to in the break between Seasons 1 and 2:  Happy Birthday to Uke 1879 Apparel Want to hear your question on the podcast? All of the questions on the podcast are real student questions from Uketropolis.com. So if you'd like to hear me answer your question, go to uketropolis.com, take a course and ask questions along the way! We have a library of unique online ukulele courses and supportive worldwide community of students who are finding their own path to ukulele learning just like you! 

In this special final episode of Season 1, I interview my Mom. We share a few laughs as we talk about my childhood, her own musical journey, raising musical children and much more. I hope you enjoy the interview and I'll see you in a few weeks for the start of Season 2!

James answers student questions about classical ukulele: 1) Vivaldi's monster chord, 2) the thrill of the trill, 3) to mute or not to mute?

A special whirlwind tour of the planet to celebrate Earth Day! From Chile, it's "El Tortillero," from Italy, "Santa Lucia" and from Hawaii, "Hone A Ka Wai." James explores three of the most well-loved pieces from The Ukulele Way.

Lightning round: one question from every course on Uketropolis.com! 1) How do I print the sheet music? 2) What do the words "tonic" and "dominant" mean? 3) How do you play two notes at the same time if they're on the same string? 4) Any tips for changing from F7 to Bb7? 5) Any suggestions for amp settings (low, mid, high)?

In this episode: TRY THIS! Five super-simple strategies for teaching ukulele. Even if you're not a teacher. 1) Start with C7. 2) Gulp. 3) Memory. 4) Word swap. 5) The power of percussion.

Extreme ukulele. 1) How to record your sound (mic vs. pickup). 2) How to protect your ukulele. 3) Why you should master the "monostrum." Buckle up!

Why is it so hard to sing and strum at the same time? What's the best way to practise this musical juggling act? The answer: Strumble!, a board game that makes practice fun. Download Strumble! for free at https://www.uketropolis.com/strumble

Catherine Goykhman shares her thoughts on blending mindfulness with music education. Resources: Catherine's website (https://www.catplaysukulele.com), Daniel Ward's "Arpeggio Meditations" (https://danielward.net/book-store), Choan Gálvez's "50 Miniature Studies for Ukulele" (https://www.choan.es/en/).

Questions from Level 2 of the JHUI Teacher Certification Program: 1) How to simplify a part for a student who is struggling. 2) How to teach the B-flat chord using an Irish jig. 3) How to avoid unwanted sounds between notes.

In Ukulele Funbook, author Zsolt Schäfer takes us into a world of imagination, creativity and, yes, silliness! Whether it's musical soup, ukulele sudoku, connect-the-dots or alternate tunings, every page of Ukulele Funbook is a chance to learn while you play and to play while you learn. A companion over the holidays, a reward at the end of class or a stress-free way to introduce musical concepts, Ukulele Funbook is the perfect complement to the Ukulele in the Classroom method. So grab your ukulele, sharpen your pencil and have fun! www.uketropolis.com/funbook

James answers questions from Booster Uke students: 1) Is D7 really D7 when there's no root note? 2) How does low-G tuning change the sound of chord twins? 3) How using a "guide finger" makes chord changes easier.

Step by step, James demystifies the most mystifying of chords: the Diminished 7.

James answers questions about the free course "Peace like an 'ukulele." 1) How to get better at ukulele without even playing it. 2) Why melody picking is for everyone. 3) How to navigate Uketropolis. 4) Low G vs. high G tuning. 5) How to avoid muting strings by accident. Take the course for free at https://www.uketropolis.com/peace

James answers questions from YouTube. 1) The Ukulele Way vs. Ukulele Jazz. 2) Why does Bbmaj7 sound mournful? 3) Thumb position. 4) Strumming technique.

Our first crop of student questions and comments from the brand-new course Ukulele Jazz! 1) OMG, the circle of fifths makes sense. 2) How to find the backing tracks. 3) Is there an alternate fingering for that awkward G minor 7?

To celebrate the launch of the brand-new Ukulele Jazz course (www.uketropolis.com/jazz) James counts down the top 10 reasons why jazz is amazing on ukulele!

A polychord is two chords played at the same time, a head-on harmonic collision that can be surprisingly beautiful. In the wake of the attacks on the US Capitol, James turns to the ukulele to help make sense of a tumultuous time.

Scales. Inversions. Strum patterns. How to tackle three of the most common New Year's resolutions for ukulele players. Brad Bordessa's book "Ukulele Chord Shapes" can be found here: https://liveukulele.com/store/ukulele-chord-shapes/

For James' free "Deck the Halls" ukulele jazz tutorial and sheet music, go to https://www.uketropolis.com/deckthehalls. 

The next JHUI online session begins on January 1st. To learn more and watch a sample lecture go to https://www.uketropolis.com/jhui. Special thanks to my sister, Julia Booth, for the great singing tips and for being the inspiration for my piano method (such as it is). To meet Julia, go to https://www.boothvoicestudio.com.

James expands on student questions and comments from Booster Uke (https://www.uketropolis.com/boosteruke): 1) What is the strumming pattern in Li'l Liza Jane? 2) Will Booster Uke provide the direction and structure I need to make real progress? 3) Partner songs for Careless Love.

1) The art of NOT playing the A string. 2) Can animals sense what a song is about? 3) How to create depth in a performance using dynamics and articulation.