Cutie Circle’s 2017 Ukulele Workshop Series for Absolute Beginners

For the third year in a row, Cutie Circle volunteers (aka Cuties) will once again be offering aspiring ukulele players a free ukulele workshop series on Saturday afternoons.

Intended for absolute beginners with little to no background in music, this workshop will give participants some basic knowledge to begin a journey into music using the happiest instrument on earth from April 8 to June 10.

It was a fantastic experience for attendees and volunteers alike and we can hardly wait to meet everyone and spread the joy of ukulele this spring. Many of our students have gone on to share music by volunteering their time to perform at municipal and regional events and/or to teach ukulele to other seniors and children in the community.

Photo Credit: Helena M.

We thank the City of Port Coquitlam for offering the beautiful Michael Wright Art Gallery at Leigh Square for this workshop free of charge.

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Gathering Place, Leigh Square Community Arts Village

Date: Saturdays, April 8 to June 10, 2017
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Location: Michael Wright Art Gallery, Gathering Place, 2253 Leigh Square Place, Port Coquitlam
Admission: Free
Pre-registration is required. Registration form is located on the bottom of this page.

Courtesy of City of Port Coquitlam

Courtesy of City of Port Coquitlam

Workshop Requirements

Participants are encouraged to bring their own ukulele, music stand, digital tuner and copy of the textbook, Ukulele for Dummies, 2nd Edition. (Please do not be offended by the title of this rather good publication.)

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Ukulele Kits Loaning Program

We have acquired a few sets of ukuleles, music stands, digital tuners and textbooks (with our personal funds) for loaning to participants who do not own any equipment, upon receipt of a refundable deposit of $60. Please do not mark in (and/or damage) the loaner textbooks (otherwise the deposit will be forfeited). Participants can reserve a set when they register using the form below.

Ukulele Scholarship Initiative

We are in the process of establishing a small scholarship for a few keen students who might otherwise not be able to afford to buy their own ukuleles to continue their music journey upon conclusion of our ukulele workshop series. Those who would like to donate any ukulele in good condition (new or used) to this scholarship program are welcome to contact us. We will put you and the recipient in touch.

Ukulele Lending, Rental and Sales in the Region

As some of you have asked about the availability of ukuleles in the region, we have made some inquiries at local stores.

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Michael Wright Art Gallery, Gathering Place

Ukulele Rental

  • Long & McQuade (Port Coquitlam) has a couple of soprano ukuleles in stock for rent at $10/month. Please confirm with the store regarding availability if interested. (Information current as of March 14, 2017.)

Ukulele Sales

  • Empire Music has a selection of ukuleles available via its website. For pick-up orders only (with a 24-hour advance notice because the company is a warehouse not a store-front), our students qualify for a 5% discount. (Information current as of March 14, 2017.)
    Empire Music has generously offered us a discount on the ukuleles we purchased for this workshop.
  • Long & McQuade (Port Coquitlam) has ukuleles for sale and can offer a payment plan. The store also offers special discounts on ukuleles for all Cuties. The discounts can range from 9% to 15% depending on the make and model of the ukulele. Mention Cutie Circle at time of purchase to receive the discount. Ask for Brandon Smith for further assistance. (Information current as of March 24, 2017.)
  • Tom Lee Music (Coquitlam) has offered participants of this workshop a 10% discount on regular-priced ukuleles and music books. Please contact Dallas Todd or Adam Dean at the store and mention you are a participant of this workshop to receive a discount. (Information current as of March 14, 2017.)

Disclosure: We do not receive commission from any of these merchants. They are mentioned here as a service to the participants only.

Ukulele Lending Collection at the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL)

  • Cutie Circle and Terry Fox Library collaborated in the Fall of 2016 to create the Uke ‘n Play ukulele public lending collection. The Cutie Circle, Empire Music, King’s Music, Ohana Music and our good friend, Linda Thiessen, collectively donated 50 ukulele kits (including ukuleles, gig bags and tuners) and the FVRL rounded out the collection with ukulele instruction books and plastic containers for each kit. Library patrons of the 25 FVRL branches (from Port Coquitlam to Boston Bar) can now borrow ukuleles for free. In fact, Library network cardholders in the surrounding region (e.g., Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) can borrow ukuleles in person at FVRL locations as well.

Scheduling Notes and Supplementary Materials

The Workshop Series will start on April 8.

There will be no workshop on April 15 due to the Easter long weekend.

There will be no workshop on May 13 due to the May Day Parade.

There will be no workshop on May 20 due to the Victoria Day long weekend.

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Registration

Online registration began on March 15, 2017 and is now closed.

Thank you for your support. All seats have been filled.

Registration confirmation has been sent to email addresses supplied via the form below. We look forward to meeting you at the workshop.

