Ukulele Boss - NEW Level 9 Advanced Ukulele Lessons
"Master the Ukulele Like a Pro!"
Monday Nights 7-9pm
23 Sep - 25 Nov 2024
10 week course
Tutors: Paul & Ben
Location: The Ship EC3, 3 Hart Street, EC3R 7NB
Suitable for: Adults 18+
20 Places Available
Course Dates
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23 Sep - 25 Nov 2024 |
| Lesson 1: Mon 23 Sep |
| Lesson 2 Mon 30 Sep |
| Lesson 3: Mon 7 Oct |
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Lesson 4: Mon 14 Oct |
| Lesson 5: Mon 21 Oct |
| Lesson 6: Mon 28 Oct |
| Lesson 7: Mon 4 Nov |
| Lesson 8: Mon 11 Nov |
| Lesson 9: Mon 18 Nov |
| Lesson 10: Mon 25 Nov |
Course Overview
You’ve come a long way, and now it’s time to master the ukulele. In this final course, you’ll achieve complete control over your instrument, mastering every scale, chord, and technique. Applied music theory will help you to understand and teach these concepts, whether you’re performing, composing, or instructing others. This is the course for those who want to be true ukulele masters.
What You’ll Learn:
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Mastery of all ukulele techniques, scales, and chords.
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Advanced soloing and composition of multi-part arrangements across a wide variety of genres including jazz, world and classical music.
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Applied music theory: We delve deeper into the application of Modes and advanced composition concepts, including melodic movement, modulation and complex key changes.
- Introduction to Baritone Ukulele and U-Bass.
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Performance techniques perfecting group dynamics and timing, with a view to performing confidently in any setting.
Perfect For:
Advanced players who want to achieve mastery of the ukulele and take their playing to a higher level. We welcome all players with equivalent intermediate to advanced experience, who want to experiment with new genres or cover gaps in their knowledge.
Are you ready for the ultimate challenge?
Meet new people, make new friendships and advance on your musical journey as part of a group. Our Advanced Ukulele Lessons aim to get you playing like a pro!
With 15 - 20 places in each class, they are a perfect size for everyone to get to know each other and enjoy playing together as a group. There are two experienced School of Uke tutors per class who will put you through your paces, while making sure everyone is comfortable and having a great time.
By the end of the course you’ll have the opportunity to show off your new playing skills at our very own ‘Grand Finale’ ukulele show at a London music venue.
Venue: The Ship, Hart Street, EC3
Enjoy your ukulele classes in the cosy surroundings of The Ship. A traditional London pub in the heart of the city with a selection of world wines, craft ales and Belgian beers to accompany you on your ukulele adventure!
Nearest tubes: 5 mins walk from Fenchurch Street and Monument Stations.
How to become a Ukulele Boss
In our Advanced classes we aim to give you full command of all 4 strings and conquer the 12th fret and beyond. With a hands-on practical approach toward theory and through a variety of standards and musical genres, we’ll master advanced chord progressions, chord construction, inversions, scales, modes, improvisation and playing confidently in different keys. We'll explore advanced arrangements, composition and performance tips n tricks together in a band like setup using Ukulele, Baritone Ukulele and U-Bass.
The course places a strong emphasis on developing a confident playing technique. As well as developing your technical ability, with a focus on timing, texture, rhythm and song, we aim to build your musical awareness as part of a group ensemble. We take into consideration the specific aspirations and needs of everyone in the group, and encourage singing, while developing solo technique and individual playing styles.
Rock, Pop, R&B, Disco, Funk, Folk, Jazz, Classical, Bossa Nova, Samba, World Music and Classical Hawaiian at Your Fingertips
All techniques and theory are taught through contextual application. Over a 10 week course, as well as looking at classic Rock, Pop, Blues and Jazz standards we also feature other musical genres to broaden your musical repertoire. Genres covered in previous courses have included Jazz, Classical and World Music including Latin, Bossa-Nova, Samba, Spanish Baroque, Classical Hawaiian, Japanese and African styles. Genre and song requests are encouraged and will be incorporated within the program where applicable.
Group Ensemble & Performance Technique
- Play multi-part arrangements with Ukulele, Baritone Ukulele and U-Bass.
- Learn about developing arrangement and performance in songs with multiple parts.
- Emphasis on musical awareness, group timing, texture, rhythm and song.
- Develop playing technique and encourage solos and individual playing styles within a group.
- Reinforcing playing effectively and confidently in a live gigging environment.
Strumming and Picking
- Build confident strumming patterns and rhythms using emphasis, accent and syncopation.
- Explore use of barre chords to achieve dampening effects useful for achieving a more percussive and syncopated sound.
- Emphasis on timing and cross group syncopation with alternate strumming parts.
- Advanced strumming and picking techniques including tremolo picking.
Melody and Theory
- Develop fretboard map all the way to the 12th fret and beyond.
