It's 2023 & Happy New Year!!!
One of the most comprehensive `Ukulele sites on the web. • LearningUkulele.com, Learning Ukulele with Curt has more than just lessons. Pretty much anything ukulele related is all here as well. I (Curt) been a sort of digital pack rat over the years and have collected a massive amount of information surrounding the ukulele. I'm constantly researching and finding new information to put on the site. All for only $9 a month OR pay once and never pay again.
Now, lets get to work on exploring your potential on the Ukulele! — Curt
In an era, where when so many of the great Jazz Ukulele players have gone on to play in the angel band, Curt rightly steps up to be my personal favorite when it comes to jazz on the ukulele. His musical knowledge is unending and his improvisational chops are #1. When the planets align and we're able to jam it's a real thrill. — Lil' Rev
No Tricks • No Secrets • No Shortcuts • Nothing for Dummies — and you're NOT going to learn the ukulele in 7 days or 30 days or even master it in your lifetime. You'll enjoy the ride, explore, and have a lifetime of fun! And, learn by simply sticking with it!
And, of course becoming a member of LearningUkulele.com and Learning Ukulele with Curt — Curt.
First time here or want a review. Start with this Getting Started Series of `Ukulele Lessons . I'm pretty sure anyone will pick up something from this series of lessons for yourself or to help fellow uke players.
The Lessons Series section of the site is a great place to start as each series is a curated, organized collection of lessons on one particular topic.
Here are few Snake Oil pitches you get on-line BUT NOT Here on LearningUkulele.com:
Learn Step-by-Step and Master the UKULELE in less than 30 day• Step-by-step is good depending on the steps but — 30 days — really! Ask any successful musician how long it took them to get where they are. Most will say they are still learning and working towards their goals.Practice Only a Few Minutes X Days a Week• We've all seen these claims for achieving something with little effort. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE TIME & WORK IN. • You get out what you put in. Every day is actually one of the secrets. It's just like saving for the future. Save one dollar or euro a week, or save one dollar or euro a day — Who has more money one year later. You would be surprised at the young students who don't know the answer is 52 vs. 364 (365 on leap years).Learn Without Learning Scales or Getting Bogged Down with Fancy Theory• You wouldn't try to be a writer without learning about the alphabet, words, nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and the grammar that puts it all together. Music is no different — the established principles of music that have worked for centuries and are based on the science of sound and acoustics. Pretty must everything in music originates from some sort of collection of notes, i.e.,Scales.
However, you can and should learn the principles of music at some point? It does cut down on the amount of information you need to memorize in the long term.Learn to Play Like (insert your favorite artist's name here)• There is already one of them and countless wannabe clones. Learn to unleash your inner musician / artist. BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE — As there can ever only be one of you. As Dr. Seuss saidToday you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
However, you can and should learn the sources that your favorite players have drawn from, as you can draw from those same sources.Uke Like a Pro• Only if you study with a real Pro.
Sorry there is not a secret, magic potion for learning the ukulele and music. So, after you've tried all the other Quick & Easy methods — And, haven't gotten the results you're looking for – it's most likely not your or your effort – it's most likely the methods, sources, and teachers that you have been using. Time to put the pieces together.
Proven Methods - If there's one thing that I've learned over the 30 40 plus years of serious study, research, and application of music — as well as from my weekly interaction with the 40 to 60, (had 70 at one point) students each and every week. — It's that everyone is different. I can adapt to pretty much anything and have a multitude of ways of teaching any given topic. I CAN find what works for you - that IS my role in this and goal to help you learn and develop your voice on the ukulele.
The only guarantee I can make with my methods and guidance is — if you put the time and work in you WILL get results. I, my mentors, and my students have been down all the same roads that your starting to go down.
One thing that I've found over the years is that EVERY musician you admire probably started right where you and I started.
The Secret is — There is no Secret — it IS hard work!
No Lets Get to Work!
