Windy City Uke Fest Workshops 2008

One of the few things that disappoint me when I have went to previous ukulele festivals is the organization of the workshops. The whole ukulele experience is based on sharing and learning all the ukulele has to offer. Yes, we love the performers, and the ukulele people are the best people you could meet in your lifetime, but it is the what ukulele instructors can teach ukulele players that makes the ukulele so special. When we become better musicians this makes our sharing and love for the ukulele grow. The whole ukulele experience is about sharing the aloha spirit of the instrument. 

The Windy City Uke Fest  ukulele workshops will be unlike any other ukulele workshop experience you have experienced. We are lining up some world class ukulele instructors. There will also be a kids workshop (for ages 9 to 12). Younger kids can attend, but will need to be accompanied by an adult. Tentatively, we have 3 days of workshops for beginners, intermediate and advanced players.  The most of the classes will have the same instructor for the same hour all three days, with time to practice in between each day. This will allow an ukulele player time to learn more by "doing or rote" method. The layout will be such that beginner workshops will be in the morning, and the intermediate workshops will be in the afternoon. The advanced workshops will be in the morning at the same as the beginner workshops.

This layout allows everyone a chance to check out where they are at as far as their skill set.  If the beginning workshop is too slow for a person, they can go to the intermediate workshop. If an intermediate ukulele player thinks that they will not challenging enough, they can attend advanced workshop in the morning, and the intermediate workshop in the afternoon.   
 
I will compose a book for every workshop attendee. This book will have all the material for all the workshops in one place. Thus, there is one workbook/practice guide for everyone. You will use this workbook to help you practice, and move you along as your musical ukulele skill set improves. 

Definitions of Ukulele Playing Levels These are my definitions of ukulele playing levels.
I copied Portland Uke Fest which is a good measure also.

Portland Uke Fest -- Defintions of Ukulele Playing Levels

This is the tentative workshop schedule:

Friday			Saturday			Sunday
LEVEL	Beginning Ukulele	Advanced Ukulele	Beginning  Ukulele		Advanced Ukulele	Beginning Ukulele	Advanced Ukulele
9:00 AM	Terry 15min  Orientation		Terry 15 min    Orientation			Terry
10:00 AM	Tonya	Ali Lexa	Tonya		Ali Lexa	Tonya	Ali Lexa
11:00 AM	Kimo	Curt Sheller	Kimo		Curt Sheller	Kimo	Curt Sheller
12:00 PM Lunch				12:00 PM Lunch
Intermediate Ukulele				Intermediate Ukulele
1:00 PM	Spanky	Absolute Beginners & Kids Workshop	Spanky		Absolute Beginners & Kids Workshop	Spanky	Absolute Beginners & Kids Workshop
2:00 PM	Hula Class by Joyce	UkuleleTeacher/ General Music Teacher Workshop    by Kimo	Lil Rev		Ukulele Teacher/ General Music Teacher Workshop    by Kimo	Lil Rev
3:00 PM	Seeso		Gerald Ross			Gerald Ross
4:00 PM			Demo/ Q&A Hawaiian Steel Guitar Workshop by Gerald Ross

See Workshop Teachers Page for details of each workshop and teacher.

The workshops will be held at the Tiki Terrace, and reserved locations right next to the Tiki Terrace. We have several options, and will change depending on the number of people that sign up for workshops. There will be 15 minute break between workshops.