Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 4TA

Workshops

24th to 26th May 2019

2019 Ukulele Workshops

Workshop tickets go on sale at 7PM GMT on Sunday 07/04/2019!

Times will not change of workshops but room allocation may – please check.


FRIDAY WORKSHOPS 3.45pm to 5.00pm

WORKSHOP 1 – DAVE EGAN
CHORD INVERSIONS AND VARIATIONS

This workshop will explore the inversion of chords as they move up the neck. The patterns for major, minor and dominant 7th chords repeat and reveal the overlapping relation of these three families of chords to each other. Taking note of these simple patterns will give you confidence to move your chords up the neck and find more interesting choices. This study will benefit your chords and single note playing. Scale studies of the uke tend to be limited by the scale length of the instrument, chordn inversions don’t have this limitation.

If this sounds too complex, it’s not. We will just learn to move basic chord shapes up the neck and fretboard to reveal its secrets.

Level: Advanced
Room: Mitchell Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 2 – CYNTHIA KINNUNEN
CHORD SEASONINGS FOR TASTY TUNES

Don’t just get stuck in a rut with the basic chords. Let’s add some flavour to this meal! We’ll talk about some easy ukulele chord seasoning you can add to your songs to really help them “taste” great. We will work through a few songs together to test out some of these delicious new flavours. You’ll go from short order cook to sous chef on the uke in this workshop!

Level: All levels
Room: Johnston Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 3 – THE NAKED WAITERS
HARMONY SINGING

Ever wonder how to back up a singer without singing the same thing as them? Well, your ukulele is a handy tool to find accompanying notes to sing! We will teach you how to use the notes you already play in chords to make simple, yet pretty, harmonies.

Level: All levels
Room: Crichton Church


FRIDAY WORKSHOPS 5.30pm to 6.45pm

WORKSHOP 4 – CYNTHIA KINNUNEN
RHYTHM IS GOING TO GET YOU

That trusty old “down up” strum has been your go-to but you’re ready to step it up and add some spice to your songs. Let’s take a look at how we create rhythm on our ukuleles through a variety of strum patterns and techniques.

Level: Confident Beginners
Room: Johnston Room

WORKSHOP 5 – THE NAKED WAITERS
UKE BEATS

Learn to use different percussive sounds on your ukulele. We will learn a couple different uke drum rhythms: some without chords (to accompany your group or band) and some with chords (to play solo).

Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate
Room: Crichton Church


SATURDAY WORKSHOPS 9.30am to 10.45am

WORKSHOP 6 – MIKE HIND
THE ONLY WAY TO WRITE A SONG (Hint: There Isn’t One…)

Writing is a personal thing.

It’s a difficult thing.

It is opening yourself up and putting thoughts, feelings and emotions out there for the world to see.

A wise man told me once “The best way to write songs is to write a song.”

So I did. It was awful. But since then, I’ve written a bunch of songs and each one has taught me something.

I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that help ease this difficulty. There aren’t rules or things that are etched in stone, they’re just things that have helped me write better… to get my thoughts out in an easier way…

Sometimes it’s daunting to get started. I’ll help you, with these techniques, to break it down into a less than daunting thing.

They may not help you write BETTER songs, but they’ll certainly help you write A song!

Level: All Levels
Room: Duncan Room 1 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 7 – STUART BUTTERWORTH
AN INTRODUCTION TO CHORD MELODY SOLOS

Using extracts from Stuart’s latest book – ‘A Ukulele Player’s Introduction to Chord Melody Solos’ you’ll be shown how to combine chords and melodies to perform songs as a ‘One Man Band’.

A ‘three-way’ approach will have you playing a handful of solos by the end of the session. Please carefully read the prerequisites, below, before signing up for this fun and informative workshop. A ukulele tuned to GCEA is required (low or high G).

Please bring a willingness to quickly grasp new skills and concepts in a fast-paced learning environment. Sense of Humour Essential!

There will be an opportunity to purchase Stuart’s book at the end of the workshop – Price: £5

Prerequisites

This workshop assumes that the learner comes already ‘armed’ with the following knowledge and skills:

The ability to:

  • Understand and read ukulele tablature (TAB).
  • Play simple melodies written in TAB.
  • Sing and strum well known songs with confidence.
  • Play confidently (and move fluently between) the following chords: C, C7, Dm, F, F7, Gm.
  • Play F (barre at the fifth fret) and Bb (barre at the first fret).

Please note that none of the above will be taught in the session!

