Thanks so much to everyone who turned out last Sunday! The beginning workshop–pupu hour–sing along format seemed to work well, so we will do it again! Here are links to the songs that we practiced in the workshop. (They’re two to a page so we can 1) save paper and 2)fold in half and use with the kani-ka-pila klip.)
Also, I’m trying to update the list of other ukulele clubs and scheduled jam sessions in the area. If you know of any that I have not included (and I’m sure there are many) and can send me the link to their website, I’ll get them included as soon as possible.
Here’s Something New
From Kani-Ka-Pila! Handy dandy ukulele fret stamps in different colors and a limited-time price reduction:
Click on any of the links for more information.
Benefit Concert
And last, but certainly not least, here is an email I received this morning from Cathe Glass:
Aloha kakou!
This invitation is coming to you because you are a dear friend and I hope you may want to help. . . . . as you may or may not know, my twelve year old grandson James is currently battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. We are sure that he will win!
With great aloha, my dear friend Herb Ohta Jr has decided to dedicate his concert at Santa Clara University to James and the fight against Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. All proceeds will be donated the medical fund. Please join us for an evening of wonderful Hawaiian entertainment and support for the cause. With your help, it will be memorable. Details are below. Hope to see you there.
Herb Ohta Jr.(Santa Clara, CA – Benefit to Fight Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma…
A number of you have been asking about getting together more often and incorporating some lessons into the mix. I think we can do that. Nimbus Arts has offered to let us use their space at the St. Helena Marketplace, 3111 St. Helena Highway, on Thursday evenings. (This is where the Premium Outlets used to be, just north of St. Helena.) Here’s the plan for now: from 6:00 to 7:00 we’ll do a group lesson for beginners; at 7:00 we’ll switch it up a bit for those who have a little more experience or want to just play some tunes. The “beginners” are welcome to stay and apply their new skills. I’ll come prepared with some kind of lesson each week, but it really can be driven by whatever we want or need to work on and who comes. (Lois has also offered to teach hula on occasion to those of us who are interested; we’re just working out the details.) It’s going to be very, very casual; if you’re an advanced player, you can teach the class. I’ll have ‘ukuleles for those who don’t have one. We can start next Thursday, March 19, and see how it goes. Please bring a $5.00 donation. Note: this is in addition to the monthly flea fest on (usually) the last Sunday of the month.
Speaking of which, please let me know if you need a Flea Jumper Songbook for our next gathering, Sunday March 29, at Yo el Rey in Calistoga. So far I’m planning on bringing one for Julie and David.
On an even lighter note, here is the first submission received from my request for “My Little Grass Shack” parodies, this one from Jeff Abbott in El Cerrito who is now an honorary Flea Jumper!
My Little Wine Rack
Lead-in:
There’s a place in California
That is salubrious to me,
I’m as thirsty as can be,
Won’t you pour some Pinot Gris?
And the main course:
I want to go back to my little wine rack
in the beautiful Napa Valley.
I wanna be with all the rieslings and the
zinfandels I knew long ago.
I can hear the bare feet squishing
on the grapes they’re harvesting now;
I can hear the new vintners sayin’
“Oh no micro-oxygenation is the way to go and how!”
It won’t be long ‘til my glass will be filling up with malbec,
A great old tart with earthy minerality.
I’m not a connoisseur I’m just an oenophiliac,
and I hear that it helps to clear your arteries of plaque.
I wanna go back to that little wine rack
in my beautiful Napa Valley ,
Where the cab, pinot, syrah, merlot,
and chardonnay come flowing by.
Where the cab, pinot, syrah, merlot,
and chardonnay come flowing by.
I don’t know about you, but I love it. I’ll work out the chords and add it to “the book.” (I’ll do a songcard, if someone will do an illustration.)
Onward: I believe the Saturday, April 4, Bob Brozman workshop in Santa Cruz is full. However, Haley tells me they have opened another one for Sunday, April 5, and she might be able to move some of the Saturday folks to Sunday, if more of us want to come down together from Napa on Saturday. So far it’s me, Taylor, and Christina. I have room for 5 more in the mini-van. This is a rare opportunity to learn ‘ukulele from one of the most respected musicians in the world. Check with Haley info@bobbrozman.com to see if you can get in, then let me know if you need a ride.
Brittni is an amazing talent and about as sweet as they come. And she has a wonderful rapport with kids–well, she’s only 18, herself. So, if you’ve got a kid you’d like to introduce to the ‘ukulele, this would be a great opportunity. She walked away with the 2005 Na Hoku Hanohano “Most Promising Artist Award” at the age of 16 for her debut recording, “Brittni X 3” for which she played all three parts—ukulele, guitar, and bass! The following year she released her second CD, “HEAR…”, which won the 2006 Hawaii Music Awards “Ukulele Album of the Year” and received two nominations for the 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano for “Best Instrumental Album of the Year” and “Favorite Entertainer of the Year.”
This would also be a great opportunity to meet the host, Mike DaSilva, and take a peek at his ‘ukulele workshop. Mike is a master luthier and gave James Hill a custom-made ‘ukulele at the Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival last year. James later said, “this is the best sounding ‘ukulele I have ever heard in my life!” That’s quite an endorsement! For more information on Mike and his Berkeley ‘Ukulele Club (which seems to be growing by leaps and bounds) check out their link under the new “‘Ukulele Clubs” tab above.
Our good friend Herb Ohta, Jr. will be passing through again in April and will be in San Rafael on the 4th and 5th, and in Berkeley on the 6th. The son of `ukulele legend “Ohta-san,” Herb started playing at the age of three, and began teaching at 11. He now shares the music of Hawai`i and the beauty of the ‘ukulele with people around the world, performing and conducting instructional workshops. He is a seven-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominee (the Hawaiian equivalent to the Grammy) and two-time Hawai`i Music Award winner. Herb will be teaching individual workshops in Song Arranging, Strumming, Hawaiian Turnarounds, and Playing Solo—Ohta-style.Cost is $35.You can also take a private lesson from Herb for $60. For more information, contact Hawaii Music Live.
And finally, if you haven’t seen Jake Shimabukuro in concert, you might want to check out these upcoming performances: he’ll be in Chico at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company April 6 (yes, we will be driving all the way to Chico in a school night to see him perform) and the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz on April 9. He is an inspiring and dazzling ‘ukulele player and a very nice guy, to boot. If you want to go to either concert you should get your tickets soon.
With great aloha, my dear friend Herb Ohta Jr has decided to dedicate his concert at Santa Clara University to James and the fight against Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. All proceeds will be donated the medical fund. Please join us for an evening of wonderful Hawaiian entertainment and support for the cause. With your help, it will be memorable. Details are below. Hope to see you there. 
Our good friend Herb Ohta, Jr. will be passing through again in April and will be in San Rafael on the 4th and 5th, and in Berkeley on the 6th. The son of `ukulele legend “Ohta-san,” Herb started playing at the age of three, and began teaching at 11. He now shares the music of Hawai`i and the beauty of the ‘ukulele with people around the world, performing and conducting instructional workshops. He is a seven-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominee (the Hawaiian equivalent to the Grammy) and two-time Hawai`i Music Award winner. Herb will be teaching individual workshops in Song Arranging, Strumming, Hawaiian Turnarounds, and Playing Solo—Ohta-style.
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Napa Valley Flea Jumpers 