- Advanced scales including Minor and Major Pentatonic up to the 12th fret.
- Understanding and application of Modes.
- Soloing and melody improvisation within a song structure.
- Playing both melody and harmony to a song over the chord structure.
Chords and Chord Theory
- Advanced chord progressions.
- Establish relative patterns between barre chords to be able to adapt to and play I/IV/V chord progressions in any key.
- Expansive chord repertoire and use of extended chord variations.
- Explore ways to decorate simple chord progressions, using passing chords and inversions.
- Comprehensive understanding of the Circle of 5ths and the notes within each key.
- Advanced understanding of chord construction including extended chords.
Performance Technique
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Our Ukulele Boss course culminates in a “Grand Finale” show where you’ll have the opportunity to show off your new playing skills at a London music venue.
An Awesome Experience
Overall it's about a group of like-minded people discovering music and having a great time together. Here's what some of our students had to say...
"Great teaching and so much fun! Everyone should learn to play an instrument!" - Edina
"Amazing fun, brilliant teaching, awesome people!" - Avital
"I couldn't play anything when I first started, now I'm playing Slash solos!" - Cat
What if I've never played a musical instrument before?
We absolutely welcome complete beginners, and people who have never touched a musical instrument in their lives. Come along with an open mind and we'll do the rest!
When do your group lessons take place?
All our group lessons take place on weekday evenings from 7pm. And occasionally we will host workshops and jam sessions on weekend afternoons.
Where do the group lessons take place?
We love to run our lessons in pubs, which we feel adds to the social and relaxed vibe.
All our pubs are hand-picked for their special qualities, and just 5-10mins walk to central London TFL Stations. We work with a number of partner venues in London Central and City Central, including Soho, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Tower Bridge, Aldgate, Bethnal Green and Bermondsey.
And during the Summer months, weather permitting, we host our evenings at pubs with outdoor facilities to make the most of the sunshine and summer nights.
Is the ukulele a children's instrument?
The ukulele is a very versatile instrument that comes in many different sizes. While it is taught as an elementary instrument in some schools, it most definitely is not a kids instrument. It's the native instrument of Hawaii and is hugely popular with adults due its portable size and playability.
Are these sessions for adults or for kids?
All our evening classes are for adults 18+.
What if I don't have a ukulele?
All instruments are provided at our Discover sessions so all you need to bring is your best self!
For our beginner sessions, you can borrow a ukulele for the first lesson, but we recommend that you purchase an instrument as soon as possible to make the most out of your learning experience.
How many people are in each class?
There are 20 places available in each of our group classes and Discover sessions. Sometimes they sell out completely, but we usually run with about 15-20 people.
Are the sessions wheelchair accessible?
Unless otherwise stated in the venue description, sadly our sessions are not wheelchair accessible. They usually take place in pub function rooms, which are often only accessible by staircases.
Is it ok to drink alcohol in the session?
Absolutely. We encourage people to grab a drink at the bar before the session and during the mid-lesson break.
It's a fun and lighthearted vibe, and a bit of dutch courage never goes amiss. Our partner pubs & venues all offer a good range of beers, wine, spirits and simple cocktails like Negroni, Aperol Spritz etc.
What time should I arrive?
It's great if you can arrive 10-15mins early to grab a drink, meet your tutor/s and get settled in.
Is it ok to hang out after the session?
Absolutely, we want to create a community of friends so we encourage people to hang out for drinks after our weekday evening classes. Our lessons are about social connection, music appreciation and learning to play as part of a group so they are as much social events as anything else.
What kind of music can you play on the ukulele?
Absolutely anything! Anything you can play on a piano or guitar, you can also play on a ukulele. It's just half the size and easier to play.
The ukulele is a great instrument to get started on and also a stepping stone to all other stringed instruments. And it's nice and compact so you can take it anywhere. Rock, Pop and R&B bangers at your fingertips!
What are the health benefits of learning to play the ukulele?
Learning to play music, especially socially, has many health and well-being benefits. As well as brain development, when you make music, your brain releases endorphins that induce feelings of joy and pleasure and block the nerve cells that cause us to feel stress and pain. There is evidence to suggest that it even boosts your immunity!
What other events and services does School of Uke offer?
We offer a range of ukulele lessons & events for complete beginners to advanced players, both online and in-person. As well as group based lessons, we offer one-to-one ukulele lessons, our 5wk Ukulele Challenge For Beginners,10wk Evening Courses, plus package events for private & corporate clients.
How long has the School of Uke been established?
School of Uke is a sister brand of Duke of Uke, London's World Famous Ukulele Store. The School of Uke name and company was formed in 2012, but we've been teaching ukulele for 18 years, since we first opened our doors back in 2006, as the UK's first ever dedicated Ukulele store.
For all enquiries about ukulele lessons or courses at School of Uke please email or use our Online Live Chat service.
Email: info@schoolofuke.co.uk
