March 2014 Strum is TOMORROW!!

Hello folks! What a week! The Fretboard Festival was crazy, with a total of about 2900 people attending!

All we lacked was an iron, apparently.

Welcome to everyone who signed up for the mailing list. If I put your email correctly, you should have gotten a confirmation email via feedburner. All it really is, is a subscription to this blog. This is about as technical as I get. I'll be emailing out the e-book over the next week or two, as well as the baritone resources I mentioned to a couple of you.

Here's the Facebook page for anyone who hasn't joined it yet: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KalamazUkes/

Apparently I was so wrapped up in Fretboard Fest that I forgot to make a Facebook event for it, but I'm hoping to see all your shining faces March 29 at our monthly strum. Soooo... here's the Facebook event for March: https://www.facebook.com/events/640541699350016/

For anyone who isn't familiar with Old Dog Tavern, it's a family friendly restaurant with a bar. They have a children's program on Saturday mornings, then there's us at 2:30!  So no worries. The food is very good too.  If any of you are uncomfortable with meeting at a "bar", there's a great group in Battle Creek that meets at a senior center.  There's something for everyone, no matter what your personal taste.

Our theme for March is “Sing in Spring” - bring any songs that have to do with warm weather! We may have to drag spring in kicking and screaming but by gosh we'll get it here! Bring copies to share, or I will have the copier available.

This month I'll also bring a suggestion for tabletop music stands – boy, did I find a deal! It's possible (but not definite) that we may have a cameraman from Channel 3 at some point during the day. We'll talk about that more first thing!

I think that's it! See ya tomorrow!  (And I think I'll set up the April strum event on FB right now so I don't forget.)

Marion K.

Fretboard Fest is here!

Hey there, KalamazUkers! 

It was great seeing you in February at the OLD DOG TAVERN in downtown Kalamazoo!  I'm very optimistic that their capacity (as well as great food and ample drink) will not only be able to accommodate our growth, but contribute to it!  Bonus:  they have a great outdoor area for if spring ever arrives.

Right now I'm doing prep for our table at the KALAMAZOO FRETBOARD FESTIVAL.  Here's some helpful links about the event.  

• March 21st Kick-Off Concert with Dragon Wagon
• March 22nd 2014 Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival Day (With Full Schedule)
• SMASH Magazine
• Kzoo Music Scene
• Kalamazoo Gazette
• Western Herald

With such a heavily publicized event, we have a great opportunity to introduce ukulele to hundreds of people!  Those of you who were there last year know that a TON of people come through.   

I am teaching the world's most basic uke workshop in room 308.  Those of you who already attend group, this is way too elementary for you, as it is designed for folks with zero familiarity with our adored instrument.  

Don't feel left out, though.  I HIGHLY recommend you attend Gerald Ross's workshop in room 309 at 4:00pm.  It's not often you get to workshop with him for free, and he's an excellent teacher and skilled player.  Also of interest,  several luthiers are attending including renowned uke builder Dave Talsma.

Our portion of the program is Saturday, March 22. I'll be manning the table for most of the day.  Janet said she'd pitch in, and I'd appreciate a couple other people taking shifts to help.  The most important time that I will need help is 1:30-3:30.  You don't need to be an expert, just need to be friendly, enthusiastic, and encouraging to all visitors.

Our table maintains a "instrument petting zoo" approach, so if you don't want your instrument handled, please put it under the table so it will be safe.  We'll have some uke video going, several styles of ukes for people to touch and try, and flyers outlining the uke clubs available in MI as well as details for this year's Mighty Uke Day.   I have also secured a supply of beginner ukes that will available for purchase.

I think that's everything.  Except, of course, for our upcoming club meeting on March 29 at OLD DOG TAVERN.  Please RSVP on the Facebook event if you can so we know how many tables to put together.  

See you soon!

Marion  


P.S.  Sorry for not keeping the blog up.  I lost my password for forever and just got it all figured out.  To noobs - we have met almost every month, there wasn't a huge gap between October and February!!  Best way to keep up with us is to join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/KalamazUkes/