During full COVID Lockdown the Zookestras kept our community together, but people told us that Zookestras helped them develop their ukulele skills enormously!
Now we are in a different uncertain era, and we have a mix of ...
- Ukestras - You gotta live here or be visiting our area to do this.
- ZLUs - Zoomed Live Ukestras - these are Zoom-broadcasts from our Ukestras. A fun, instructional, strummalongable session for those who want to stay connected with us, learn and have an enjoyable time.
- Zookestras (online Zoom Ukestras) - only one at the moment. Perfect for those who want detailed instruction, in conjunction with a connected live ukestra feel. Geography or illness is no impediment!
For about the cost of a cinema ticket (remember those?) you get something more productive than watching a movie, more connected than social isolation, more music-making than a mobile phone, and informed and entertaining instruction for a great price!
online options - Which Zookestra or ZLU is for you?
If you can't make one of our live Ukestras, join the Zookestra or ZLU that keeps you connected to your community and that will keep you playing and learning at your skill level. If you wish to visit our music-making community from afar, you are more than welcome (Hello Philadelphia, USA! Bonn, Germany! Milton Keynes, UK).
We are based in Newcastle NSW. Choose the Zookestra or ZLU that suits your time zone, sense of community and/or skill-challenge.
We currently are running one Zookestra and one session of Zookestral Voices.
Wednesday Mornings 10am-12pm
New people please go here to register for Wednesday morning.
If you have already registered payment with us, CLICK HERE (i.e. you are a regular).
Easy/Mixed for those who can play at least 15 chords and the C scale. More challenging material may be introduced at times.
Friday Afternoons - Zookestral Voices
Every Friday, courtesy of Zoom, we sing and learn songs together, from our home to yours. Singing in choirs is one of the most infective activities you can do. To keep up our skills, and to prepare for the day when maybe we sing outdoors, or we are vaccinated, Zookestral Voices is where it is at. Click here for more info.
Or Join a ZLU!
At our Zoomed Live Ukestras we have a couple of cameras trained on our teacher/leaders, our lead singers or the ukestrans. You can see and/or converse with your online ZLU buddies as well.
Thursday Nights 7pm-8:45pm (AEST)
New people go here to register
If you have already registered with us, CLICK HERE (our regulars)
ZLU'ed live from the Carrington Bowling Club. Join our raucous Thursday night crowd of (hopefully) non-infected, masked ukestrans. We try our hardest to include you in the learning, and in the socialising. Come along if you are incapacitated, suspiciously infectious, or geographically impaired (i.e. you don't live in Newcastle). Lead by Mark, Jane and John.
Saturday mornings - Easy Newkestra - 10:00 -11:45pm
New people go here to register
If you have already registered payment with us, CLICK HERE (our regulars)
This is a relatively Easy Newkestra for new players who have just started out (under a year of playing). Mark, Jane and John lead this session from the Carrington Bowling Club.
Thanks for today guys! I had such a great time. I've finally wrapped my brain around the blues, I think. Now I just need my fingers to follow!!! Thanks, John, for explaining so well. (The 5th of the chord, every time. Mind blown!!)
Mark and Jane, Wednesday was so good. I am pleased to be included and I learned a couple of things I didn’t know or should I say I understood better and also for trying out my ears. They are better than I thought. Also thank you for the video of same as I can practise along with it and maybe make notes for myself. See you next week. Regards Marjorie (our oldest ukestran - age 88, turning 89)
Great session again today Mark and Jane. I’m enjoying the online classes. Learning a lot.
Best regards
Rodney
What is it?
Zoom is an online teaching platform. You'll need a computer, tablet or a smart phone and an internet connection to be able to participate. Most computers/laptops and phones have microphones and cameras built in, so the assumption is that you have that too.