I love this lesson, Lisa. I've been playing for 3 years - but still very much a beginner. I've always been frustrated by not being able to sing while playing, and lately my exasperation has peaked. I feel like it holds back my learning, and I feel like I haven't actually learned how to play a single song because, despite being able to strum and fingerpick many, I can't sing them! Honestly, just as I get that impulse to sing, before the words even exit my mouth, my strum falls apart. I've tried a lot of techniques that others have taught, but not made much progress. I like your idea of just vocalizing a word (e.g. up down or banana-papaya) and getting the body more into it. To be honest, I'm someone who tends to live in my head (hence, long RUclips comments!) and that may be a factor - so anything to get out of it. I'm going to give these techniques a try (I'm thinking I'll start with super-simple song's like Happy Birthday and Mary Had a Little Lamb) and am feeling optimistic and energized!
Happy Birthday is a great song to start with. I am currently teaching a 6 week live class that focuses heavily on this. I am encouraging students to work songs from memory and doing a daily strum meditation activity in order to "get out of our heads" and focus more on the development of the neuro muscular pathway. I have a short on memorizing the chords for Happy Birthday if you don't already have that memorized. I totally get the head space - I am a classically trained flute player, and I continued to perform on flute until 2019. My joke - I'm thoroughly paper-trained. If you have ever owned a puppy, that should make you chuckle.
My lesson notes look like this: So what to do according to Lisa? Slow and easy since it takes time Work on it everyday without fail Practice strumming 1,2,3,4 over and over one down strum at a time. use her chart…HUM! Add a simple pattern like: down, down, up … use the same chart but do one pattern per section 1,2,3,4. HUM Add a few words singing and then more words as you continue the chord changing and attention to time. Use a familiar song that repeats the same lyrics/words…keep at it slow and easy daily until You Go It!
Your advice is exactly what I did to learn to play the Island Strum. I could only play the Island Strum while singing the words "Water come to me eye" on C chord along with your tutorial on that song. Because as you explained the words aligned up with strum pattern so well With repetition & time I could Island Strum with other chords & lyrics
@@TheUkuleleFool Now Aug 2023, I am working toward being able to chuck in songs. Following your advice on other later tutorials, I am taking baby steps to incorporate chuck into "King of the "Road." That helps me because "King . . . Is an easy, simple song with all down-strums. I can't keep the chuck going when I have to up-strum as well.
Terrific lesson!! Very easy to follow step-by-step methods and great suggestions. You've inspired me to keep working on "problems" I need to solve to keep adding new skills to my ukulele playing. Thanks Lisa.
I love this lesson, Lisa. I've been playing for 3 years - but still very much a beginner. I've always been frustrated by not being able to sing while playing, and lately my exasperation has peaked. I feel like it holds back my learning, and I feel like I haven't actually learned how to play a single song because, despite being able to strum and fingerpick many, I can't sing them! Honestly, just as I get that impulse to sing, before the words even exit my mouth, my strum falls apart. I've tried a lot of techniques that others have taught, but not made much progress. I like your idea of just vocalizing a word (e.g. up down or banana-papaya) and getting the body more into it. To be honest, I'm someone who tends to live in my head (hence, long RUclips comments!) and that may be a factor - so anything to get out of it. I'm going to give these techniques a try (I'm thinking I'll start with super-simple song's like Happy Birthday and Mary Had a Little Lamb) and am feeling optimistic and energized!
Happy Birthday is a great song to start with. I am currently teaching a 6 week live class that focuses heavily on this. I am encouraging students to work songs from memory and doing a daily strum meditation activity in order to "get out of our heads" and focus more on the development of the neuro muscular pathway. I have a short on memorizing the chords for Happy Birthday if you don't already have that memorized. I totally get the head space - I am a classically trained flute player, and I continued to perform on flute until 2019. My joke - I'm thoroughly paper-trained. If you have ever owned a puppy, that should make you chuckle.
Wonderful lesson Lisa! Thank you for continuing to "think like a learner". 🎶❤
Always!
My lesson notes look like this:
So what to do according to Lisa?
Slow and easy since it takes time
Work on it everyday without fail
Practice strumming 1,2,3,4 over and over one down strum at a time. use her chart…HUM!
Add a simple pattern like: down, down, up … use the same chart but do one pattern per section 1,2,3,4. HUM
Add a few words singing and then more words as you continue the chord changing and attention to time.
Use a familiar song that repeats the same lyrics/words…keep at it slow and easy daily until
You Go It!
Perfection! Glad I can help with my strategies.
@@TheUkuleleFool it was easy to see that you really 'got into" that lesson...You were having so much fun. Please keep it up.
Great lesson! Thanks!
You're welcome. Thanks for letting me know.
Your advice is exactly what I did to
learn to play the Island Strum. I could only play the
Island Strum while singing the words
"Water come to me eye" on C chord
along with your tutorial on that song.
Because as you explained the words
aligned up with strum pattern so well
With repetition & time I could Island Strum with other chords & lyrics
Excellent! So glad that I could help you on your ukulele journey.
@@TheUkuleleFool Now Aug 2023, I am working toward being able to chuck in songs.
Following your advice on other later tutorials, I am taking baby steps to incorporate chuck into "King of the "Road." That helps me because "King . . .
Is an easy, simple song with all down-strums.
I can't keep the chuck going when I have to up-strum as well.
Terrific lesson!! Very easy to follow step-by-step methods and great suggestions. You've inspired me to keep working on "problems" I need to solve to keep adding new skills to my ukulele playing. Thanks Lisa.
Glad it was helpful for other skills too! Hope this helps you to spend the ukulele love
Great lesson…Lisa thanks. I’m practicing doing this now ..a little bit at a time.
Fantastic!
Hey K BD, I visited your post on this subject and I'm so proud of what you are doing. Just keep at it until it's the way you want it!. Very cool.
@@chuckjeffery944 thanks .. 🤗
Thanks for the encouraging lessons, Lisa. I am going to start practicing every day!
Wonderful! Glad I could inspire you.
Really helpful lesson Lisa. From one Lisa to another, many thanks. You're a brilliant teacher. Take care.
Thank you so much for letting me know that I was able to help you on your music journey.
Great help.
Thanks for letting me know.
OK Lisa, this is your best lesson yest! (Be soft and gentle) Thanks lady!
You're so welcome!
Love it
Thank you!!
Is it correct, is it helpful to think
of the Cowboy strum as being
the first half of the Island strum?
Anyway you can take something you know and use it to help you master what you are working on is something you can take advantage of.
Too much talk
Fair enough.