Level: Confident Intermediate
Room: Duncan Room 2 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 8 – RICHARD DURRANT
UKULELE GROUND ZERO – “The simplicity of good technique”

Whether you are a total novice or simply keen to revisit the basics of your ukulele playing this workshop will prove invaluable.

Ukulele Maestro, Concert Guitarist and Composer Richard Durrant spends time talking about right- and left-hand techniques, whilst showing how thinking in simple, physical shapes can very quickly help you build a straightforward and reliable foundation for your ukulele playing. 

Bring your ukulele and immediately transform your playing

Level: All Levels
Room: Duncan room 3 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 9 – PETER MOSS
BEATLES MEDLEY

Peter is one of the world’s great masters of ukulele and banjolele styles. A brilliant, charming performer and workshop leader who’s currently traveling the world playing and teaching the instrument. This fun singalong workshop will concentrate on playing four of The Beatles classic songs with varying styles.

Level: Confident beginner and up
Room: Mitchell Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 10 – NIGEL GATHERER
THREE CHORDS FOR SCOTTISH SONGS AND TUNES

Nigel is a professional musician who has been involved in performing, teaching, collecting and publishing Scottish traditional music for thirty years. In 2017 he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. He inspires people around the world with an infectious way of transmitting music. Nigel’s workshops are always great fun and relaxed.

Woody Guthrie said, “Anyone who uses more than three chords is just showing off.” We know that’s not strictly true, but it’s amazing how much you CAN do with three chords. Nigel explores Scottish songs and tunes which only use C, F and G7, and demonstrates the range and variety which comes from the “three chord trick”.

Level: Confident beginner and up
Room: Johnston Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 11 – DANIELE DENCS
THE UBASSIST – WHO IS HE AND WHAT SHOULD HE PLAY

Daniele “Dencs” Vacca, official endorser – Kala Brand and U-bassist of the trio “Ukus in Fabula” has played more than 500 concerts with this instrument. He wants to share his experience for those who want to learn to play Ubass, or for those who want to improve some technical and theoretical aspects of playing the Ubass.

The workshop will explore – The role of U-Bass in a band – Tips and trick about the U-Bass – Technical exercises to familiarise with the U-Bass – Examples of some musical genres – The walkin’ U-Bass – Presentation of the book. Please note – please bring your own bass ukulele. This workshop is suitable for players who have just begun playing bass upwards.

Level: Confident beginner and up
Room: Board Room Holiday Inn


SATURDAY WORKSHOPS 11.15am to 12.30am

WORKSHOP 12 – MIKE HIND
SO WHAT NOW”

An interactive workshop for all levels which will go over and teach you techniques, tricks and concepts you’ll need to take the next step.

We’ll cover strumming, chunking, rhythm, dynamics, playing on your own, playing with a group, chord inversions, performance, vocals, breathing, warming up, stage fright… everything and anything YOU want to go over.

We’ll find where you are on your journey and cater to that, leaving you with information, skills and techniques that you can take with you after the workshop to improve your playing and your performance.

Level: All
Room: Duncan Room 1 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 13 – UKUS IN FABULA
ITALIAN MUSIC

UKULELE ITALIANO (Italian songs) Let’s study some Italian music! Very famous songs like “Nel blu dipinto di blu ‘Volare” by Domenico Modugno, “L’italiano” by Toto Cotugno, and others!

Every song has different levels of difficulty, and at the end of the workshop we will play like an ukulele orchestra| Let’s play together some Italian Music!

Level: Confident beginner and up
Room: Duncan Room 2 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 14 – RICHARD DURRANT
UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – ONE

A workshop run by Richard Durrant – ukulele virtuoso, composer and sometime Producer of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

If your ukulele playing has plateaued, or you’re not sure which direction to take, then this immensely enjoyable and popular musical workout is the perfect solution. 

Learn new ukulele techniques whilst developing a deeper more instinctive understanding of chords, notes and songs.  A friendly but exhilarating session of musical keep-fit designed to bring you closer to your inner uke. 

Please note that UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – TWO content is different. Book onto both to get the most out of this amazing opportunity to learn from Richard. You may attend UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – TWO without attending UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – ONE

Suitable for mixed ability players ages 12 to 112.

Level: All Levels
Room: Duncan Room 3 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 15 – PETER MOSS
INTROS AND ENDINGS

Intros and endings are just as important as the tune itself. Peter is going to teach you, with his relaxed, entertaining approach, several varying intros and endings presented in four keys and different speeds.

Level: Intermediate and up.
Room: Mitchell Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 16 – TORSTEN PULS
WRONG NOTES – RIGHT TIME?

