Caterpillar exercise using all four fingers to fret up and down the neck, working on coordinating both hands.

[image description: man with short brown hair and beard holding a Kanile’a brand wooden tenor ukulele. Titled My favorite ukulele warm-up exercise for all levels.]

This isn’t something I’m doing, but it is something to keep in mind if you want to work designing or implementing emergency housing.

Audio only. This is one of my favorite pieces by The Hu. Maybe it’s my favorite.

So much good information! LLT is well worth a look. I would love it if she came to this community, she is a treasure.

There are a surprising number of ukulele clubs “in the wild”, some are quite tiny and difficult to find. If you’re not having luck, ask places that have community rooms (like the library or senior center or parks department) if they have a ukulele group that meets there.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go make the Mochi Cake recipe topped with dried strawberries that was posted last week.

Someday, after I win the lottery!

Mesmerizing strange thing…

I suppose traveling with a uke is by definition “many bagging” if it’s in its own bag. I don’t bother with a hard case or padded gig bag, just a thin gig bag for my 20-year-old cheap no-name laminate concert sized uke.

But… a plastic uke would be nice for those times when conditions are damp or for kayaking when it is downright soggy. Looking at Kala Waterman ukes right now, especially a soprano. (I don’t have a soprano, which is excuse #1 for getting one; and it will take up less space than my concert, which is excuse #2. I’m sure I can come up with more as needed.)

What’s your traveling musical instrument?

Honoka (of Honoka + Azita “Wipeout” fame, if you haven’t seen a video, check it out) playing a nifty arrangement for 2 ukes.

Everybody plays it, you know you want to!

September 22-24

My favorite strings at the moment, so I’m biased. Unlike Fremont Blackline, the Clears only come in one flavor. (And it’s a delicious flavor!). A set of high G strings is about $7. A single unwound low G is about $3.

The moment I played a set was one of those cartoonishly “ah-ha! Eureka!” experiences. Everything felt and sounded perfect.

The strings feel gentle and responsive under the fingers, unlike Aquilas which feel heavy and dull to me. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are so easy and clear. I can play with much more nuance than with Aquilas or heavier fluorocarbon. (Mind you I play quietly by myself, so I don’t know how these would sound where volume is required in a group or performing.)

Try a set of the Fremonts if you have arthritis or strength issues in your hands, or neuropathy, or are just frustrated by strings that require pedal-to-the-metal amounts of power to play.

Colectomies, colostomies, ileostomies, j-pouches, colo-rectal cancers, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis - I searched but did not find! Where are all my gutless wonder peeps?

The fretboard is pretty wild. And if you are coming to the ukulele from wind instruments like I am, this video overview might be helpful.

This is only one festival calendar, I’m sure there are more to be added. (please add any you know of)

Mango vs koa tone woods. Identical tenors and “tiny tenors” that only differ by the woods used.

Quick tour through the Koaloha factory.

Uke With Alex (Alex Beds of SUS fame) discusses matching strings with tone woods

For those of us who would rather play the melody than sing it, this is a treasure trove!