No Tricks • No Secrets • No Shortcuts • Nothing for Dummies — and you're NOT going to learn the ukulele in 7 days or 30 days or even master it in your lifetime. You just enjoy the ride, explore, and have a lifetime of fun!
And, you can see it all before you sign-up. No teasers.
Now, What You — “WILL” — Get
I develop ukulele players into musicians. Although my specialization is jazz, I work with and develop ukulele players in every style. Subjects taught include technique, chord work and applications, improvisation, solo ukulele, sight-reading, ear training, theory, songwriting, and development of a performance repertoire and the skills to pull it all off. If you are taking private lessons with me or signed up for the two or four lessons a month online – we work on what your goals are.
With my, almost 40 plus years of serious study of music and 20 plus years of private teaching. I'm more than sure — I guarantee I can help you achieve your goals.
I haven't toured the world ( I have played a bunch of USA `Ukulele festivals ) or played with this player and that player that you might know – so no name-dropping here. I decided to stay at home, close to family, and not travel. I've made a living as a professional musician and have involved myself in music regionally and locally. And, with the Internet, worldwide.
If you want to know if I have the chops to back it up – I DO ( listen to my How About More Uke CD ).
“The self-taught man seldom knows anything accurately, and he does not know a tenth as much as he could have known if he had worked under teachers; and, besides, he brags, and is the means of fooling other thoughtless people into going and doing as he himself had done.” — Mark Twain
My methods, customized and drawn from my background of teaching, performance, recording, publishing, research and my own thirty plus years of studying with world renowned jazz guitarist and educator Chuck Anderson . I just never stopped learning, exploring and researching music.
My private teaching programs are devoted to your learning and advancing your ukulele skill and chops and will help you while exploring any style of music – mainly contemporary and jazz ukulele styles. Jazz Ukulele requires the most information, knowledge, and technique of all styles of the ukulele. These programs will benefit any ukulele player trying to advance his or her skills and enjoyment on the ukulele.
Take advantage of my twenty plus years of teaching, forty years of intense study and research to help you advance in the art of the ukulele and become the ukulele player to match your goals.
Take a look around the site and checkout the many FREE lessons, my many books . Or, better yet, support the site and sign-up for premium access.
Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk
Not only do I know what I'm doing, but can also explain in detail, many ways what I do/did and guide you through the process for you to achieve your goals. Take a look at my Curt Sheller Jazz Trio, How About More Uke? CD for what I can offer to ANY aspiring ukulele player.
Now, to be honest, one thing that I'm not that great at is typing. Hence, all the typos on the site and I never formally studied writing ( probably also self-evident ), but hopefully getting better.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written, and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Learning Ukulele
The Good News — initially, the ukulele is a lot easier to learn than the guitar or most other fretted stringed instruments. You can get initial success pretty early one. Now the Bad News — there are no Tricks, Secrets or Shortcuts when learning any musical instrument and the ukulele is no different. To take it beyond the basic requires learning how things work in music and mastering the technique required for simply enjoying the ukulele.
Using my proven teaching methods, All I can guarantee IS that you WILL learn and progress.
Jack Webb of Dragnet TV fame said if best, Just The Facts, Ma'am.
The Tricks are just the tools and building on a core — solid foundation. The Secrets — well there are no secrets, it's how music works, and we work in relationship to music. And Shortcuts typically come back and bite you. Skip the tricks, secrets, and shortcuts, and you won't regret it down the road. My site does dispense countless tips I've discovered, researched and explored along the way to help with learning the ukulele. I can be your guide, coach, mentor, teacher for exploring the ukulele.
You won't have to:
- Practice — you'll EXPLORE the ukulele and all its potential.
- There are no Rules — just the PRINCIPLES of music and how it all works together.
- Play — well, you can call it play, but it is a bit of WORK — but a lot of fun.
Your Fearless `Ukulele Leader
Curt Sheller — ( Me, myself and I ) is-are an independent, by choice, musician, graphic artist, music store owner, publishing company, web developer (these sites), etc... catering to the needs of ukulele players and musicians worldwide with the resources, expertise and information you need to develop as a musician.