The ukulele bass still seems to be a little exotic for many musicians and ukulele players. Therefore, the workshop starts with a short introduction to the specifics of the ukulele bass.

More than any other instrument the bass is meant to be played together with others in bands and ensembles. The priority of groovy time over “correct” notes while playing together will be the theme of the workshop. We will deal with the value of pauses, the length of notes and with useful rhythm-patterns in a band. You might be surprised by learning that there are far fewer “wrong” notes in bass-lines than you expected.

Level: All
Room: Johnston Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 17– SILKE BREIDBACH
SINGING EXTRAVAGANSA!

“Singing basics: Breath, awareness of body and mind and exercises
to make singing easier, happier and more fun”

Singer and vocal coach Silke Breidbach (Lucky Leles) is delighted to invite you for a mind-blowing workshop about how to sing better with – or even without your ukulele! She shares her secrets about the most effective postures, breathing techniques and exercises and she will also give you a bunch of vocal exercises to improve your singing skills.

Level: All Levels
Room: Board Room Holiday Inn


SATURDAY WORKSHOPS 5.30pm to 7.15pm

INCLUDES SANDWICHES TEA/COFFEE FROM 5.30pm to 6.00pm

WORKSHOP 18 – NICK TIGG
HOW TO PRINCE THE FUNK OUT OF IT!

Sometimes we can get stuck playing the same old uke chords in the same old strumming patterns.

Break out of that with some tips and tricks for funking up your good self, from specific chops, to mixing up the rhythm, all snaffled from one of the great funksters, The Ukuleleist formerly known as Prince was a very, very funky person.

You can be too.

Workshop leader: Hubert Mountjoy, principle ukulele-ist with funk soul tweedsters The Ukulele Evangelists.

Level: Confident beginner and up
Room: Duncan Room 1 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 19 – RICHARD DURRANT
UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – TWO

A workshop run by Richard Durrant – ukulele virtuoso, composer and sometime Producer of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

If your ukulele playing has plateaued, or you’re not sure which direction to take, then this immensely enjoyable and popular musical workout is the perfect solution. 

Learn new ukulele techniques whilst developing a deeper more instinctive understanding of chords, notes and songs.  A friendly but exhilarating session of musical keep-fit designed to bring you closer to your inner uke. 

Please note that UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – ONE content is different. Book onto both to get the most out of this amazing opportunity to learn from Richard. You may attend UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – TWO without attending UKULELE CIRCUIT TRAINING – ONE

Suitable for mixed ability players ages 12 to 112.

Level: All Levels
Room: Duncan Room 3 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 20 – ANDREAS DAVID
THE CARTER SCATCH METHOD

“The Carter Scratch” – is a rhythm guitar techniques invented by Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family in the 1920s. Andreas shows you how can adapt this technique for the ukulele to create not only an interesting accompaniment, but also beautiful and fairly easy solo arrangements. Aimed for the slightly advanced beginner to intermediate player.

Level: Confident beginner to intermediate
Room: Mitchell Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 21 – UKUS IN FABULA
UKULELE IN A BAND

We had such amazing reviews about this workshop last year that we decided to run it again with different songs. A funny and useful workshop with the Italian ukulele trio. We will play some famous songs, in our style, and show you how to play ukulele in a band to make a great sound’. The handouts for this workshop include easy, medium and hard parts so there is something for everyone.

Level: Confident Beginner and above
Room: Johnston Room

WORKSHOP 22 – DAVE EGAN
UKULELE ERGONOMICS

Dave has actually achieved “faith healer” status among those who have taken his workshop on ukulele ergonomics and claim to be pain-free for the first time in years.

For many ukulele players the problem that prevents better playing is simply incorrect hand

positioning. Many players experience pain in their fingers, thumbs and wrists. All this can be cured with simple adjustments to hand positioning. Piano, violin and all classical instruments have very specific techniques for efficient pain free playing positions that instantly make for a fast, relaxed playing style. The good news is that these principles can easily be applied to the uke.

Please bring a neck or shoulder strap for this workshop. A good strap is essential for proper technique. Beginners and advanced players can get a great benefit from this workshop.

Level: All Levels
Room: Crichton Church


SUNDAY WORKSHOPS 9.30am to 10.45am

WORKSHOP 23 – MASTER CLASS WITH GEORGE HINCHCLIFFE, AND BEN ROUSE
FROM THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN

An amazing opportunity to learn from some of the members of this world-famous orchestra!

The following topics will be touched upon. Some may be developed, depending on the interest of the group. 

