Workshops at festivals and retreats offer ukulele enthusiasts great opportunities: exposure to new styles and techniques, an intimate shared experience with like-minded people, inspiration, and challenge. But with great teachers from around the world teaching compelling classes at the same time, the question becomes, “How to choose?”
What’s your level?
Level 1: Beginner
Welcome! You are in this most exciting phase of the learning curve until you can move between chord changes and keep a beat. Get fluent with (at least) your C, F, and G7 and then head to the next level.
LEVEL 2: Early Intermediate
Now you’re a player, but chord diagrams over the words are still a must. Your job here is to master B-flat, get some strums under your belt and grow into your instrument—this is when you truly learn how to practice.
LEVEL 3: Experienced Intermediate
Look at you, singing and strumming at the same time! You know a bunch of chords and are ready to use them. Time to dig in and learn some exciting techniques, and maybe venture further up the neck. Be proud of yourself, this is a fine plateau to reach.
LEVEL 4: Advanced
You can hear changes, you know some barre and closed chords, and have toured the real estate above the fifth fret. You are unafraid of the tricky stuff, ready to sit with the big kids. When things go over your head, watch and listen closely, then take your new ideas home to practice.
WORKSHOP ETIQUETTE: Here’s a few tips for everyone’s enjoyment
Plan to arrive early, check in, find a seat, tune up. Listen quietly and please raise hands to ask a question when the tutor invites you to. Also, pleeeease don’t noodle while the tutor is speaking unless they invite you to. If you are attending a workshop higher that your skill level, please sit near the back and absorb – please don’t tie the tutor down with questions about things the majority already know. But you knew all that already. Most of all, have a great time peeps!
WORKSHOP 1: Friday 8.45am-10.15am – choose ONE:
1A: BE A PIRATE: A simple song in C and how to complicate it with Hugh & Fi McCafferty
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
Be prepared for fun as Hugh & Fi workshop a simple song in the key of C. You’ll learn alternative C chord shapes, simple arpeggio and picking patterns, and how to put all that together in canon. There’ll be other pirate songs and sea shanties too. Fun for all skill levels. | Even if don’t play ukulele (yet), we’ll lend you a uke and teach you one easy chord!
| RSA Rooms, corner Talbot Street & Waihi Place
1B: YOU CAN PLAY UKULELE: Beginner’s class with Shane McAlister
BEGINNER : $30
A class for absolute beginners and newbies | learn basic chords, strum patterns and other essential techniques using simple songs for ukulele with Shane McAlister
| Geraldine Academy of Performance & Art, 77 Talbot Street
1C: PERCUSSION 101: Drumming for imposters with Lorina Harding
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
Multi-instrumentalist Lorina Harding will introduce you to percussive beats suitable for a variety of genres. All you need to bring is something to make a sound with (two sticks, tambourine, small drum, or even the back of your ukulele) and a sense of adventure.
| Waihi SeniorCare Function Centre, 16 Shaw Street
1D: PERFORMANCE 101: Get your groove on with Kylie McGinnes & Ma Bradshaw
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
Get your groove on with Sweet Fanny Adams AKA Kylie and Ma who will workshop how to be yourself when reading a crowd, how to mash songs together, tips for setting up playlists for shows, how to let loose and so much more. You’ll also work up a song to perform on stage with them at Friday night’s concert. | Concert ticket not included
| St Andrew’s Hall, 23 Wilson Street
WORKSHOP 2: Friday 10.45am-12.15pm – choose ONE:
2A: JOIN THE BAND: Captain Festus McBoyle & The Bilge Pumps
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30A/$15C
Aarrr me hearties! Have a rollickin’ good time learnin’ some original shanties then join Cap’n McBoyle ‘n his Travellin’ Variety Show onstage in Saturday night’s big piratical event. | Concert ticket not included. | Children must be accompanied by an adult
| RSA Rooms, corner Talbot Street & Waihi Place
2B: STRUMMING STYLES: Get your rhythm on with Shane McAlister
BEGINNERS/INTERMEDIATE : $30
With ukulele maestro Shane McAlister at the helm, at this always-popular workshop you will learn a variety of strum patterns to add more texture to your technique – even the tricky ones will seem easy!
