Harvest Moon October 2025

Celebrated my brother Dave's birthday with lunch. Our brother Mike happened to be in town so was able to join us. Schnitzel! So appropriate for Oktoberfest. Three September/October birthdays. The three of us aren't working right now so we lingered and chatted about life in general. Lovely and leisurely. Then back to my house to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in the backyard. Dave had to head out to pick up his car but Mike and I played cribbage. Mike won... wish he lived closer for the challenge game. Nice to be with the bros.

Later that night, Rob and I were celebrating another anniversary. Scarborough Uke Jam.Founded in 2013! Our first jam was February 2015 and it has brightened Mondays for us for many years, including through Covid. Names of songs were placed in a hat and everyone took turns picking a tune to pluck. Quite a repertoire has been developed over the years. Including, of course, Harvest Moon.

Under the Harvest Moon

Under the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights, 

Death, the gray mocker, 

Comes and whispers to you 

As a beautiful friend 

Who remembers. 

 Under the summer roses When the flagrant crimson 

Lurks in the dusk 

Of the wild red leaves, 

Love, with little hands, 

Comes and touches you 

With a thousand memories, 

And asks you 

Beautiful, unanswerable questions.

- Carl Sandberg

The moon was full Oct 6. 

Wang Dang Doodle!

The Wang Dang Doodle was cancelled the last two years due to Covid.

This year, oh what fun! Held on Toronto Island at the Algonquin Clubhouse, several uke clubs come together to carol and celebrate the season. 

The ride over on the ferry is extremely cold but the winter island and city views are spectacular.

 

Scarborough Uke Jam - Virtual Watch Parties!

Last night Scarborough Uke Jam commemorated a full year (!!!!) of our COVID Watch Parties and noted the hosts have been busy producing over 150 new charts and recordings. More than 20 watch parties. Wow!

Open mics have been ongoing, through online collaborations. I've participated in several and it has been extremely fun... I have enjoyed working on the strumming and singing and laying down tracks without the performance anxiety of being on stage.

The virtual jams have helped me to at least pick up and strum my ukulele a couple of times a month, and they are also an opportunity to learn more about music of many genres.

Last night the Monday Faithfull presented a rousing version of a sea shanty by the Wellermans and drummer Paul Baillie brought us some music from the Latin Playboys: Midnight Moonlight, Old and In the Way.  

Always something new for the playlist!

On a more serious note, Facebook is pulling down the Watch Party service in mid-April. As this Covid 'party' isn't over yet, hopefully there will be a new platform we can make use of to connect. The Watch parties have been a real sanity-saver and something to look forward to!

Virtual Uke Jam

We've been enjoying Scarborough Uke Jam virtually for the last few months, alternating between Facebook watch parties and Google Meet-ups to play charts. Like many virtual substitutes, it's not quite the same thing but helps us keep connected, and I at least pick up my ukulele once every two weeks.

Most recently, Paul B invited us to collaborate through Soundtrap. Everyone who is participating lays their own track(s) individually and at their own time. It was easy enough to figure out although a bit intimidating at first. Bonus - if you don't like the way it sounds or make a mistake, you just delete the track and start over. A nice little adrenaline rush to hear it all come together at the watch party!

We started with the simple Three Little Birds, and next up, Twist and Shout/La Bamba.

Perfect lyrics for these lockdown times:

Three Little Birds

Bob Marley

Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright

Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Perch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying', (this is my message to you)

Singing' don't worry 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright

Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Sayin', this is my message to you

Singin' don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh
Every little thing gonna be alright, don't worry
Singin'…

September Harvest Moon

Well, the moon was full 2 nights ago, and I missed it! What on earth was I thinking?? I am definitely in a bit of a daze these days.

First time in many years I am celebrating a Harvest Moon while it is on the wane.

The first full moon of autumn in the northern hemisphere. What was I doing on Monday night anyway? I was at a work function, a QCC AGM, and came home when it was dark. Must have been cloudy that night or I would have caught a glimpse, I'm sure.

