Ukulele Programs: Back in person!
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Join the UKE jam program!
This program is an ‘open’ ukulele music program, meaning that all levels of experience and skill are welcome. All are welcome to sing at whatever skill level you're at. This is an ALL INCLUSIVE music group. I'm happy to take requests for arranging music. Please send me your requests when you register. 4 programs to choose from:
1 - Beginner 6-week Uke Jam Program: Rockwood 2 - Intemediate Uke Jam Program 3 - Silver Strummers Seniors Uke Jam Program 4 - TBD - kids program in the works... |
1 - Beginner classes running 18 weeks, Thursday mornings, 10am-11:30am
Rockmosa Community Centre, Rockwood
2 - Intermediate Classes run every Wednesday evening 7pm-8:30pm
Creative Spark Workshops, 100 Crimea St., Unit A01
3 - Silver Strummers Seniors group runs Fridays, 11:45am-1:45pm
Evergreen Seniors Centre, Woolwich Rd. North
Classes: 3 levels
Join our beginner/intermediate Uke Jam Program. THREE programs to choose from!
Are you a senior?Join our Silver Strummers program! Open to Guelph residence aged 55+
Ukemosa Strummers in Rockwood is NEW! Open to seniors aged 55+
Are you a senior?Join our Silver Strummers program! Open to Guelph residence aged 55+
Ukemosa Strummers in Rockwood is NEW! Open to seniors aged 55+
Dates, Times, Costs and registration links
Beginner/intermediate Ukemosa Strummers
9 weeks, January through March, 2023
Thursday mornings, 10am - 11:30am
Sign up at the Rockmosa Community Centre, Rockwood
9 weeks, January through March, 2023
Thursday mornings, 10am - 11:30am
Sign up at the Rockmosa Community Centre, Rockwood
Intermediate UkeJam
comfortable with basic chords, chord transitions & strumming
Wed Eves, 7pm-8:30pm - January through May (18 classes)
$150 Registration fee or 'Pay as you go' for $10 per class
comfortable with basic chords, chord transitions & strumming
Wed Eves, 7pm-8:30pm - January through May (18 classes)
$150 Registration fee or 'Pay as you go' for $10 per class
Silver Strummers Seniors - Beginner & Intermediate
Fridays, Beginners: 11:45am-12:45pm
Fridays, Intermediate: 12:45pm-1:45pm
Live in person, must register with the GSWA, program runs at the Evergreen Centre, Woolwich St. in Guelph
Fridays, Beginners: 11:45am-12:45pm
Fridays, Intermediate: 12:45pm-1:45pm
Live in person, must register with the GSWA, program runs at the Evergreen Centre, Woolwich St. in Guelph
UkeJam In-Person classes at Creative Spark Workshops - 100 Crimea St., Unit A01
BUILDING ACCESS: please note that although the studio is 'street front', the door does not face the street. Look for our A-Frame signage outside the door - we are located to the left of the Food Bank door and directly across the street from Noah's ark day care centre & parking lot on Crimea St. Parking: Free 2hr street parking
Silver Strummers In-Person classes at the Evergreen Centre, Woolwich St. in Guelph
BUILDING ACCESS: please note that this is a busy venue and parking spaces MAY be reduced in the main lot. There is additional parking further back, downhill, along the river at Riverside Park. This may be trickier to navigate when the weather gets rough, so give yourself extra time to get to the centre. Guelph Transit also stops directly in front of the building.
Parking: Free at main lot and in Riverside Park.
Parking: Free at main lot and in Riverside Park.
Ukemosa Strummers In-Person classes at the Rockmosa Community Centre, Rockwood
BUILDING ACCESS: please note that this is a busy venue and parking spaces MAY be reduced in the main lot. There is additional parking along the side streets surrounding the centre. This may be trickier to navigate when the weather gets rough, so give yourself extra time to get to the centre.
Parking: Free at main lot and side streets.
Parking: Free at main lot and side streets.
Important Program Information
Instruction: You bring your instrument (we also have a lending library - please ask about this when you register) and your music stand. Song sheets will be provided via print (copies are always available each week). Instruction will be given on chord structures, picking tabs and notes, strumming patterns and beat structure. We'll we doing voice warm ups. We'll be learning to read chord charts and tabs and how they all work together to create a great sound as a group.