The topics will be approached through playing music rather than talking about playing music. The workshop is intended to be fast moving, lively, but understandable, stimulating and informative. 

1. Repertoire. What pieces to choose? Why? Is it your taste or your audiences? Can you perform these songs in a different way so that you, or your audience will like them more?

2. Maintaining a variety of genre, tempo, key, volume and mood. Only the ukulele remains constant. 

3. What keys are you playing in? Particularly important if the piece is a song. What range does the singer have?

4. How fast should it go? Tempo. The “in the pocket” tempo. 

5. Keep the accompaniment simple. The difference between accompaniment a song and strumming. 

6. No vocals? Instrumental pieces. Fills, solos, riffs, licks, instrumental breaks. 

7. Arrangements and orchestration. Groups. Different registers. Differently pitched or tuned instruments. 

8. Notation, theory, naming notes, chords and notes. Sheet music, tablature, shorthand chord notation methods. Rhythmic notation. Chord windows. 

9. Working from memory and using song-sheets. Digital sheet music, pros and cons. The importance of a clear song-sheet. How to make the layout clear, informative and memorable. 

10. Mapping the intensity graph of a concert or gig over time. Sequences of pieces, drawing up an effective set list. 

11. Presentation. Stage-craft. Professionalism rather than virtuosity. What to wear. Does it matter?

Level: All Levels
Room: Main Auditorium Easterbrook Hall
All participants of this workshop will receive a specific colour of festival wristband on registering at the festival.


SUNDAY WORKSHOPS 11.15am to 12.30am

WORKSHOP 24 – DAVE EGAN
INTRO TO JAZZ STANDARDS

Jazz standards and popular songs of the 20s 30s and 40s are timeless treasures. In this workshop we will learn a few classics adapted to the uke with all the original beautiful chords. We start with some easy open chords and gradually move to some more difficult arrangements with the goal of

learning how perfectly these wonderful songs can be played on the uke with the original chords instead of over simplifying them and losing the original richness. Written arrangements provided.

Level: Intermediate
Room: Duncan Room 1 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 25 – CYNTHIA KINNUNEN
UP YER KILT! CELTIC UKULELE

Ah, the ukulele is a bonnie wee instrument for singing along with, making it quite ideal for Celtic tunes and kitchen parties! In this popular workshop, we’ll learn some Celtic rhythms in our strumming and work through a few tunes that will have you ready for the ceilidh in no time.

Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate
Room: Duncan Room 2 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 26 – BEN ROUSE
RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUES AND MOVING FORWARD

Been playing a while and feel stuck in a rut? Just started and need some help with your progression? Then this workshop is for you!

We’ll be focusing primarily on the right hand so only simple chord knowledge is needed. You’ll learn strumming patterns, fingerpicking and showmanship as well as how to put these new techniques into practice for solo playing and for a larger group.

This will be a fun and relaxed workshop with plenty of new ideas to take away and work on in your own time.

Level: All
Room: Duncan Room 3 Easterbrook Hall

WORKSHOP 27 – ANDY WEBSTER
ROCK N’ ROLL

The League of Ukulele Gentlemen’s Riotous Rock and Roll workshop. In this workshop we will learn a fast-paced rock and Roll medley, introducing sneaky 4ths and 6ths, some cunning slides and Ukulele choreography! There will be harmony singing and rhythmic clapping along the way. A really upbeat, fast paced fun hour!” The workshop is geared towards players with a few chords up their sleeves, so not complete beginners. But there is lots of clapping and singing, so everyone is welcome.

Level: Confident beginner and above
Room: Mitchell Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 28 – THE NAKED WAITERS
IMPROVISING WITH THE MAJOR SCALE

Learn the 7 notes of the major scale on uke, how to use it in different keys, and how to improvise and create your own solos and duets. Will include a lesson and jam session.

Level: Intermediate
Room: Johnston Room Holiday Inn

WORKSHOP 29 – UKULELE SIMON
TEXTURES AND TRIADS

Textures – This would focus on playing songs in numerous ways and moving beyond strumming chords. Things like finger picking, call and response, maybe a little bit of soloing and some other strumming patterns.

Triads – This would look at different ways to play our favourite chords by looking at chord inversions, e.g. playing a G chord position on the 7th fret to make a C.

Learners could then combine the 2, e.g. playing an inverted C chord texturally whilst another person strums the chord.

The overall aim is for everyone to play through songs together (with a couple from the songbook) and be able to play multiple parts and take these ideas back to their ukulele groups etc.

Level: Confident Beginners and above
Room: Board Room Holiday Inn