Next Meeting Feb 4th!

Our next meeting is coming up and I think we will want to continue with Roxy's Waltz and Truman Sleeps, with an eye toward the next YMCA Talent Showcase performance (I think it will be in March). In addition, we should keep up on some of the other arrangements we once knew so well... Sleigh Ride and 76 Trombones. I don't think we have performed 76 Trombones for the Y yet, so that could end up being our third song, and inspiration to revive a really nice Steve arrangement.

See you Tuesday night!

Getting songs ready for December!

Hi Ensemblers

In anticipation of the YMCA talent showcase in early December, we should brush up on last years "Sleigh Ride" arrangement. It was a little rusty last time we played, but with a few hours of concentrated practice, I am sure it will be up to speed. M suggested checking out Carol of the Bells arrangement in 4 parts! Yes, you read it correctly... 4 parts. There is a part one and part two, and chords and Baritone DGBE. Click here to hear the MP3 get the tabs. The individual parts look pretty simple, so if you like it, I am sure we could get it ready for December. I have a baritone tuned to DGBE, so we have at least one bari that can do that part. Ode To Joy is another favorite that would work for the Y. If you have other songs to suggest, feel free to mention them, and we will check them out. Next meeting is November 5, so in these next weeks, think about what we are playing, and which songs should be in our core repertoire. We should really have a good number of performance-ready songs so we can take full advantage of unexpected performance opportunities. I think the minimum should be 20 minutes worth of songs that we can comfortably perform. Instrumentals should be the bulk for now, but if you suggest a song with a vocal, it needs to be one where the vocal(s) is as practiced and developed as the instrumental parts.

Video from September 21, 2013 performance

We had a great time performing at one of our favorite venues, the Santa Monica YMCA. Here are some videos of the event. Thanks to all the ensemblers who were able to participate. All that extra practice together really helps. It is always so much fun to play together! 

Video Highlights of Java Jam at Coffee Connection

Here are some highlights from our August 8, 2013 performance at the Coffee Connection. What a great opportunity to play a full set of songs. What a pleasant courtyard to perform in. I look forward to playing there again.

Thanks to the Coffee Connection for inviting us, and thanks to all the Westside Ukulele Ensemble members that were able to participate on such short notice. Nice job!

We will be doing a public practice in the same courtyard at the first WUE meeting in September if weather permits. Thank you Coffee Connection for being such generous hosts for our group!

Great Performances... and more to come!

Hi All

We had a great time playing at the Venice BBQ today. Thanks to Adam and Warren for setting it up, and to Howard (fresh off the plane from Hawaii), Jacqui, Daffodil, Susanna, and Delia for coming out to play. Thanks to Brian who helped us out with the singing, and wrangled my music stand when it started to blow away. We learned something more about wind and music sheets today. Even the clothes pins I brought were not enough to completely tame the effects of nature. Thanks to Marta, for taking photos and video of the event.

 Looks like we were enough of a hit to be invited again for next year's event. Hopefully, next year we will have a sound check. The collected funds will go toward the cost of the website and business cards (thanks guys). 

On the heels of that sucess, we will be performing at the Coffee Connection's Java Jam Thursday, August 8th at 8 pm. Looks like this will be a nice long set (30-50 mins!!). Come early at 7pm, and see Julie Tan's set.. she is the organizer for the Java Jam, which occurs every second Thursday.

A reminder... Tuesday 7:30 pm August 6th is our next meeting. Just in time to practice our Thursday set!!