Songs: We’ll be starting off with 2 songs in the first class, building up our repertoire over the season. Once we’ve got a good handle on the initial songs in the first couple of weeks, we’ll be introducing a new song each week and build on our skills as a group. Each song is written out for beginner, intermediate and advanced (as required). Instruction will be given as to how to play each level in class. This means that if you’re new to your instrument (most current members are), you’ll have a piece of music that allows you to play with those with more experience and skill. Play where you're comfortable. The skill will increase, allowing you to work up to more intermediate to more advanced techniques. We work on strumming patterns, finger picking, chord structures and reading tabs.
Warm ups: Getting tuned up, learning to tune by ear, strumming patterns and stretching out our fingers and muscles all part of the warm up. All members of the group, whether you’re playing and instrument or not, will be invited to sing! Depending on the song, there will be opportunities for breakout solos - if you're interested! - and 2-part harmonies where applicable. We'd like to keep it flexible and fun, but also allow for some of those with mad skills to show those off, especially during performances. Yes, you'll be invited to perform - we get some opportunities from outside groups and organizations on occasion. Performing in a group is both fun & rewarding!
Collaboration: This is not going to be a ‘this is the way it is’ kind of music program. We’d like group members to feel free to make suggestions to songs we are working on in class. It’s flexible! If we decide as a group that the suggestion makes more sense to the way the song is played, arranged, harmonized, etc. (within reason!), we’ll change it. New song sheets with changes will then be handed out the following week to accommodate the group’s decisions. It's always good to be part of the process. You're a musician now!
Extras: Carolyn is a bit of a ukulele collector, with over 30 ukuleles in her collection so far (yes, so far. Don't tell her husband..., it's a bit of an addiction!) There are many different brands, sizes and types of ukuleles. If you're looking to try any of them, chat with Carolyn about it. A great way to try it first.
In addition to extra ukuleles, Carolyn has a created a lending library so you can try it out before you decide to purchase one. A great way to get started without the risk if you don't like it. But we're pretty sure you will!
Advised to purchase for class (but not necessary):
• A Music stand - there are some flimsy ones out there, so just be aware that some won't hold the weight of a binder. Guelph City Music downtown Guelph and Long and McQuade on Silvercreek N are good shops for these.
• A Binder with plastic sheet inserts - the inserts are available at Dollar stores or larger quantities at Staples. You can use a three-hole punch if you prefer.
• Your enthusiasm! We encourage FUN here and enjoy hearing your suggestions for songs we can bring to the group. We've got quite a repertoir going, so there's something for everyone's taste in this group!
What you get with your registration:
• 1.5-2 hour class group instruction
• Printed song sheets handed out each class
• PDF of song sheets sent to your email
• Link to YouTube video channel with tutorials and play-along videos to help you with your practices between classes.
The videos will be broken down into parts where applicable – beginner, intermediate and advanced parts as required and where applicable. Sound recordings - mp3 files or videos via YouTube - of the songs sent to you along with the PDFs of the songs we cover in each class in order for you to give it a listen a few times so you’re familiar with the piece before and after we tackle it in class OR it will be sung/played for you to become familiar with as some songs cannot be written in the same key due to the complexity of the fingering of the chords. These will also be available to hear in class to familiarize ourselves with the songs. These will be sent as links via email.
Class instructor: Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy will be leading the 2 hour classes. Carolyn is the head of organizing and music leadership at Creative Spark Workshops and the newly created Silver Strummers senior's group. She has created a song list of many different genres, transcribed the songs and created note structures, tabs and even some harmonies for songs she provides.
Carolyn has been playing ukulele for over 8 years and was an inaugural member of the Royal City Ukulele Ensemble and played with the group for 4 years. She is now breaking new ground with this new group dynamic and taking it at a slower pace in order to really appreciate the learning process while having fun! She has been playing piano since age 8 and started her church choir career at age 6 (and still going)! She also took voice lessons during her college years which helped her build on her range and learn all sorts of great warm up techniques. She's also no stranger to teaching. She's been teaching at Conestoga College since 1997 and has written several courses and curriculum for the School of Media & Design and the School of Business. She also runs art workshops and classes and kids art camps at her studio, Creative Spark Workshops. Her favourite compliment from students: "You have an awful lot of patience!". Yes, yes she does!