Ah well, it's still beautiful and high in the sky this evening, and shining so bright it is casting moon shadows.

Which brings to mind the lovely song, Moonshadow, and the lyrics by Cat Stevens.  I found a great uke tutorial for the song here. Should keep me busy for awhile!

Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow---
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow---

And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more.

And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more.

Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow---
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow---

And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more.

And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk...

Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?

Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow.

The Practice Habit

At this week's Scarborough Uke Jam, Bill W. inspired everyone with his playing of Bach's Prelude for the first Cello Suite.

Wow! I would love to be able to play something similar. Maybe in a few more years.

Since I've picked up the ukulele I've often thought about how much similarity there is to yoga. Posture, awareness, discipline, and practice!

I've been strumming for a little over two years now, and in the first year I was very motivated to practice every day. Although I would've liked to learn faster, progress was a lot more noticeable and measurable. Now I have the basics down, and there is still lots of room for improvement. Progress is so incremental.

Going to the Jam every two weeks is good exposure to new techniques and songs - and it's just fun to sing and play along with experienced musicians who don't dismiss basic players. I am truly thankful to Paul, Jay, Matt, Lisa for leading the sessions, prepping the charts, and making it all look so effortless. However, if it's been a week or so since I picked up the uke, any callouses I developed have faded and I end the evening with sore fingertips. When I've been "out of practice" I notice I have to think a bit more than I should to find the chords and fingering.

So, why don't I practice uke every day? No shortage of excuses! Too tired. Have to make dinner. Out for the evening, etc. etc. Yet when I do take the time I find it a great way to unwind. And really, even 15 minutes a day can make a difference.

I signed up for online lessons awhile ago, they are nicely put together, and a great approach to thoroughly learning a song. The instructor sent out some useful practice tips via email that are very timely.

Thanks for the advice, Brett!

--------------------------------

Brett McQueen

http://www.ukuleletricks.com

Your Reason – Why You Play Ukulele

You must have a reason for why you practice. 

What motivates you to play the ukulele?

For me, it's to experience the joy of making music with others. It gives me energy and fuel. I'm happier when I'm making music.

For you, your motivation to play ukulele might be to win the heart of your crush. Others of you might want to be able to make music with your grandkids. Some of you have a lifelong dream of playing an instrument. Maybe it reminds you of that time you went to Hawaii. Perhaps you want to be a world-class performer.

These are great motivations to practice.

Think about and identify your motivation.

While some of us don't have to think too hard about this, when you find yourself in a rut and discouraged, it's important to remember why you play the ukulele.

Your Place – When & Where You Practice

While you have to start here, motivation isn't enough.

Motivation can quickly wane when we face obstacles, like when you can't switch chords in that one song without stopping. Discouragement can creep in when your fingers aren't as agile as you want them to be to fingerpick that scale or solo.

When we don't feel motivated, we can fallback on our practice ritual or habit.

A practice habit starts with two main things:

1. When you practice
2. Where you practice

The number one reason students tell me for not practicing ukulele is time.

We all have the same amount of time in a day, so if you're saying learning ukulele is important to you, let's get creative with it. Remember, it's better to practice for just 15 minutes per day than having a marathon practice sessions for a couple hours every few days.

You might:

• Bring your ukulele to work to play on a break
• Set out your ukulele on a stand in the family room, so you're more likely to pick it up
• Buy a ukulele case and take it with you when you're traveling on the road
• Carry your ukulele in your backpack on campus
• Put your ukulele on a stand right by your bed so you see it first thing in the morning

I know for myself if my ukulele is in its case put up in my closet I'm way less likely to take it out and play. This is why I keep a ukulele on a stand in my office within arms reach, so I'm frequently reminded to pick it up and play. This is a powerful environmental trigger to make it easy for me to play ukulele.

