The Search for Campanella Ukulele Exercises

So far I like learning about and learning to play Campanella style ukulele. Granted the first song I'm learning is pretty simple. It's just the melody of Danny Boy. But the style is so different to me that I don't mind backing up a bit. And I think the difficulty raises pretty quick with this book.

So in addition to learning the first song I plan to search for some scales and exercises to practice. I actually have a couple already from https://ukulelesecrets.org that in a round about way are connected to the song I'm learning. So by working on those before I got the John King Classical Music book I already had a couple of fingerings worked out. That was nice.

Danny Boy (The song actually has another name or two but Danny Boy is easier to remember.) works for me on both tenor and soprano ukuleles. The sustain suffers on the soprano but it forces me to really work at finger positions to get the maximum sustain. I always like to switch scales when I learn something new.

But, yeah, I think I like Campanella.

I'll probably change out some strings this weekend. Can't be playing Campanella on old strings.

I Need To Change My Ukulele Strings

For so long I changed my ukulele strings a lot. Sometimes before they really settled in. Strings aren't free but they won't break the bank. And it was fun to try different brands and types of strings.

Then I got sick. On at least one of my ukes I didn't change the strings for over a year. Chemo will do that to you. While I'm much better and back to work I still have to work up my motivation to change strings.

I have two sopranos, one tenor, and one baritone. The baritone is my newest ukulele and the strings that it shipped with sound good. But I think I need to change them. The third string buzzes easily and I can see a couple of breaks in the wrapping. I'm not very experienced with wound strings I've read that can be a problem.

The two sopranos are starting to drift out of tune. When their strings are at their peak I barely have to touch the tuners. Now I have to tune up every time I play.

Same for the tenor. The tenor is my work horse. I have changed the strings since I started recovering but I play it enough to feel the difference.

I have enough strings on hand to change all of them. And as long as I have a spare set for the tenor ukulele in case a string pops I'm good to go.

All I need is the motivation. It'll come. Maybe this weekend.

My New Motivation is Campanella

I don't need a lot of motivation for playing the ukulele. I like to play. It's accessible, meaning it has a low entry level price. And it's not hard to get a good sound out of it on your first day.

But what happens when you progress at or near the usual pace? I try to get excited about learning a new chord progression. Even a jazz progression or blues progression. But it's not working for me.

So how do I keep progressing and not just repeat what I have learned so far? For me the answer is to keep trying everything I can. Then light on that until I lose interest or I learn as much about it as I want.

The style of the day is Campanella Ukulele. So I far I love it.

Campanella

I have decided to try Campanella style ukulele playing. I found that I have plenty of mentors in the genre. YouTube is loaded with tutorials.

I just got the John King Classical Ukulele book, which is not totally Campanella and not totally classical. But it has lots of arrangements that are close enough. The first arrangement, Danny Boy, is not too difficult. But the arrangements get harder.

That book, along with a few websites (that I'll link to the next time I'm on a computer and not my phone) that are easy to find but I hard to master... Well, I'll link to them and let you decide.

Links coming soon.

Three Years

This is my three year ukulele anniversary. I received my first uke in the mail three years ago.

Today in the mail I received a new book. I have already started working on it. I'll post about it soon. But tonight I'm noodling, watching TV, and chillin'.

What Am I Looking For?

I think today that I'm looking for Campanella. I look around a lot. I start songs that I never finish. I just look for something to engage my mind. Sometimes learning new songs does the trick. Sometimes playing old songs works.

I've been toying with the idea of Campanella for awhile. Now I think I'll add it to my practice regime.

I played a little today. It was a long day a work. Tomorrow I will start a four day weekend. I hope to get a lot of ukulele playing in.

Call In Sick

I played one song today. I seem to be right on the edge of a cold. My uke has been by my side since I returned home from an extra long day at work but I can't muster the energy to strum a good strum.

But something that's interesting to me is that I always grab the soprano when I'm under the weather. Hmmmm.

Noodle Day

Today was a noodle day. I think I'm catching a cold or I have some allergies acting up. Which ever it is I didn't get the energy up to actually practice. I noodled through a couple of tunes.

I'm also being distracted by what I'm reading about music theory. Not in a bad way. But when I'm lightly picking my uke while I watch TV I start thinking about the notes. I'll pluck a string and stop to think about which note it is and where the other notes of a chord are around the string, or which key I'm in.

I have just started reading seriously about music theory so I don't have the ability to conjure the note name or key while I'm playing. Not yet. But I'll get there eventually.

What Is Practice?

I had a good practice session today. Even though it was interrupted a few times I think I improved a little bit.

Some of the practice was with a metronome. Some of the practice focused on one bar of the song. Some of the practice time was spent just playing songs I know.

The common advice is to make sure to practice every day. A little every day is better than a lot all of at once. Usually I play at least a little everyday. But not always with the intention of getting better. I think the common advice is valid but that is not my reality. Sometimes I just don't have the energy after a long day at work.

I do what I can as I far as practice is concerned. I'm in the no particular hurry to get better but I do want to get better. But whatever I do has to be relaxing and fun. If not, I meander.

I Must Meander

Ugh!

I'm getting bored with this practice method even though I'm making progress. It just goes to show that getting good on the ukulele involves practice. Then practice, then...

Thanks
Joe

Ukulele Practice: Day 2

Wow. Two days in a row. I'm cooking now.

I was encouraged by how I felt when I practiced last night. I got the uke out again tonight. While that is not very unusual for me what is unusual is that I did a serious practice two days in a row instead of just noodling and playing songs I know.

I read through the essay again. I linked to it in the last post. What struck me as odd is the advice to stop playing the piece for a month once you accomplish a certain level. Then repeat that a couple of times. That may be different for me if I really like the song I'm learning. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

The mistake I made tonight was not warming up much. It was a long day at work and although I wanted to practice, I didn't want to practice. My intention was to practice 20 minutes, like the essay suggests. I spent maybe 30 seconds running through a simple warm up then on to the practice.

I started slowly but I probably increased the tempo too soon and my fretting hand started to ache a bit. It helped when I slowed the tempo.

I ended up playing for a while after the 20 minute practice session. I played a couple of songs I'm comfortable with and that helped my fretting hand to relax.

I think I'm going to continue with this practice method for awhile.

I Practiced

I actually did a proper practice today. I sat down to play a little. I noodled around a bit then I remembered a practice method I read about. I tried it and I think it did some good.

I learned about this method on http://kantsmusictuition.blogspot.de/2007/09/secret-on-how-to-practice.html?m=1

I hope the owner of the site is OK with me posting a link. It seems like a good way to practice although I haven't mastered it yet. It's a piano site but the technics should work on any instrument.

I have seen similar methods described but this one is particular in what you practice and for how long.

I'll try to post on a little more regular basis and describe how it's working for me. Among other things I'm working on. I still meander.

Here goes another stab at it.

I need to keep a tally of what I'm practicing. Maybe this blog is will help.

It has been been a while since I posted. Sorry. I've been meandering.