A new year is like a gift...

... and now's the time for gratitude and great plans.
 

2019 was a wild, fun time, filled with lessons, Shenanigans, festivals, jams, sing-alongs, performances, and, best of all, playing music with old and new ukulele friends (that would be you!). From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of my world.

What's your ukulele resolution?
Learning technique is one thing; it's quite another to be able to weave it naturally into a song. Imagine being able to channel what you hear in your mind's ear, through your fingers, and giving it voice through your ukulele. What is your ukulele goal for 2020? Is it to learn one song by heart? Conquer that gnarly chord change? Get a smooth fingerpick down? Get together with others to sing and play together? Nail that strum? Here's a little blog post on setting yourself up to reach that ukulele goal - I'm using the same tool that I describe in the blog post to further my own reach.

Take part in The Great Shenanigan Packet Update: I'm shakin' up the Shenanigan packet to make it even better for 2020. If you've got a minute, reply to this email with ideas of tunes you would like to see included in the packet. Check out the current version here and float me your list of faves that want added in! I'll be starting to rework it on Tuesday, January 7.

Start your ukulele year off with a FWING!!! by signing up for a class or a private lesson. Get a refresher on the basics. Upgrade your strum and chord-changing abilities at a Level 2 class. Get a group of friends together and let's make a class just for you. A class is a great way to reinvigorate your joie de uke! Here's a list of upcoming group classes. First one starts Jan. 21!

What's as much fun as learning to play the uke? Learning to play the harmonica! Check out upcoming classes here. 

Want to see ukuleles in action? Check out my band, Leadfoot Louise: a little bit country, a lotta bit bluegrass, and plenty of fun twists on old blues and swing favorites from the Great American Songbook. We've got two shows coming up, featuring Rebecca Padula's smokin' vocals, on guitar and uke. Fiddle Dan Wyman on ... the fiddle! And yours truly on vocals, ukes, dobro, harmonica, shaker, kazoo .. and whatever else I can find to make some music with! Come listen!

• Friday, January 10, 7-8 p.m. at the Double E Lounge (21 Essex Way, Essex Jct., VT, next to the movie theater) - Grab a bite and a brew at the Sound Garden Cafe and enjoy the show.

• Saturday, January 18, 2-3 p.m. at the South Burlington Public Library (University Mall, 540 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT). Settle in to hear some old and new favorites.

 

There will be more fun opportunities to get together and play in 2020. So polish up that strum, get those chords into your fingers, and let's play!

Cheers,
Ukulele Clare