It's even better though if you can schedule your practice and have a dedicated space, such as a your back porch or a quiet room in your house without distractions. For me, my home office is the quietest and free from distractions.

Find your time and place to practice ukulele to create your practice habit.

Think about your time creatively and use the power of your environment to get into a creative mindset.

Your Focus – What You Practice

Have you ever had it where you pick up the ukulele and feel like you're playing the same old things over and over again?

Maybe you're a beginner and you feel completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ukulele lessons and information out there. Where do you even start? Maybe you've been playing for awhile and you've hit a plateau and don't know how to get better. What do you do to break through?

It's normal to feel in a rut as a musician or like you don't know what to practice next.

You can have your motivation, time and place, but if you aren't focused on a goal, you'll start to feel like you're peddling without a bike chain.

So, what makes a great ukulele practice goal?

Let's borrow from the SMART goal framework. A great practice goal for ukulele is:

• Specific. The goal is simply stated and easy to understand. Good, specific goals are: "I want to learn how to switch from a G to D7 chord while strumming a calypso strumming pattern without stopping," or, "I want to memorize the C major scale in first position," or, "I want to learn how to play Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
• Measurable. It's clear when you have achieved the goal because a number is attached to it. "I will switch from a G to D7 chord to a count of four at 80 beats per minute on a metronome," or, "I will learn the first eight measures of the intro to Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
• Achievable. Your goal is within reach and not outside the scope of your current ability. For example, if you've played ukulele less than a month, an unachievable goal and one not worth focusing on would be to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps as performed by Jake Shimabukuro.
• Relevant. The goal should be within the scope of your interests on ukulele. For example, if you're interested in strumming chords and singing, then, learning the notes of the fretboard might not be relevant to how you want to play the instrument. That's okay!
• Time-based. Every great goal has a time limit for when you should achieve that goal. I recommend making smaller goals for a two-week period to stay focused, motivated and inspired.

Focus your practice by writing out a ukulele practice goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

There is an art to creating effective goals on which to focus your practice.

For many ukulele players, it's quite difficult to craft well-articulated goals that factor in your current skill level and where you want to be.

This is why having a teacher or a ukulele group is so important to help define those goals for you. Having a teacher allows you to spend your time focusing on what's important – practicing your instrument. A great teacher will be able to understand where you're at and suggest the right things to practice to help you make the music you want to make.

A Simple 15-Minute Ukulele Practice Method

No one learns how to do anything without dedicating time. This is true for learning to play ukulele.

Fortunately, It doesn't take hours a day to get better at ukulele.

15 minutes per day is all it takes.

Last week I talked about finding your reason, your place, and your focus when it comes to playing ukulele. I also gave some practical tips for finding time in your busy schedule to play ukulele.

If 15 minutes is all you have, then, I recommend making the most of it and breaking it up into three 5-minute parts.

First 5 Minutes – Pick a Familiar Song

Don't start off your practice session by taking on the latest Jake Shimabukuro arrangement!

For the first five minutes, take the first minute to stretch the wrists, hands, and fingers by opening and closing the hands and fingers. While doing this, focus on your breathing.

After that first minute, start with a familiar song you already know how to play and that you love to play. If you're brand new, start with the most basic chord and strumming you can muster.

This gets the fingers and mind ready to go!

Next 5 Minutes – Pick One Exercise

Next, select one new exercise or one you've already been working on perfecting.

Just pick one!

The biggest mistake new ukulele players make is trying to focus on too many different things at once. Don't try to do it all at one time! You will get there.

To be effective at practice in a short amount of time, just focus on one thing.

This could be a scale, strumming pattern, fingerpicking pattern, chord change exercise, metronome exercise, music-reading exercise, rhythm exercise, memorization exercise, etc. 

If you're scratching head wondering how to come up with these exercises, then, I'd recommend having a teacher give you exercises to practice based on your current skill level and interests. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to tackle an exercise that is outside the scope of your own capabilities.

When you learn from me online in Club Ukulele, I present exercises you can use to improve certain techniques and skills on the ukulele based on your skill level and interests.