Curt Sheller Publications was created by Curt Sheller (me) in 1995 and has been on the web since – over 20 years. I have over 50 plus years ( that sounds old ) of playing experience, and I have been involved in private music education for the past 30 years. I have performed and presented workshops at various ukulele festivals around the USA since 2004.
Furthermore, I'm one of those rare performers that can communicate what I do to a student in a detailed manner and customized to their needs. Like I said – I'll guarantee your progress as long as you do the work.
Back to the 'Ukulele
After a 20 plus year break from the 'ukulele - ( couldn't figure it out back in the early 1980s. There was no info around, let alone finding a qualified teacher for 'ukulele ).
In 2003 I began taking advantage of my jazz guitar skills, training, teaching and performance experience and started pursuing and exploring the potential of the ukulele. Researching the field, I saw very little material organized at a level that actually works for intermediate to advanced players – most of the beginner stuff is suspect as well. I have developed an international reputation as a ukulele expert, having written 50+ books for ukulele and guitar. In my private teaching practice, I typically have between 40 and 60 students a week of all levels, depending on the season.
Checkout my ukulele CD, How About More Uke
; — I've been planning and talking about this CD for a few years and finally have gotten around to getting it done.
A Few Popular Lessons
- Basic Open Position `Ukulele Chord Chart
- Core Chords - The Big Six - Building a Solid Chord Foundation
- Songs Using a Common 1 5 6 4 Chord Progression
- Core `Ukulele Chords, Traditional and Contemporary Triads
- Chord a Day, January 1st - C
- Building a Solid Jazz Chord Foundation for `Ukulele
- Selecting a `Ukulele
- Types of `Ukulele Chords
- Learning the `Ukulele Fingerboard (Finally!!!)
- Six Essential Scales for `Ukulele
- Movable `Ukulele Chords
- Getting Started with `Ukulele - Lesson One
- Natural, Sharp and Flat Notes of the `Ukulele Fingerboard - C Tuning
- 4-part Contemporary Chords, a.k.a. Jazz Chords
- Reading Ukulele TAB - Alternate Notation
- The Harmonized Major and Minor Scale Charts
- Hearing the Changes
- Understanding a `Ukulele Chord Diagram
- Remembering Songs
- Key Signatures - Introduction
- "Learning The Blues Scale on `Ukulele
- Dominant Seventh Chords?
- Reading for `Ukulele Series - C Tuning
- Exploring Jazz Chords on `Ukulele, Standard Example - Autumn Leaves
- Open Position Chords
- `Ukulele Blues, Example D
- Ear Training
- Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series
- Reading Music on `Ukulele Series - Reading in Open Position
“Press on: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge, The 30th. President [1923-1929]
“The ukulele is a noble little instrument... anyone serious about music will eventually come to play one.” — Bob Brozman
“How long can you call something a fad before you just have to admit the thing is just here, it’s hit a steady state, and it’s just going to be around?” — James Hill
“Curt, I really enjoyed your set at The Whiskey--your low key intros, mic persona provided a cool contrast with your complex uke technique and ingenious arrangements!” — Jared Denhard
“Chords can not be named out of context. They can only be named in the context of a chord progression or chord sequence and then only when the chord's harmonic function within that progression can be determined.” — Curt Sheller (me)
“That's the single most sensible statement about music that I've read in months, maybe years. Thanks, Curt.” — John Kavanagh, The 4th Peg Parlor Room
“I wanted to pay you a compliment. (Now don't get a big head!). I have purchased many books over the past 15 years I have been playing and none of them come even close to having the detailed and easy to understand information yours have. I really got a chance to get some practicing in and am finding your books to be such a great learning tool. I also purchased a timer like you suggested and my practice sessions the past 4 days have been my best in years.” — Take care, Nick Matty
“Built LearningUkulele.com for myself, and sharing with the `Ukulele community!” - Curt
