2023 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
It is possible that some workshops may change due to unforeseen circumstances.
We will do everything we can to accommodate your preferences.
Please read the workshop levels at the bottom of the page before you make your choices.
We may also add new workshops if needed.
YES! You will be able to change to another workshop if there is space.
As our workshops are filling up please do not select workshops that are already full.
Select other options but also send an email to be put on a waiting list.
WORKSHOP 1 SATURDAY 14 October 9am - 10.30am
CHOOSE 1 ONLY
1A Samantha Muir
Classical ukulele
Tab Refresher Workshop For this workshop participants will need a standard re-entrant tuned ukulele (high-gCEA)
This workshop offers participants an opportunity to brush up on their tab reading skills by learning fun but simple melodies. Participants willalso learn how to add chord/arpeggio accompaniments to the tunes and how to play them as an ensemble. Suitable for anyone with a basic knowledge of the ukulele. Please bring a music stand.
1 place left
1B Sally Carter CLOSED
How To Play Well-Known Chord Shapes Over The Fretboard
Understanding how to play well known chord shapes all over the fretboard using 3-string chords. You will be able to avoid barre chords! You will learn how to pluck/strum these 3-string chords. These chords will allow you to add variation to a song. Please bring a music stand.
LEVEL: ALL
THIS WORKSHOP IS FULLY BOOKED
1C Jane and Mark
Be a part of the Valla Beach ukestra where you'll learn contemporary songs arranged into parts for an ukulele orchestra. We will teach two really fun songs: You Were Meant for Me (Jewel) and Gold on the Ceiling (Black Keys). All levels of players, from advanced to beginners are welcome because there are rocking parts for everyone. Oh and bring your vocal chords too!
LEVEL: All
6+ places left
1D Dr Chris Waite
Survival Soloing!
Have you ever wondered what to play when the song-sheet says “instrumental”? This workshop will give you the tools to shred a solo for popular, rock and folk music in any key!
LEVEL: Advanced Beginners to intermediate
SOLD OUT! But spaces in Sunday morning, session 3D
1E Angie Smith
Strummers Paradise: Comic and Novelty Songs: Bring your uke, your voice and let's have some laughs!
Along Came Jones, Shaddup You Face, Time Warp, Witch Doctor, Right Said Fred, Knees up Mother Brown, Little Bit o’ Luck, Little Wooden Hut, Uke-a-Zarzan, No 97 to the Snack Bar Please, Redback on the Toilet Seat, I’ve Been Everywhere, Beat it, Alley Oop, and many far worse songs than these!
LEVEL: Advanced beginners+
6+ places left
1F Ruth McCrae VOCAL WORKSHOP
Looking after your voice
Join Ruth and find new ways to relax and warm your voice; connect your body to your voice; expand your vocal range and enjoy singing in harmony with others! Ruth has been teaching music and singing for almost 3 decades and is looking forward to helping you delve deeper and discover more about your voice!
Bring your ukuleles with you to the session.
LEVEL: ALL
5 places left
1G Dennis Wilson & Brenda Lesueur 9am -10am
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Join Dennis and Brenda to learn the basics of playing the uke. Rock out a few songs and play a few picking patterns. We will have ukes if you don't!
Many places left for a great introduction to ukulele!
WORKSHOP 2 SATURDAY 14 October 1pm - 2.30 CHOOSE 1 only
2A Samantha Muir 1 SPACE LEFT!
Beautiful Melodies. For this workshop participants will need a standard re-entrant tuned ukulele (high-gCEA)
Discover the hidden beauty of the ukulele by learning how to play a section of melodies including Amazing Grace, the Skye Boat Song, Morning Has Broken, Both Sides Now, Don Gato and The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Suitable for anyone who can read tab. Please bring a music stand.
2B Sally Carter
Mysteries of Transposing A Song To The Just Right Key For You
Do you have a song in a key you can't sing in? Do you want to change key in the middle of a song to add variation to your sound? Learn how to transpose quickly and easily. Well known songs will be played in different keys. Transposing of simple tab riffs will be looked at as well. Please bring a music stand.
2C Mark and Jane CLOSED
The Building Blocks of Blues Improvisation: Sunshine of Your Love
Have you ever wanted to play a ripping Blues solo? This workshop will give you the basics of how to get started, what to use and when! We learn a few Blues songs, but more importantly the riffs that drive them (ps: they are scales). Fun and nostalgic, but also mightily empowering.
LEVEL: Pre-requisites – intermediate players, at least one to two years of playing.
2D Dr Chris Waite
Just Six Chords!
Imagine being able to play any song with just six chords! In this workshop we will explore the only six chord shapes you need to play songs. For players who are starting to think about chords beyond the 5th fret but not quite ready to go there yet, there will be options for you too.
LEVEL: Advanced beginners to intermediate
2E Mama Juju and the Jam Tarts
Jam 'n Train - Incredible Creedence
Get on board the jam 'n train! Wooo- wooo! Lets hit the tracks running, we'll help you with some ear, finger and voice training where needed, then cut straight to the jamming. The big wheels will soon start turning and everyone will be playing along with the band in no time! Strum your way through the incredible songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Keep it simple or immerse yourself deeper into the bayou with some of the riffs, hooks, rhythms and harmonies that made this band and their catalogue of songs so popular- Proud Mary, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Down On The Corner and more!