Where in the last step, you warmed up the fingers and mind, the goal for this part is to challenge and stretch your fingers and your mind.

Last 5 Minutes – Pick a New Song

Lastly, pick a new song to learn.

Ideally, this song should be one that uses the new skill or technique you've been practicing in the last 5 minutes. Again, it's important to learn a new song that is challenging but isn't too far out of reach based on your current skill level. This is where a good ukulele teacher can help you.

With Club Ukulele, courses build gradually, so I provide these songs for you to learn that fit the skills and techniques you're learning.

As you practice this new, more difficult song, you might break up the song into micro-goals, such as: 

"I'm going to learn all the chords positions for this song,"

Or,

"I'm going to learn the first four measures of this song."

The goal isn't to be able to play the song perfectly in one practice session but to chip away at in small chunks.

Learning harder songs like this is ultimately what helps you improve your skills as a ukulele player. Plus, playing songs and making music is what it's all about!

Kanile'a Ukulele

While we were on Oahu's North Shore, Rob discovered Kanile'a Ukulele was just a 40 minute drive away, and there were factory tours each morning at 10:30. This was where the ukulele we bought in Hilo was built, so of course we had to take the tour.

The owner of the company, Joe, was generous with his time, and spent an hour with us patiently answering our questions and explaining the process. Only 40 ukuleles are made here each week, and we were able to observe how the craftsmen transform the koa wood from lumber through to finished instruments. 

Kanile'a ukelele are acoustically engineered to enrich the sound by enhancing vibration. UV finishing helps preserve the strength of the koa, and each piece of koa has a unique pattern. For every uke sold, another koa tree is planted in the Kanile'a forest. This is an amazing company and now I feel part of their extended family.

My new Kanile'a ukelele

So Long, Leonard Man

Last week I came across uke tabs for Dance Me to the End of Love, a song that has always deeply stirred me. I never knew until the site informed me, that it was about lovers in a death camp. I had always felt eternal love and yearning in that song, not darkness and death. That was the genius of Leonard Cohen, I think, to bring light into dark and despairing corners: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

Just before falling asleep last night, I learned he died. I actually couldn't believe it at first, and thought there had been some mistake. His latest album, You Want It Darker, was only released a few weeks ago.

This morning I went searching for uke tutorials of Hallelujah, a song that has inspired so many incredible cover versions.

Other songs I'm listening to now: Anthem, Tower of Song, I'm Your Man, Everybody Knows, Famous Blue Raincoat, In My Secret Life, Bird on a Wire, A Thousand Kisses Deep. Lasting gifts to the world.

So glad I was able to see him perform in 2012.

My first favourite Leonard Cohen songs were Marianne and Suzanne. Although neither are my name, I felt he was singing to me directly, and I played and played the album on lazy Sunday mornings. Now when I hear them in my mind, I can see light pouring through a window, dust tumbling in sunbeams. Leonard Cohen provided the soundtrack of many such moments.

Come over to the window, my little darling,
I'd like to try to read your palm.
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
before I let you take me home.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began
to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.

Well you know that I love to live with you,
but you make me forget so very much.
I forget to pray for the angels
and then the angels forget to pray for us.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

We met when we were almost young
deep in the green lilac park.
You held on to me like I was a crucifix,
as we went kneeling through the dark.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

Your letters they all say that you're beside me now.
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web

is fastening my ankle to a stone.

Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

For now I need your hidden love.
I'm cold as a new razor blade.
You left when I told you I was curious,
I never said that I was brave.

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

Oh, you are really such a pretty one.
I see you've gone and changed your name again.
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside,
to wash my eyelids in the rain!

Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...

Let's Sing!

Florence Foster Jenkins lived in New York and in the 1940's, when she herself was well into her 70's, decided to rent Carnegie Hall and perform opera to rally the troops. There is a great documentary, A World of Her Own, on You Tube about the rich socialite with dreams exceeding her talent. Stephen Frears directs Meryl Streep in the recently released version of the Hollywood film. There is a line in the movie that I love, "They can say that I can't sing, but they can't say that I didn't sing."

