Introduction to the Ukulele: First Saturdays next: March 7 10-10:30 a.m. $5

30 minute introduction to the ukulele, basic chords, a strum or two. 8 notes. Take this class if you are just getting started and need a little introduction before going in to the beginners jam at 10:30 a.m. At Artichoke Music back room (door is off the parking lot).

Beginner's Jam -- First Saturdays next: March 7. 10:30a.m. - noon Fee: $10 cash or check.

at Artichoke Music. Join a monthly First Saturday beginner's uke jam with Marianne Brogan, ukulele teacher, and founder of the Portland Ukulele Association. Ukulele Elementary Jam will give beginners an opportunity to work on a variety of skills: rhythm and strumming, chord vocabulary, listening skills, finger picking, and singing. We will play a variety of songs in a relaxed environment -- songs with 3-5 chords in different keys and a variety of styles. Lite instruction, lots of fun. All levels welcome! Materials provided.

Herb Ohta Jr. Workshop (only 8 spots left)

When: Sunday, Feb. 15th
Where: Tuality Community of Christ Church, 13855 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard, OR 97223 Cost: $25 for one workshop / $45 for both includes concert

3:00 – 3:45 pm - Beginning Uke: How to purchase an uke, hold, pick notes, strum a basic rhythm, plus intro to music theory.
4:00 - 4:45 pm - Uke Strumming Patterns (all levels)

A variety of strumming techniques and how to place accents on different beats, giving more options and styles to make songs your own.

6:00-7:00 pm - Concert: Fee Included with workshop, $15 for guests of participants

Register with Louise at louweezie-o@juno.com
Additional Info: aloha@HawaiiMusicLive.com / 415-452-8720

James Hill www.ukulelejames.com will teach two workshops

When: Tuesday, February 17, 2009. 4pm-6pm
What: Ukulele Teacher's Workshop
Where: Atkinson School (5800 SE Division St.)
Admission: $20.00 advance online registration ($25.00 at the door)

Music Literacy, the Ukulele Way! (Beginner Level)
The secret is out: the ukulele is an ideal vehicle for fostering music literacy in students of all ages; it's fun, inexpensive, proven, and amazingly versatile. If a sequential, performance-based approach to classroom and/or private music instruction is what you've been looking for, you're in for a treat! You'll sing, strum, pick, harmonize and more in this hands-on ukulele workshop with Ukulele in the Classroom co-author James Hill. Current and prospective ukulele teachers alike will benefit from the depth and variety of material presented. First-time strummers welcome. Handouts provided (ukuleles, too, if you need one).

Save $5 when you pre-register online. It's fast, easy and secure: click here

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When: Wednesday, February 18, 2009. 5pm-7pm
What: Public Ukulele Workshop
Where: St. David's Episcopal Church (Community Hall)
2800 SE Harrison - in the Hawthorne district (Harrison is 4 blocks south of Hawthorne)
Admission: $25.00 advance online registration ($30.00 at the door)

New Adventures in Ukulele! (All Levels Welcome)
Learn a handful of fun, rewarding tunes to impress your friends and to play for your own enjoyment. James rolls out a selection of newly-arranged, hot-off-the-press gems for your strumming, picking and singing pleasure! You'll leave class with two or three great new arrangements and you're sure to pick up a few tricks and techniques along the way. All levels welcome. Handouts provided.

Save $5 when you pre-register online. It's fast, easy and secure: click here

Jim D'Ville is the author of The Natural Way To Music; An Organic Approach to Understanding & Playing Music. He has taught workshops at UkeFest West in Santa Cruz, CA, the Portland Ukulele Festival and his approach to teaching ukulele has been featured on OPB's Oregon Art Beat television show. He also plays ukulele in "the world's hippest post-modern string band" Caravan Gogh – www.caravangogh.com.

Contact Jim at dville@teleport.com or call 503-200-9584

Get off that piece of paper and learn to play the ukulele by ear! Workshop topics will include tuning by ear and tuning your ear, recognizing musical intervals and chord progressions. This workshop will give you the tools you need to tap into all the musical knowledge you already have stored in your head. Playing by ear is easy, it's fun and it will propel your understanding of how music works to a new level. This workshop will make you a better listener!

All skill levels welcome, however, knowledge of basic chord shapes (C F G7 E7 A7 D7) is helpful. You will also need an A 440 tuning fork which is available through Artichoke Music.

Saturday, Feb. 21

PDX 3 CHORD CLUB
Hosted by
Jim D'Ville
Scott Gillespie
Rockin' Oldies & Blues By Ear

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
Noon to 1 pm Artichoke Music $5.
Come to Portland's first and only three chord ukulele jam! Each month Jim and Scott will lead you through a dozen three chord tunes from a specific genre. February will feature Rockin' Oldies & Blues with tunes including Shake, Rattle & Roll, Save The Last Dance For Me, I Fought The Law, No Particular Place To Go, Rock Around The Clock and more! Five bucks never bought so much fun! Drop-ins are welcome.

Check out the wonderful music of Lyle Ritz and Rebecca Kilgore on their cd, I Wish You Love,
by Portland's own.
Available at Flea Market Music & CDbaby. Buy Locally at Artichoke Music and Music Millenium

Listen to an interview with Lyle on NPR Weekend Edition, June 29, 2007, By Heidi Chang

See Lyle on Oregon Art Beat, Thursday, Nove. 6, at 8 p.m.