Welcome to The Sum Of the Parts (Music)
The Home of Ukulele Orchestras in the Hunter Valley, NSW
As we slowly emerge from the Lockdown, we are bringing back some ukestras, whilst hanging on to some Zookestras AND broadcasting via Zoom from some ukestras. (And you think you are confused)!
For three months during our COVID-Lockdown we Zoomed on our Zookestras. Everyone learned heaps, and some social relationships even became stronger! Zookestras saved our musical and social lives.
It was a challenge to Zoom into everything online, but it is also difficult figure out emerging into a real-life ukulele world safely. Thanks to good venue management, we have commenced Book-in Ukestras, or Bi-U’s (pronounced ‘bayou’). If you live in Lower Hunter (within coo-ee of the lighthouse in the picture above), come along!
If you are geographically challenged (that is, you don’t live near us), or you want to continue online for whatever reason, you can continue to do so through www.zookestra.com where you’ll find links to our Zookestras, ZLUs and Special Courses. Stay safe, stay connected and keep learning. No matter where you live!
And now, for our old pre-COVID website blurb.
We teach ukulele. More importantly, we help you connect to a community that values music in their lives. Apparently we here in the Hunter region do that differently to how they do it in other places. Watch this 4 minute video to give you an idea of the sort of fun we have and the sort of things you can learn, and how…
We run nine weekly Ukestras (ukulele orchestras) and two choirs for all ages in the Lower Hunter. ‘We’ are Mark and Jane, and friends and co-workers – John Wallace, Kathy Wilson, Jack Hayden, Susan Gleeson and others. Every month there is a beginners ukulele workshop, with a Newkestra on Saturday and Sunday mornings which teach the basics of ukulele musicianship.
Every week of the year (except maybe Christmas) The Sum of The Parts (Music) helps around 200 people (adults and kids) to make music and learn, together. Why do we do this? Because people need music in their lives, they need it to be fun, and people need to connect in healthy social situations and spaces. We help make this happen.
In 2017 we also started our incredibly popular One Song Sing – once a month, learn one song, in three part harmony, in one hour.
Please feel free to stay around and explore our website. There’s lots of bits – for students and for ukulele teachers / leaders. Or stay on this page and watch and listen to a few more snippets of how, what and why we do things in the way that we do.
Oh. And we also travel a bit, giving ukestration workshops and teaching others how to better connect others through music.
We hope to play music with you one day (and help you learn! and connect up with others) ….
Mark Jackson and Jane Jelbart
…making music part of your life…