Poster

I run regular workshops in New Zealand and Australia (see sidebar). If you have a ukulele community in your town, and would like me to come and run one for you, the following will be helpful.

WORKSHOP CONTENT

I teach for just over two hours—that's about as much as I find people can absorb. We cover three new standard strums, learn some techniques like chunking and syncopation, explore transposing chords as a way of getting more interesting chord voicings and playing up the neck, and practice some simple picking patterns. I supply a handout covering all the workshop material, and this website contains audio clips of the strums and fingerpicking. There’s a lot of material, so I stress that it’s just an introduction, and participants will reinforce what’s taught with handout and audio in their own time.

COST

NZ$30 per person. Cash or cheque on the day, though soon I’ll be using an online ticketing system so people can book in advance. Copies of Kiwi Ukulele are available for $25, and I’m happy to sign them.

ACCOMMODATION

If members of local ukulele groups are willing to put me up for a night, that’s very welcome. I usually try to meet local players after the workshops, and the best trips I’ve had involve jam sessions at people's places in the evenings.

VENUE

I rely on locals to suggest a good venue. The workshop requires a teaching space with enough chairs to arrange in two semicircles of 12. Tea-making facilities would be great but not essential. Usually I hire a church hall/scout hall, or use a classroom, but the back room of a pub can be fine as long as it’s quiet. It needs to be easy to find and have parking.

PUBLICITY

I have a Facebook page for Kiwi Ukulele, and post workshops to there as Facebook events. I'll also forward a short notice about the workshop to any email lists of local ukulele players. I try to let local newspapers and radio know, because they'll sometimes run a piece on the ukulele revival and interview me about the book. My Press Kit contains a bio and some possible photos. I produce A4 colour posters for each event, and am happy to Fastpost some down to any person or shop that’s willing to put them up around the place. Finally, I am happy to do a publicity event in a bookstore or music store, which is usually a combination of 1) playing some songs, 2) running a short beginner's lesson for anyone who brings a uke along, 3) talking about writing the book, and the ukulele revival in general, and 4) signing copies.