Introduce yourself

Welcome, new here myself, great teaching by Matt, wonderful community spirit.

Hi everyone,I'm new to the uke and have a concert. 🤠

Does anyone play a Flight Ukulele?

Heard mixed reports but like the Nighthawk in particular

Hi everyone!

So many comments, thanks for all the feedback, what a fantastic and positive community Matt has created! There is so much great stuff to learn I am having to be very disciplined with myself and focus for the moment on the Intermediate course. Keep telling myself stay focused. However….just trying to play the classical guitar well known piece Romance on my concert Uke…good fingerstyle practice and great for attempting to master barre chords. Sound muffled still…need to iron out the creases in my fingers so to speak. I just keep plugging away, stumming, chords and theory and attemping different pieces. Makes my head spin but hey I’m having a ball!….stay happy and enjoy your playing! Music makes the world go round!

Hey All,

Loving the content on this App, Now the summer is over (did it actually begin) I'm hoping to get more practice time.

Currently on the fingerpicking programme and learning the Sigh Waltz.

Interested to hear how many of you are also doing this course.

UKE - UMA MOON - TENOR

Strumming sometimes feels to me like balancing on a tightrope which is a negative approach my mind falls into. When I watch other players I marvel at their control. I know it is all about practice but I’m always thinking ‘how do they do that’? Having said that on a positive note Matt’s tution has finally set me on the right path.

Welcome 👍😊

Hello everyone! Just found my way to this page after a few weeks now of studying the Beginners course. I am totally new to the ukulele, played some classical guitar and piano but nothing advanced, just enjoy music and the vibes of learning to play an instrument. By chance I bought a basic Fender California Venice model earlier this year from a colleague who persuaded me I was missing out on a good thing. How right he was! Hooked from my first basic strumming session and looking to purchase a concert model I soon discovered the Southern Ukulele Store and made the trip down from the Midlands. Spoilt for choice was an understatement but I came away with an aNueNue concert and a Kala Salt & Pepper, with the help and advice of Romeo and Adam, sincere thanks lads! And then I discovered Matt’s website. I am having a really good time here, so many courses to choose from but best I think to learn how to walk before I sprint so getting the basics right first but so looking forward to getting to grips and developing my playing with Matt’s guidance and tution. Many thanks Matt!

Hi friends! I am Lisa and I have been playing Baritone for a while but haven't had a lot of time to put into learning. I am semi retired now with more time, yay, and came upon Matt's videos on YouTube. They are wonderful! So, I became a member. I live in the lovely mountains of VA, USA and just got a banjolele too. Oolala! Looking forward to connecting with you!

Hi Stephen, this is great to hear! Matt is a brilliant teacher & a wonderful person too 😊👌

I'm not too far from you, Neath area 😊 Maybe we'll meet at a festival somewhere next year 👍

Good afternoon one and all, my name is Stephen I live in Newport south east Wales I am 74 years young and enjoying retirement I have tried the self taught route which is hard and you don't really learn correctly I tried you tube but far to many people wanting to teach you sent my head dizzy I then had my own face to face ukulele teacher who is good as gold and I learnt a far bit and now I have found Matt Stead first on you tube now his website I think I have come on in leaps and bounds in my short time here with Matt so much so I feel might be able to attend a ukulele festival next you I have blabbed long enough thank you.

Hi I’m Steve from West Yorkshire UK Recently signed up with Matt and greatly enjoying the tutorials etc. I’m new to the Ukulele though tried the guitar and saxophone in the past. I think the Ukulele is such a beautiful instrument so versatile and aesthetically pleasing. Playing with a number of ukulele groups and greatly enjoy playing with others. Think Matt’s teaching is excellent. So thanks Matt and hope you all are enjoying your learning and playing as much as I am 😊

Hi,

I've just signed up for Matt's course / tuition / app after going to the UFOGB (my first festival) and hearing so many people enthuse about Matt's teaching. I have had (group) lessons in the past and I know that I learn better when I've got a bit of guidance.

I'm David, though most of the time I go by DSP, I live in North London with my lovely wife and I've dabbled with the Uke for a few years, but I've only been taking it (kind of) seriously for about 18 months.

After thirty-five years of playing the drums (with a slight, and not-entirely-successful, detour into the world of the Bass guitar) my sister bought me a cheap 'n' cheerful soprano for Christmas a few years ago When someone started Uke lessons at work I went along and quickly decided that while I was enjoying myself, my fat fingers and that seemingly tiny fretboard weren't going to get along.

Off to the (sadly now closed) Duke of Uke and back I came with a Kala Tenor (solid Spruce top, Annabel), which is my everyday Uke. Then a quick 'I'm just going to look, honest dear' trip to the Southern Ukulele Store last year saw me come back with a solid Acacia Kala Baritone (Verity) and that was it for a while.

Then I went to the UFOGB...

I came back with an as yet unnamed (do other people name their instruments?) 8 string Baton Rouge Tenor and, thanks to the Festival raffle, an Uma Tenor in a beautiful blue colour, which has been named Hester. I'd like to get a Soprano one day, but having played one at the festival, I reckon a Soprano with a Concert neck might be just the ticket.

But I need to improve my playing first...

Nice to meet you all, and very glad to be here!

DSP

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Hello,

I'm Fiona from the Midlands in the UK. My other half got himself a ukulele but never picked it up. I had a go one day and have now been tinkering with it for about a year. I feel like I need some direction and probably to unlearn some bad habits.

Welcome guys!

Hello, I am Kamil from Poland. I am a beginner, with 7 years of experience, and I thought it is time to level up. This is my first attempt to complete a structured course, and seeing how Matt teaches, I have really high hopes.

Hey! I'm Ric from Maine, USA. I retired recently and was looking for things to do and I've always wanted to play an instrument and I love the ukulele. I just started and really want to make 2024 the year I really make some progress. I've also found the instrument itself to be rather addictive and I now understand why people own multiple ukes!

I'm The Cow! Or La Vache if you prefer, as I'm now living in France with my lovely Frog.

I started playing the ukulele on October 18th 2021, and became hooked immediately. Finding Matt at the start of 2022 was amazing, and I love learning with him.

Part of the admin team with Karen and Indrani, we try to lighten Matt's load a little.

I also try to introduce a little *ahem* humour into the Kanikapila sheets...

Hi! I'm Lynne Jackson, from western Connecticut, USA. I picked up the ukulele about 10 years ago and have noodled around somewhat aimlessly, with some breaks for injury (I fell and broke both arms at the elbows just before Covid hit), surgery (see left arm break that refused to heal), and dealing with/caring for elderly parents. I've posted a couple of videos on the Facebook page, but my ukes have been collecting dust for the better part of the summer. I'm ready to get back in the saddle, and I'm starting by reviewing the Intermediate course. I really like chord melody & fingerstyle; as much as strumming is fun, I really cannot carry a tune in a bucket, singing-wise. 😳 Hope to get back with the program and make some real progress.

Hello all, I live in England (Midlands area) and have been playing for around 4 years. Like many others, I tried many different uke teachers on YouTube and often found myself going down a 'rabbit hole' and never really learning anything. I can honestly say, since finding Matt around 12 months ago, I rarely look at other teachers, having found Matt's teaching so inclusive, right from basic strumming to adding all sorts of embellishments! I'm an enthusiastic amateur and have joined 3 different uke classes in my area, with the largest having over 60 members - it's great fun and I have made many new friends in taking up this fascinating instrument. I look forward to learning a lot more from Matt and all of you! 🤗