Skype ukulele lessons

I’m a big fan of the ukulele. A lot of people think of it as a toy instrument. Tell that to The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain!

You can learn just as much about music on the ukulele as you can on any other instrument. It is great for kids who are just starting out due to the ukulele size, but it’s also fantastic for older learners too. The ukulele great if you want to strum and sing. You can also learn more advanced music on the ukulele too. Check out Jake Shimabukuro for some ukulele inspiration.

I love to play many styles on the ukulele ranging from pop and rock to blues and jazz. Recently, I have been having fun arranging rock songs for the ukulele. You can check them out at ultimte-guitar.com.

For more ukulele lesson information check out the spiel below.

A lot of people these days can’t make it to what I call a ‘physical ukulele lesson’ in a ukulele teacher’s studio. Whether there are no teachers in commuting distance, you don’t have the time to travel or are unable to leave your home for any reason, Skype ukulele lessons could be the answer.

Here are a few common questions I get asked about Skype ukulele lessons. If you want to know more please contact me.

Why Skype ukulele lessons?

Many people learn to play ukulele by watching YouTube lessons. I have a YouTube channel where I post performances and offer up tips when I have time. Many of these YouTube videos are great and you can learn a lot from them but are you really learning in the right way? Have you picked up any bad habits that can hinder your playing? How would you know? You have no one to tell you. This is where Skype ukulele lessons come in.

Via Skype ukulele lessons I can watch you play as I teach you techniques and songs. I can show you where you need to tweak your technique, and even better, I can teach you in the right way from the start so there is nothing to hinder your development as a player while you learn! Back to list

What are Skype ukulele lessons like?

Skype ukulele lessons are like any other lesson. I can demonstrate techniques, give you tips on your playing and answer any questions in real time just like a ‘physical ukulele lesson’. I provide lesson materials in the form of pdfs for chord charts, TABs and techniques and mp3s for backing tracks and audio examples. These can be sent via Skype during the Skype ukulele lesson. Any pre-prepared content is sent via email before the Skype ukulele lesson and any material I need to prepare for you to use during the week to practice I create and email it to you the next day. You also get access to the student area where all your Skype ukulele lesson files are accessible along with notes from your Skype ukulele lessons and plans for your practice. It’s also a great place to get in contact with me between ukulele lessons if you are having any problems or just to let me know how much fun you’re having!

Skype ukulele lessons are usually 30 minutes long. You can have longer lessons (say an hour) but I can give you plenty of work in 30 minutes to keep you going for a week! We do a short warm up to get those fingers moving and then review what we did last week. This is your chance to let me know of any problems and I can help you get it right. Then it’s time to play… something new… a new technique, a new tune… you can suggest anything you like, or I can suggest something for you. Then we recap the lesson, quickly whizz through your practice routine and I upload any files you need to your section of the student area on the website. Back to list

What do you teach in Skype ukulele lessons?

I teach ukulele on Soprano, concert and tenor ukuleles.

I also teach a number of different styles:

  • pop
  • rock/metal
  • indie
  • jazz
  • funk
  • country

My favourite styles are rock, indie, funk, classical and jazz but I’ll pretty much have a go at anything!

What do I need for Skype ukulele lessons?

First things first, you need the Skype program on your computer. It’s free and you can download it from www.skype.com. Just install it and set up an account if you aren’t already a user.

The next thing you need is a webcam and microphone. Most laptops these days have them built in. If your computer doesn’t have them you can get a webcam with a microphone fairly cheaply online or in your local computer shop. I can also provide advice if you need it.

A printer can come in handy but is not essential.

All setup? It’s time to book an appointment! I will book you in for a quick free setup test to make sure you have the webcam and microphone positioned correctly. This is so I can check that there is enough light, see you play and hear you clearly. It also gives us a chance to have a quick chat before booking your first Skype ukulele lesson so we can discuss your needs and I can plan accordingly. Back to list

How do I pay for Skype ukulele lessons?

Payment for Skype ukulele lessons is via PayPal or credit/debit. If you want to use PayPal and haven’t already got an account you can create one at www.paypal.co.uk. It’s safe and secure. Once I have booked you in for your first lesson I will send you an email to confirm the date and time and provide you with an email address to send payment for your first lesson. Payment must be made before each lesson takes place.

If you want to use your credit or debit card I can email you an invoice with a safe and secure link to pay before your lesson.

Check out the prices page for how much it all costs. Back to list