| Geraldine Academy of Performance & Art, 77 Talbot Street
2C: HARMONICA 101: Backyard Davey
HARMONICA BEGINNER : $30
Davey is a harmonica player, guitarist, singer, songwriter and genuine one-man band best known as ‘Li’l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine’ He has played harmonica for 25 years and teaches harmonica one-to-one as well as group workshops.
Even if you have never held a harmonica before Davey will give you the tools to get you on the road. covering Bob Dylan style to ‘Cross harp’ also known as The Blues. | For this workshop you will require the 10 hole diatonic harmonica in the Key of C i.e. the smaller harmonica with 10 holes rather than the larger ones with the button on the side, called Chromatic harmonicas)
| Waihi SeniorCare Function Centre, 16 Shaw Street
2D: YOU CAN SING: with Sharleyne Diamond
BEGINNER+ : $30
Sharleyne is an entertainer with over 30 years experience performing in both New Zealand and in Australia. She has a singing studio in Timaru and performs locally with The Drama Queens. In this workshop Sharleyne will help you with your singing confidence using basic vocal and breathing techniques.
| St Andrew’s Hall, 23 Wilson Street
WORKSHOP 3: Saturday 8.45am-10.15am – choose ONE:
3A: EXPLORING CHORD MELODY: with Kim Halliday
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED : $30
For 12 years Kim was the principal writer for Pacific Curls Trio, and has been involved in over 20 different groups worldwide. She currently performs with Gitbox Rebellion, Whirimako Black and the Kita Trio. She teaches ukulele groups and teaches private lessons with ukulele and guitar. In this workshop Kim will look at how to approach chord melody. She will work with a couple of tunes, and provide ideas of how to make your own versions of songs through chord melody arrangements.
| RSA Rooms, corner Talbot Street & Waihi Place
3B: JOIN THE BAND: Captain Mac & The Skallywags
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30A/$15C
Avast ye land lubbers! Have a rollickin’ good time learnin’ some pirate shanties then join Captain Mac onstage as The Skallywags in Saturday night’s big piratical event. | Concert ticket not included | Children must be accompanied by an adult
| Geraldine Academy of Performance & Art, 77 Talbot Street
3C: SONGWRITING 101: with Lorina Harding
NO PREVIOUS WRITING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED : $30
Canadian-born singer-songwriter Lorina Harding is a Tui Award winner with two critically acclaimed albums under her belt. In this workshop Lorina will share her tips and techniques, and the ideas she draws on when composing a song. Then she will show you how to put that into practice. | Pens and paper provided
| Waihi SeniorCare Function Centre, 16 Shaw Street
3D: WAIATA: Songs in Te Reo Māori with Renee McGinnes
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Takitimu raua ko Hautupua oku mauka, Ko Kawarau toku awa, Ko Whakatipuwaimaori toku roto, Ko Takitimu toku waka, Ko Kai Tahu toku iwi, Ko Renee McGinnis toku ikoa.
Renee is a primary school teacher and ukulele teacher – passionate about playing her ukurere and singing a broad range of waiata. Renee enjoys singing and sharing māori waiata with other ukurere players and musos. She’ll be sharing with you a variety of traditional and modern waiata for beginners with an opportunity of leading into a waiata with a challenge.