I saw the film the night before attending my first singing lesson. I showed up to the night class along with the other forty hopefuls. Many seniors, several middle-aged workers, and ten or so young adults. During introductions we heard from people who had been told they couldn't sing in grade school, and now, here they were in their sixties and seventies, figuring, why not? There were others who already sang in church choirs and were looking for some professional voice coaching. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I shared the Florence Foster Jenkins line above.

Going to the Scarborough Uke Jam is fun, and partly because we sing our hearts out as we play. None of the players in the BPYC Uke band, Lost at C, are exceptional singers, but we sing (and beg our audience to sing along with us).

So far I've been to two night classes and there has been some of what I expected... vocal exercises and funny faces and deconstructing songs to look at phrasing (where to take a breath). Also a bit of the unexpected... stretching exercises and yoga to help free the chest, diaphragm, jaw and neck.

I'm not ready to rent Carnegie Hall by any stretch, but then, neither was Florence.

For now I will stick to the shower, uke jam, and strumming with 'Lost at C'.

October 1 is International Music Day.  I think I'll celebrate with a few stretches and singing in the shower!

Lost at C

In the words of the Crystals, Da Doo Ron Ron!

To coax people to perform at the Scarborough Uke Jam Open Mic, Paul B. has resorted to rewarding buttons and stickers to those who take the stage. It works with his Grade 5 music students, and it seems to work with adults, too.

The formerly yet-to-be-named BPYC strummers finally performed at the Old Stone Cottage Pub under the name Lost at C.

Cheryl had insisted on choreography, so we threw in a few dips on alternate choruses, and it was a nice touch.  Paul B. watched us with a huge grin on his face, and Jay said we "had him at the 2, 3, 4." Buttons for all!

It was a great night at the Uke Jam, with a variety of performers at the Open Mic, from the first-timers (us!) to the more accomplished musicians. A newcomer soloed a 1930's tune, 'He Played His Ukulele as the Ship Went Down' and had everyone singing along, and there was a very talented duo picking and strumming the Maple Leaf Rag.

On a sadder note, Jay's mother had died just a few days before. He and his sister made it out to the jam, where songs were sung and dedicated to her memory.

It was a special night, and a reminder that music has such power - power to soothe, to join strangers, to conjure laughs and smiles.

Puff the Magic Dragon

Puff the Magic Dragon!

I hadn't heard the song Puff the Magic Dragon in years, yet when Dick played it at on Open Mic night this past winter, it brought me straight back to childhood, with the strong memory of the teacher who played it just before recess and let most of the kids into the schoolyard crying their eyes out.

I'm learning the song now on ukulele and still, after all these years, the thoughts of Puff languishing in his cave touch a raw nerve.

Add the fact that I'm learning how to play it in Alex' old boyhood room, turned music room.... well, the circle goes round and round (hey, that's another song).

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Little Jackie paper loved that rascal puff

And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail

Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff's gigantic tail

Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came

Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys

Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys

One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more

And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain

Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane

Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave

So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Feelin' groovy

Steve told me I should practise with a metronome. So did Manitoba Hal at the workshop he gave at Long and McQuade. Also Brett McQueen with his ukulele strumming tricks.

Timing is everything. Okay, maybe not everything, but if you don't have the beat and pulse you aren't in the groove.

Something Manitoba Hal suggested was just listening to a song, trying to feel the groove, and playing along while muting the strings. Scarboro Jam calls this the 'New York Strum.'

Groovin'
Feelin'' Groovy
Hang On Groovy
Groovy Kind of Love

There are lots of online metronome apps, but I like my old school ticker for its visual cues. Tick talks, and when it slows down I can rewind. No batteries required.