Songs: We’ll be starting off with 2 songs in the first class, building up our repertoire over the season. Once we’ve got a good handle on the initial songs in the first couple of weeks, we’ll be introducing a new song each week and build on our skills as a group. Each song is written out for beginner, intermediate and advanced (as required). Instruction will be given as to how to play each level in class. This means that if you’re new to your instrument (most current members are), you’ll have a piece of music that allows you to play with those with more experience and skill. Play where you're comfortable. The skill will increase, allowing you to work up to more intermediate to more advanced techniques. We work on strumming patterns, finger picking, chord structures and reading tabs.
Warm ups: Getting tuned up, learning to tune by ear, strumming patterns and stretching out our fingers and muscles all part of the warm up. All members of the group, whether you’re playing and instrument or not, will be invited to sing! Depending on the song, there will be opportunities for breakout solos - if you're interested! - and 2-part harmonies where applicable. We'd like to keep it flexible and fun, but also allow for some of those with mad skills to show those off, especially during performances. Yes, you'll be invited to perform - we get some opportunities from outside groups and organizations on occasion. Performing in a group is both fun & rewarding!
Collaboration: This is not going to be a ‘this is the way it is’ kind of music program. We’d like group members to feel free to make suggestions to songs we are working on in class. It’s flexible! If we decide as a group that the suggestion makes more sense to the way the song is played, arranged, harmonized, etc. (within reason!), we’ll change it. New song sheets with changes will then be handed out the following week to accommodate the group’s decisions. It's always good to be part of the process. You're a musician now!
Extras: Carolyn is a bit of a ukulele collector, with over 30 ukuleles in her collection so far (yes, so far. Don't tell her husband..., it's a bit of an addiction!) There are many different brands, sizes and types of ukuleles. If you're looking to try any of them, chat with Carolyn about it. A great way to try it first.
In addition to extra ukuleles, Carolyn has a created a lending library so you can try it out before you decide to purchase one. A great way to get started without the risk if you don't like it. But we're pretty sure you will!
Advised to purchase for class (but not necessary):
• A Music stand - there are some flimsy ones out there, so just be aware that some won't hold the weight of a binder. Guelph City Music downtown Guelph and Long and McQuade on Silvercreek N are good shops for these.
• A Binder with plastic sheet inserts - the inserts are available at Dollar stores or larger quantities at Staples. You can use a three-hole punch if you prefer.
• Your enthusiasm! We encourage FUN here and enjoy hearing your suggestions for songs we can bring to the group. We've got quite a repertoir going, so there's something for everyone's taste in this group!
What you get with your registration:
• 1.5-2 hour class group instruction
• Printed song sheets handed out each class
• PDF of song sheets sent to your email
• Link to YouTube video channel with tutorials and play-along videos to help you with your practices between classes.
The videos will be broken down into parts where applicable – beginner, intermediate and advanced parts as required and where applicable. Sound recordings - mp3 files or videos via YouTube - of the songs sent to you along with the PDFs of the songs we cover in each class in order for you to give it a listen a few times so you’re familiar with the piece before and after we tackle it in class OR it will be sung/played for you to become familiar with as some songs cannot be written in the same key due to the complexity of the fingering of the chords. These will also be available to hear in class to familiarize ourselves with the songs. These will be sent as links via email.
Class instructor: Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy will be leading the 2 hour classes. Carolyn is the head of organizing and music leadership at Creative Spark Workshops and the newly created Silver Strummers senior's group. She has created a song list of many different genres, transcribed the songs and created note structures, tabs and even some harmonies for songs she provides.
Carolyn has been playing ukulele for over 8 years and was an inaugural member of the Royal City Ukulele Ensemble and played with the group for 4 years. She is now breaking new ground with this new group dynamic and taking it at a slower pace in order to really appreciate the learning process while having fun! She has been playing piano since age 8 and started her church choir career at age 6 (and still going)! She also took voice lessons during her college years which helped her build on her range and learn all sorts of great warm up techniques. She's also no stranger to teaching. She's been teaching at Conestoga College since 1997 and has written several courses and curriculum for the School of Media & Design and the School of Business. She also runs art workshops and classes and kids art camps at her studio, Creative Spark Workshops. Her favourite compliment from students: "You have an awful lot of patience!". Yes, yes she does!