It’s the only ticket you need to join our ongoing ukestras or Zookestras. One hour and 50 minutes of fun instruction for only $30 to get you started on the ukulele.
Our last in-person Beginners Workshop on 14 March was the last thing we did before the COVID shutdown. What a whirlwind it’s been! But we are thrilled to be back, with plenty of social distancing, hand sanitiser and hygienic practices courtesy of the Carrington Bowling Club.
Due to the pandemic, we ask that you comply with the participation conditions outlined below. The form seeks confirmation that you have read them, so please do.
Use the form (below) to book in, or see beneath the form for more information before booking.
- Sunday 21 June – 9:30-11:20am
Once you’ve done with the Beginners, then keep improving your skills by getting along to one of our Zookestras or Book-in ukestras. We are pacing ourselves for the return of the real world, so we’ll see what evolves.
If you’d like to know why people do it, have a look at some of these (unsolicited) testimonials.
CONDITIONS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN A Beginners Ukulele Workshop
- Book in. Please…you cannot just turn up. We also ask that you pay prior to the workshop to guarantee your place. We will email you about this. We have a limit on the number of people at the venue, and we, and the club, need to be sure of numbers, and to be sure that people don’t miss out unnecessarily.
- You have to join the club (cost for a year $10). You can sign up over the phone or at the door.
- You will be temperature tested at the door, and you will need to sign in to the club register (used for contact tracing).
- You will need to abide by social distancing and hygiene procedures at all times in the club.
- You are required to remain seated at your table or position in the room where possible.
- Please wear a cloth mask if you intend to sing while playing! It reduces the risk to others around you (singing is a very contagious activity, it create aerosols). Homemade masks or scarves (like the gangsters of old) are fine. Remember, our perspective is to protect others.
- Please don’t come if you are sick (even a sniffle) or been in contact with a COVID-19 infected person. Complying with social distancing protocols for us means (please) no hugging, handshaking, kissing etc. We aim for no infections on our watch please (of even the flu or the common cold!).
All of these conditions are to help us make it work – for you, and for us. We need to remain aware that we are still experiencing a pandemic, so we can’t get too relaxed!
We are slightly reducing the time (from the usual 2 hours) of the Beginners Ukulele Workshop in order to be more compliant with contact tracing protocols (anything over two hour exposure to someone with COVID-19 is considered more risky than for under two hours).
Your Teacher – Mark Jackson
Over the last decade Mark has taught thousands of people how to play the uke. We hold Beginner Ukulele Workshops about once a month in the Newcastle (and Lake Macquarie) area.
All ages are welcome; from 8 to 108 years old, although children should be accompanied by an adult. The cost for this two hour workshop is $30. (Don’t forget that regular ukestras are about half that price). Please. Babies cannot be successfully taught. The camera lies.
Mark makes the Beginners Ukulele Workshop detailed yet fun. During the class he teaches about 7-8 basic chords, the fundamentals of strumming, basic ukulele technique and 3 to 4 songs. You will be encouraged to sing during the class (pre-requisite – shower singing).
This workshop is for people that have not played before or who need a refresher on their ukulele. If you are uke-ready or can play the guitar well then you more than likely won’t need a beginner session and can join a Ukestra. We even have two weekly Newkestra for newbies, or those who like a slower, more systematic pace of learning.
Mark does half hour beginners lesson prior to Tomaree and Shoal Bay Ukestras. But you must give him a call to book in (043 043 4291). However a two hour beginners’ workshop is far more effective to introduce the ukulele to novices.
We can also go out to regional NSW areas for special one-off workshops so contact us if you have a group that would like to learn. We are building a reputation for giving informed, innovative and entertaining ukestration workshops in such diverse places as Reykjavik, Hanoi, Port Macquarie, Inverell, Melbourne, Singapore and Driftpile, Alberta (look it up, it’s real).
Please book in (using the form above), or ring (0478 624 883) or email Jane to book in. We need to know what you may have played before, whether you have a uke or not, and whether you need to come or not!
Ukes to you!