LEVEL: Advanced beginners to intermediate
THIS WORKSHOP IS FULLY BOOKED
Places here to learn how to put your song into a new key! Take your playing to a new level
6+ places left for this mindblowing workshop!
Just 6 chord shapes will have you playing any song.
10 places left for this fabulous Creedence workshop!
2F John Wallace ESPECIALLY FOR UBASS PLAYERS WITH SOME EXPERIENCE
Intermediate Ubass
Moving on with the bass. More description to come
LEVEL: Players with at least 1 to 2 years of bass playing experience
A few places left.
2G Keith Rea
Knowing your tech!
Do you want to find out more about how to plug in your uke? Managing the amplifier you are working with? Getting the sound just right? Or running a mixing desk? Then this workshop is the opportunity you are looking for. Bring your uke and your lead. Keith can answer all your questions and then some!
LEVEL: ALL
A few places left
WORKSHOP 3 SUNDAY 9-10.30am
CHOOSE 1 only
3A Samantha Muir - Classical ukulele CLOSED
Arpeggios and Campanellas: how to make the ukulele sound like a harp
For this workshop participants will need a standard re-entrant tuned ukulele (high-gCEA)
This workshop will explore the fingerpicking techniques needed to play arpeggios and campanellas on the ukulele. In these techniques the notes are played on alternating strings to create over-ringing, or harp-like effects. Thus, arpeggios and campanellas highlight some of most the unique and beautiful qualities of the ukulele. Participants will learn a series of tunes and exercises in order to gain a foundation in how to play these techniques. Suitable for anyone who can read tab. Please bring a music stand.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FULLY BOOKED
3B Sally Carter
Arranging songs for a group performance
Participants will learn some principles and skills for arranging a group performance and then have the opportunity to form small groups and arrange their own version of a well-known song. Sally will have songs for you to use. Please bring a music stand.
LEVEL: ALL and Basic TAB reading skills are required
8 places left
ESPECIALLY FOR UBASS BEGINNERS
3C John Wallace
Beginner Ubass
Have you just got your new Ubass in your hands? John will get you started learning some essential Ubass basics.
LEVEL: Ubass for beginners
A few places left
3D Dr Chris Waite
Survival Soloing!
Have you ever wondered what to play when the song-sheet says “instrumental”? This workshop will give you the tools to shred a solo for popular, rock and folk music in any key!
LEVEL: Advanced Beginners - intermediate
5 places left
THIS WORKSHOP IS FULLY BOOKED
3E Mama Juju and the Jam Tarts CLOSED
Jam 'n Train - Sensational 70s
Get on board the jam 'n train! Wooo- wooo! Let's hit the tracks running, we'll help you with some ear, finger and voice training where needed, then cut straight to the jamming! We'll grow strong and learn how to get along. So, it's inevitable we will survive and in no time at all, everyone will be jamming with the band! Get your rock and disco groove thing on, while we pick, strum and harmonise our way through some of the iconic songs of the Sensational 70s- I Will Survive, Funky Town, Rivers of Babylon, plus songs from Abba, Fleetwood Mac and more!
LEVEL: Advanced beginners to intermediate
VOCAL WORKSHOP
3F Ruth McCrae
Looking after your voice
Join Ruth and find new ways to relax and warm your voice; connect your body to your voice; expand your vocal range and enjoy singing in harmony with others! Ruth has been teaching music and singing for almost 3 decades and is looking forward to helping you delve deeper and discover more about your voice! Bring your ukuleles with you to the session.
LEVEL: ALL
7 places left
3G Dennis Wilson & Brenda Lesueur 9am -10am
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Join Brenda and Dennis to learn the basics of playing the uke. Rock out a few songs and play a few picking patterns. We will have ukes if you don't!
Many places left for a great introduction to ukulele!
Before you make your selection, please read Workshop Levels below to check
which workshops will be right for you.
Absolute Beginners
Never played ukulele before or less than a few months.
Advanced Beginners
You have been playing for at least a year. You know many chords but usually only play chords in the first 3 frets. You know some easy picking patterns and a few more strumming patterns than down, up, down, up. You want to develop your picking and strumming skills. You have started to read easy TAB and/or notation.
Intermediate
You can confidently play most chords in home position and some up the neck. You use picking patterns and different strums to suit specific songs. You are building confidence in reading TAB and/or notation and can play some melodies and easy riffs.
Advanced Intermediate
You can confidently play many chords including moveable chords and bar chords up the neck. You use a variety of picking patterns and different strums to suit specific songs. You can hear the chord changes and are beginning to predict what the next chord could be. You can read TAB and/or notation and play melodies and riffs.
Advanced
You are comfortable playing in any key and know the chords that belong in that key. You play various inversions of a chord up the neck. You can read TAB and/or notation fluently. You are comfortable picking notes and melodies in the higher positions.
All levels
These workshops are specifically designed to cater for players of all levels from beginner to advanced.