Nearly every music student has been told by their teacher to “Practice with a metronome.”  Metronome practice is arguably the most effective way to improve one’s skills and knowing how to incorporate your metronome into your practice effectively will help you improve your rhythmic and technical skills in the fastest and most efficient way possible... Slow practice is the key to fast playing. Metronome Online 

All that Jazz

Our visit to Manhattan was a great excuse to check out jazz clubs. We started the official Jazz Safari Friday evening and managed to squeeze in three venues.

I really enjoy live music in smaller settings; the condensed visuals, tight sound, and the intimate and personal interaction between players and audience.

So many memorable moments.

Alfredo Rodriguez, at the 'Jazz Standard', with fingers spreading over the piano keys, powerfully and precisely striking, and then switching in the blink of an eyelash to barely caressing. Occasionally I have to remind myself that the piano is a percussion instrument but after his performance this realization will never be lost.

Then the tiny but vibrant 'Zinc Club' where the waitresses could barely navigate the crowd, yet the audience found room to dance and swivel to the Latin beat.

At the iconic Birdland, linen white table cloths and candle light set the stage for beautiful Molly Ringwald. With an actress' sense of timing she surprised the audience between songs, by reading Billy Holiday's letter to her former lover, Tallulah Bankhead. Before Billy published 'Lady Sings the Blues,' the publisher sent a preview copy to Tallulah, who then threatened to sue. Molly read from the letter,  "Read my book over again. I understand they sent you a duplicate manuscript. There’s nothing in it to hurt you. If you think so, let’s talk about it like I wanted to last month. It’s going to press right now so there is no time for monkeying around. Straighten up and fly right, Banky! Nobody’s trying to drag you.... And if you want to get shitty, we can make it a big shitty party."

Saturday night started in Tribeca at the Roxy Hotel, hosting a classic trio of piano, sax and drums in the atrium. Downstairs was Django, with a big Latin jazz band.

Later, to the Rum Bar at the Edison Hotel. Just three hours earlier I had watched the movie Birdman, so the scene where actor meets movie critic was fresh in my mind. Jaymz Bee pointed out this was the same bar, and suddenly I could see Michael Keaton sitting on a stool delivering his diatribe.

Smalls Jazz Club was the tiniest club we visited but it had the biggest band, the Justin Mullens Octet - French horn, 2 tenor sax, bass clarinet, bass, piano, drums. All the musicians had the score in front of them, but they were clearly improvising within the structure. The drummer did a physical warm up before starting, massaging his forearms and rolling his shoulders, which I thought was a bit theatrical, but after watching the physical strain of his performance, and the endurance it required, it was so clear the drums were just an extension of the real instrument -  his body.

Experience is the best teacher, and visiting these jazz clubs brought new appreciation, insights and learning about music.

Unfortunately, this trip we didn't make it to the Village Vanguard, Bluenote, Dizzy's Coca Cola Club, or Marie's Crisis Cafe. Woody Allen was playing with his New Orleans band at the Carlyle on the Upper East side, but it was sold out. Maybe next time!

my new uke! (on the left)

During our walking tours we also happily stumbled past the Chelsea Hotel and the Brill Building. The Chelsea, where Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Janice Joplin hung out. The Brill, which by 1962 contained 165 music businesses and hosted one of my favourite composers, Carole King.

In Greenwich Village I bought a new ukulele at Matt Umanov Guitars. This is the first uke I've actually purchased as my own, the others have been borrowed or stolen from Rob. As soon as I walked in the store I saw it posing on the counter, and it was love at first sight! A perfect souvenir for the NYC trip.

- this blog was guest-edited by Rob -

Friday Itinerary:

Jazz Standard - Alfredo Rodriguez....Cuban pianist. 

Zinc -Gregorio Uribe Big Band

Birdland - Molly Ringwald

Saturday's clubs:
Roxy
Django
Rum Bar (Edison Hotel)

Sunday

Kitano - Ms. Blue

Monday:
Smalls - the smallest club and biggest band!