The workshop series is geared towards adult learners and is unsuitable for young children and unaccompanied minors due to the length of each 2-hour session and the pedagogy employed. Adult participants who would like to bring along minors must supervise and assist their children at all times during the workshop.

As seats are limited, we kindly ask that all who register for this workshop commit to attending all sessions. Participants with full attendance will receive a Certificate of Completion for the workshop. Registration is required for all participants.

If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please complete the form below. To assist us in our lesson planning, please let us know briefly your music background.

Volunteers who are registering to help with the workshop, please indicate availability in the “Music Background / Comments” box.

Heartwarming Ukulele Events All December in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody

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Are you ready for some heartwarming ukulele events this December? We have a full line-up of free community activities, performances, a food drive and, of course, our Christmas Ukulele Strum-and-Sing-Along!

Upcoming Ukulele Events

TransLink Skytrain Evergreen Extension Opening Celebration
Friday, December 2

1. Free Ukulele Tutorials (10:30am to 7:00pm)

If you’d like to volunteer, please email to sign up. We’ll be teaching basic chords and carols. A couple of hours of your time would make a big difference.

2. Ukulele Christmas Performances (2:30pm–3:00pm; 5:30pm–5:50pm)

We will give two ukulele performances. If you’d like to volunteer, please email to sign up.

We are holding free ukulele lessons all day and playing two ukulele performances tomorrow at the Coquitlam Central Station in celebration of the opening of the Skytrain Evergreen Extension. Here’s Translink’s media release and a list of the family fun activities from food to music at the new stations. Santa may be making an appearance tomorrow.

Find us at the Coquitlam Central Station. Come and cheer us on, or better yet, join us at the booth and/or on stage! Bring your uke, music stand, Santa’s hat and good cheers!

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Terry Fox Library Christmas Tea Ukulele Performance and Sing-Along
Friday, December 9

This event takes place from 2 to 3pm. Refreshments and good cheers will be provided.

Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele Workshop
Monday, December 12

Jake Shimabukuro

To get your hands on the last few tickets available, go to the Evergreen Cultural Center’s Box Office for workshop tickets. For more info about how to get to learn from this amazing musician, see our webpage:

https://cutiecircle.com/2016/10/21/jake-shimabukuro-ukulele-workshop-in-coquitlam/

Tom Lee Music Special Discount for December 2016

We are pleased to announce that participants of Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele Workshop on December 12 qualify for a 10% discount on ukuleles and printed music for the month of December at any of the Tom Lee Music Canada locations. This event has been designated a Coquitlam 125 sanctioned event in celebration of the City’s 125 years in recognition of the legacy the workshop will bring to the local residents.

Cutie Circle Christmas Strum-and-Sing-Along at Evergreen Cultural Centre
Sunday, December 18, 1:30pm to 3:50pm (note early start time)

Celebrate Christmas with us at our December song circle. We will also be holding a food drive for SHARE Food Bank. Your current, quality, non-perishable food item(s) will benefit local families. Last year, we raised 135 lbs of food donation thanks to your generosity.

Community Christmas Dinner at Port Moody Pacific Grace MB Church
Sunday, December 18

We’ll be performing at a community Christmas dinner in Port Moody after our song circle.

See you at our events!

Jake Shimabukuro Ukulele Workshop in Coquitlam

We are over the moon to announce that Jake Shimabukuro, the international ukulele superstar, will be visiting from Hawai’i to give a rare workshop aimed at inspiring ukulele players of all ages and levels on Monday, December 12 in Coquitlam.

We are also very proud that this workshop has been designated as a Coquitlam 125 sanctioned event in celebration of the City’s 125 years for the cultural legacy it will bring to residents in the region.

What’s more? Translink’s Evergreen Extension will open just in time for ukulele players in Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley to arrive by Skytrain at the terminus station immediately adjacent to the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

Tom Lee Music Canada is offering 10% off ukuleles and print music to participants of the workshop for the month of December. Be sure to save your workshop tickets.

Considered one of the world’s most influential ukulele players of all time, Jake will be sharing his expert knowledge and talents on the tiny instrument that has touched the hearts of millions around the globe. This workshop will prove to be a breathtaking event that will give participants a glimpse of the amazing magic one can perform with the approachable and adorable ukulele. Advance tickets went on sale at 10am on Sunday, October 23. Get your tickets early for best seat selection!

Biography

Jake Shimabukuro can still vividly remember the first time he held a ukulele, at age four. It was an encounter that would shape his destiny and give the world one of the most exceptional and innovative uke players in the history of the instrument — an artist who has drawn comparisons to musical titans such as Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis.

