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Original Post By:
Gerald Ross
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Date: 1/29/2010 4:33:26 PM
(Updated: 1/30/2010 2:10:24 PM)
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The Augusta Swing Week 2010 is proud to announce it's ukulele faculty for 2010.
Ralph Shaw and Gerald Ross!
Dates: August 1-6, 2010
Location: Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia
Website: http://www.augustaheritage.com/swing.html
Ralph will teach two classes each day of the week:
1. An advanced beginner's class - "The Ukulele Strum Shop"
Using various popular songs as examples Ralph Shaw teaches which techniques are appropriate for different musical styles. Triplets and rolls, syncopation, latin rhythm,melody basics, ornament notes, getting the left and right hand to work together,
dynamics and energy and more…
2. Ralph's famed - "Performers Class" - This workshop could be the most important workshop you will ever take. When a performance is done well it looks easy but don’t be fooled!
Topics covered include: preparation, set list, connecting to the audience, ‘things that can go wrong’, microphone technique, stage fright (and other fears), and more.
Gerald will teach two classes each day of the week:
1. An intermediate/advanced ukulele class focussing on: Chord substitutions, figuring out songs by ear, single note lead work, creating instrumental arrangements from sheet music,
making three chord songs more musically interesting and getting the proper swing/blues feel – whew!! - all in one week.
2. Beginning Hawaiian/Western Swing Lap Steel in C6 tuning! The C6 lap steel is "the" sound you hear in 1930's and 40's Hawaiian, Western Swing and Early Country music. We will cover left and right hand techniques. Chord progressions. Improvising "on the fly". And by popular demand we will learn the two steel guitar songs every steeler must know - "Steel Guitar Rag" and "Sleepwalk".
Augusta Swing Week - Fun, friendship, music 24/7, romance and adventure! |
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Posted By:
cowbelle
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Date: 1/29/2010 4:52:22 PM |
| WOW, that sounds terrific!
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Posted By:
Kathy Reitz
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Date: 1/30/2010 1:47:53 PM |
| Yes, this is some really big fun as well as a chance to learn stuff. This will be my 21st year in a row. I evolved from student bass player to staff bass player, learned to dance, learned to sing off the beat even while playing bass, and learned to play ukulele all during that time. Augusta is my musical new year and I think that is so for a lot of people. Also a plus for anybody who has never studied with Gerald--he is so positive that after about 5 minutes you will be convinced that you can do anything he suggests. Suddenly you really will be able to do it. There are jam sessions galore at swing week ranging from sophisticated jazz down to 3 chord country songs. We are also teamed with Blue Grass week and this affords many more opportunities. A total musical immersion will advance your playing like you never dreamed of. Are you trying to wean yourself from ukulele song books? Well, these supportive jams are just the ticket. See you there and if you are in the DC area last Saturday of Feb or 1st Sat of March check out the Swing week at Augusta Facebook page for info that you need to know about.
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Posted By:
Noel-lele
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Date: 1/31/2010 1:33:41 PM |
| Augusta is an awesome experience. I hope I can work it out to be there!
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Posted By:
NinaC
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Date: 2/1/2010 12:26:02 PM |
I went there in 2008 and it was the best time ever. Gerald was such a good teacher and so funny, too. The jam sessions are unbelievable, I just wish I could have stayed up for most of them as they go until 3 and 4 a.m. sometimes!
It's nice to see Kathy posting here, she is a fabulous bass player and plays uke as well. She lent me her Maui Music concert one night and it was a dream to play.
I'd like very much to come up again this year if I can manage it.
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Posted By:
Jim C
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Date: 2/7/2010 10:50:53 PM |
| Gerald, would it be possible to take your advanced class and Ralph's performance workshop?
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Posted By:
Gerald Ross
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Date: 2/8/2010 12:14:08 AM |
Hi Jim,
I just emailed the Augusta coordinator for an answer to this question. I suggested some scheduling options to her that would make your request possible. I'll get back to you with an answer.
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Posted By:
William L
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Date: 2/8/2010 6:50:30 PM |
| I second that request.
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Posted By:
Gerald Ross
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Date: 2/10/2010 3:04:30 PM |
I just got word from Wendi Bourne, the Augusta Swing Week coordinator that there will be NO conflict with my advanced uke class and Ralph Shaw's performance class. Here's how it looks so far:
9:00 AM Class - choice of either Gerald Ross Advanced uke or Ralph Shaw's Uke Strum Shop.
10:30 AM Class - choice of either Gerald Ross Lap Steel or Ralph Shaw's Performance techniques.
What if you want to take Lap steel AND Performance? They are both at the same time you say.
There's no issue there. Lap steel is the most boring instrument to watch from an audiences perspective.
There are no performance techniques for the lap steel - you just stare at your hands. There's no eye contact with the audience, no jokes, no playing the steel behind your head and no Chuck Berry style duck-walking. ;)
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Posted By:
ukewendy
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Date: 2/10/2010 6:10:09 PM |
| This is very exciting news!!! I LOVE Swing Week at Augusta -- it is so much fun, plus I have evolved from a total novice uke player to being able to hold my own in a swing jam (sometimes)!!! Gerald is a great teacher (and really fun to jam with), and Ralph's classes sound awesome. Can't wait.
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Posted By:
William L
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Date: 2/10/2010 6:33:25 PM |
| Sounds like an awesome morning. What happens in the afternoon?
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Posted By:
Gerald Ross
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Date: 2/10/2010 7:09:22 PM |
There is an afternoon class session as well. And each day at 1:30 there is a get together for all staff and students called "Swing Thing". Each day's Swing Thing is different. They are entertaining and educational presentations by the staff. Here are some videos from the afternoon sessions:
Jam session etiquette:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXL1LFmTFas
Private concert/Q & A with Johnny Gimble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jL7oL3RF4g
Vocal workshop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su6y1T-xoa0
On Friday afternoon the students perform!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhvAEyjcxF0
Another student band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJYSHIlY0OQ
And each day at about 4PM at least three different big jam sessions spontaneously happen before dinner - all levels of musicianship, all styles of music, not just swing.
Every night there is a dance in the beautiful outdoor dance pavilion.
Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-795UY5Svho
More Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJ4BQWohQc
Every minute of the day and night can be filled with music and dance - if you wish.
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Posted By:
fbrown627
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Date: 3/20/2010 5:23:51 PM
(Updated: 3/20/2010 5:27:48 PM)
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I've been to Augusta for Blues Week and I'm thinking of going this year for Swing Uke.
Gerald...I just looked at the online schedule. It seems your advanced Uke Class and Ralph's Performance Class are at the same time. (Which is good for me because I wanted to take both your advanced class and his strum class.) You want to confirm that it's correct on the Augusta website.
Additional question...I prefer my ukes with a Low G. Will that pose a problem in your class? Thanks.
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Posted By:
Gerald Ross
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Date: 3/21/2010 9:51:21 AM |
fbrown627,
Thanks for considering Swing Week - it's a fantastic time. Yes, the schedule is correct.
Low G?
Shouldn't matter much because we will be focusing on chord substitutions, movable shapes and single note lead work.
Hope to see you there.
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