| St Andrew’s Hall, 23 Wilson Street
WORKSHOP 4: 10.45am-12.15pm – choose ONE:
4A: PIRATES ROCK: the art of rock painting with Fi McCafferty
NO ARTISTIC SKILLS REQUIRED : $30
Take a little time out from ukulele playing. In this workshop Fi will introduce you to the relaxing art of rock painting. At the end of the session the rocks are yours to take home – but we’d love it if you’d also hide one in Geraldine for people to find. | Materials included
| RSA Rooms, corner Talbot Street & Waihi Place
4B: HOW TO BANJOLELE with Shane McAlister
BANJOLELE BEGINNERS : $30
Bring along your banjolele and Shane will workshop how to blend the banjolele into a group sound, specific strumming techniques and picking patterns, when to play and when not to play the banjolele (cos you can play ANY song on a banjolele), et cetera. | Own banjolele required
| Geraldine Academy of Performance & Art, 77 Talbot Street
4C: JOIN THE BAND: Captain Longjohn Knickers & The Jolly Rogers
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
Pirates o’ all ages, ahoy! Have a rollickin’ good time learnin’ some original pirate shanties, then join Captain Longjohn and first mate Nudger onstage as The Jolly Rogers in Saturday night’s big piratical event. | Concert ticket not included | Children must be accompanied by an adult
| Waihi SeniorCare Function Centre, 16 Shaw Street
4D: BASIC BASS: with Hugh McCafferty
INTERMEDIATE : $30
Aimed at absolute beginners and newbies, Hugh will talk about the role of the bass in ukulele groups, then teach you some basic skills to get you started then help you to use these skills to practice simple accompaniments. | Own bass instrument required
| St Andrew’s Hall, 23 Wilson Street
WORKSHOP 5: Saturday 2pm-3.30pm – choose ONE:
5A: LEFT & RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE: with Kim Halliday
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED : $30
This workshop will cover exercises and riffs that can be used to strengthen the left hand, and right hand exercises to make your playing more interesting and add more colours to your playing and compositions. Kim will cover different timings and left /right hand co-ordination, as well as introducing percussion basics on the ukulele.
| RSA Rooms, corner Talbot Street & Waihi Place
5B: PUT YOUR LEFT FOOT IN: with Rhys Taylor and The Fiery Peak Dancers
ALL SKILL LEVELS : $30
If pirates weren’t busy while they be singin’, they’d often dance, too. Pirates had naught against dancin’, ‘n’ ’twas a way t’ stay active aboard a cramped ship while havin’ fun. Morris dancin’ be an ole form o’ English folk dance. ‘Tis based on rhythmic steppin’ ‘n’ the execution o’ choreographed figures by a group o’ dancers, oft’ wearin’ bell-pads on thar shins. Implements such as sticks, cutlasses ‘n’ handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers. Geraldine’s owns Morris dance troupe will host this fun session, teachin’ ye some basic steps ‘n’ simple piratical routines. | LIMITED NUMBERS | Sticks provided | Dress-ups encouraged
| Geraldine Academy of Performance & Art, 77 Talbot Street
5C: CLOWNING 101: with Lorina Harding
NO PREVIOUS ACTING SKILLS REQUIRED : $30
There is no such thing as Clowning 101 but if there were this would look like it’s awkward cousin, Phil. Forget scary birthday party clowns, this workshop will explore your own authentic clown. Yes, you have one. It probably isn’t named Phil.
Lorina Harding studied European-style clowning in Canada when it was cool. She tells herself she is still cool. Her clown begs to differ. Bring hats, toys and articles of clothing you would have chosen as a child. Apologies to Phil. | Dress-ups encouraged
| Waihi SeniorCare Function Centre, 16 Shaw Street:
5D: BASS BEYOND THE BASICS: with Renee McGinnes
INTERMEDIATE : $30
In addition to playing and teaching ukulele, Renee also plays and teaches bass guitar. Add a couple of bass riffs using a 2/4, 4/4 and 12-bar blues to your bass playing skills. Learn how one riff can have more than one variation and how it can change the feel of a waiata/song. | Own bass instrument required
| St Andrew’s Hall, 23 Wilson Street
ALL VENUES ARE JUST A FEW MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE OF EACH OTHER: