all but the final line written by Leo Babuta

less TV, more reading
less shopping, more outdoors
less clutter, more space
less rush, more slowness
less consuming, more creating
less junk, more real food
less busywork, more impact
less driving, more walking
less noise, more solitude
less work, more play
less worry, more smiles
more focus on the present
more playing uke!

As has been posted at PlayUke for a few months, we are producing an original CD entitled “Uke Legends Yet To Come,” and we are accepting tracks from… from YOU! We had expected to be in full production by now, but frankly, we don’t have enough tracks yet for the final product, so we are extending the deadline for submissions indefinitely until we have enough tracks.

We appreciate all who have submitted entries we’ve received so far, and some that were not chosen to be on our CD are still quite good, but don’t fit the style we envision for the recording. SO… send in your recordings, and if you’ve already submitted one, feel free to send another. If you have any questions, feel free to email, playuke@playuke.net.

Here is a two part introduction to our Uke in a Flash chord tutor. You may purchase below or at our Uke Stuff Store.

Purchase Uke in a Flash. (Shopping cart will appear in right column).
Click for US Shipping: $5.00 + $1 delivery

.
Click below for International Shipping: $5.00 + $2 delivery

.

Hi all,
I am finally back! Been under the weather with a wacky medical issue for several weeks. Yuck! Sorry to have been out of touch.

I will be posting a video on the new Uke in a Flash card set in the next few days. Will also be posting news regarding the 2011 Uke Fest very soon. Hope to see many of you at the Wine Country Festival in September!

For those of you in the local area, check out our CONCERTS page. We have several shows coming up very soon!

Doug

Hi all,
We have received dozens and dozens of submissions from around the world for our Play Uke Album, Volume One, Uke Legends Yet To Come. We now need to wind down the submissions so we can concentrate on picking out the best entries for the CD. The deadline for entries will be July 10. For details, see the PlayUke CD tab in the navigation bar above.

For years I’ve struggled with how to wean my ukulele (and guitar) students off of printed music. Not that printed music is a bad thing, but I want everyone to also enjoy the feeling of making music while not having their eyes glued to a book. To play without sheet music or chord charts, you need to instinctively feel, and not think about, what chords “go together” and what chord will probably come next in a song. I know that it takes time to develop your “ear” and your natural playing instincts, but I wanted a tool that could both guide my students toward that goal plus help speed up the process. I tried my PSP system, (which communicated my style but didn’t get people away from the printed page) and I invented the Chord Theory Tutor Gizmo™, (which is a great tool but a little daunting for newer ukesters). I started the Uke lesson blog a Ukeville.com, (but haven’t been able to keep up with it).

Finally, inspiration struck! I knew what I had to do! It’s Uke in a Flash™!

I am so excited about finally knowing exactly how and what to teach aspiring ukesters that I am ceasing all my other teaching endeavors. I will be giving my local lessons using Uke in a Flash, and a workshop at our UkeFest and some of our uke concerts using Uke in a Flash, and I will be posting video lessons here in the next few weeks.

You can check out Uke in a Flash in our Uke Stuff Store. It’s only $5 but first I’ll try to help you determine here whether it will be a useful thing for you to spend the price of a smoothie on.

You should buy Uke in a Flash if:
- You are a beginning uke player.
- You are a newer uke player and play mostly by looking at sheet music or books.
- You sometimes strum along with others but have trouble following the chords they are playing.
- You can somewhat play by ear but odd chord changes throw you.
- You want to more naturally know what chords to play vs. looking at charts and eventually memorizing.

You should not buy Uke in a Flash if:
- You are an experienced player and can handle all the chords and songs you want already.
- You only want instruction that are based in traditional, formal music theory. (Uke in a Flash is a hybrid using some non-traditional instruction)
- You cannot, on a very basic level, “hear a song in your mind” or at least hum the tune of a song you know well. For Uke in a Flash to be helpful, you should have the basic ability to hum or sing songs you know, even if you do it badly.

Again, please check out Uke in a Flash in our Uke Stuff Store.

We searched far and wide for the perfect, carry-all-your-uke-stuff-and-more tote bag that would be suitable for both Uke-Gals and Uke-Guys. When we finally found it, we were very pleased! However, this most perfect totebag came from… the slowest company we’d ever encountered! At last, after many weeks of peering out the front door, waiting for the totebag delivery service to arrive, the trumpets sounded, the sun came out, and 48 most exquisite SuperTotes were delivered to the door.

They’re finally here… The Play Uke Supertotes. The SuperTote is only 15″ x 13″ x 4″ – but its combination of inside zippered pouches and external pockets will hold a BIG binder full of music, several music books, a Chord Tutor Gizmo, a water bottle, a pack of spare strings, your cellphone, sunglasses, digital camera, wallet, pens, pencils, and more! It’s made from 50% recycled polyester with moisture resistant PVC Backing. It has adjustable handle/straps, a zippered main compartment, an 8” x 9” zippered inside pocket, three 6” deep outer pockets, inside and outside key ring carabiners, and a main front pocket with pen loops. It’s durable, practical, and roomy! A uke fest must! And of course, it has our happy motto emblazoned on the side… Four Strings, No Worries, Play Uke! Choice of Ebony Black or Rosewood Brown. Order the Supertote here.

PlayUke.net will be publishing a CD of the best tracks submitted from ukulele artists around the world! The artists selected will share in the royalties and proceeds from sales of the CD! Please click on the PlayUke CD tab above for all the details and spread the word! The contest is open to all! Make money playing ukulele!