That first brush with musical fate took place in Honolulu, Hawai’i, where Jake was born and still makes his home. Growing up, he studied and played a number of other musical instruments — drums, piano and guitar. “But none of those instruments spoke to me the way the ukulele did,” he says. “There was something about the uke that was different. Music was my passion, but I had no idea that I could make it as a musician. I always thought that maybe I’d be a school teacher and incorporate music into the classroom, rather than being on a stage performing in front of people.”

Of course, Shimabukuro would end up performing on many of the world’s most renowned stages. Starting his career in Hawai’i, he took his inspiration from some of the islands’ great uke players — Eddie Kamae, Ohta-San and Peter Moon. But he quickly expanded his scope from there, drawing influences from across the musical spectrum.

Widespread acclaim brought high-visibility collaborations with a wide range of artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Tommy Emmanuel, and Marty Friedman. Jake Shimabukuro has topped Billboard’s World Music Chart on numerous occasions, and has sold out prestigious venues and festivals such as the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, Wolf Trap, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and the Playboy Jazz Festival. He even played for Queen Elizabeth II at The Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England.

Shimabukuro’s busy touring schedule — 140 dates a year — is complemented by a rich and varied catalog of albums that capture the many moods of the uke. His most recent CD, Nashville Sessions, is one of his most adventurous, multifaceted and engaging records to date, blending elements of jazz virtuosity with heartfelt melodicism.

A husband and father of two, Jake balances his stellar career with family life and community service. He travels to schools around the world spreading positive messages to young people, encouraging them to live drug free and find their passion — just as he did at age four when his mother gave him his first ukulele lesson. In the time since then, he has played a key role in the current revival of interest in the ukulele.

Jake Shimabukuro Timeline

Workshop


Title: Jake Shimabukuro Ukulele Workshop

Date: Monday, December 12, 2016

Time: 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:30pm)

Location: Evergreen Cultural Centre, Studio Theatre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam

Parking: Free

Advance Ticket: $43.25 (inclusive of GST and Capital Improvement Fee) Reserved Seating

Ticket at the Door: $53.75 (inclusive of GST and Capital Improvement Fee)

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Tickets are also available through the Box Office by phone at 604.927.6555 or in person at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

Participants may bring their ukuleles to the workshop.

Map:

Thank you for the tremendous enthusiasm and support!

Local Accommodations

Directions and Parking

Visit Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Find Us page.
Road Condition Traffic Camera: Drive BC’s Highway 1 in Coquitlam

Generous Sponsors Help Cutie Circle Amass 50 Ukulele Kits to Start Public Lending Collection at the Fraser Valley Regional Library

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Do you know that starting in October, music lovers from Port Coquitlam to Boston Bar can partake in the joy of ukulele by borrowing the world’s happiest instrument from their local library?

That’s right! Fifty cheerful ukuleles complete with digital tuners and gig bags contributed by Cutie Circle, Empire Music, King’s Music, Ohana Music and our good friend, Linda Thiessen, are coming to the 25 branches of the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) Uke ’n Play Collection (FVRL’s media release). The generous sponsors are committed to bringing music to the people and supported this project right from the start! The dream of putting one uke in every home is getting one step closer to reality!

Thanks to the friendly ukulele players at the Terry Fox Library (who disguised themselves as smiley librarians) in Port Coquitlam, the Cuties and FVRL collaboration was formed in February!

Library

Serving a population of 700,000, the FVRL will add the joy of making music to its offerings. In its typical library fashion, the FVRL will include ukulele instruction books to the lot and assemble them nicely into carrying bags to round out the 50 ukulele kits!

The ukulele lending collection includes a variety of styles and colours to suit different tastes and levels of playfulness. From the standard figure-eight shaped brown soprano ukuleles, to their red glossy cousins, to the huggable pineapple cuties, to the thin-line arched back travel-size ukes decorated with abalone and pearl inlays, there is a ukulele to appeal to every aspiring ukester!

Here’s a sample of the fun collection.

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Ukulele #02

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Ukulele #23

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Ukulele #38

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Ukulele #50

What’s more? The strings of each uke have been carefully stretched by members of the Cutie Circle. In fact, the Cuties have lovingly strummed a handful of happy tunes into the tummy of each and every uke to get the instruments well on their way to meeting their new friends in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. The hope of the Cuties is, of course, that all the people the ukes will touch can then build on these happy vibes and spread the music to their friends and families.

The Cuties also had a farewell party for the ukes to give these babies a grand send-off.

Courtesy of Jerry S.

Courtesy of Jerry S.

The official launch of the lending collection will take place at five of the FVRL locations:

Uke ’n Play launch events will be held at five FVRL locations. Please contact the library for more details.

The ukuleles will be in your neighbourhood in October!

Are you ready?!

Cutie Circle’s 2016 – 2017 Calendar

Cuties’ Song Circle Dates for the 2016 – 2017 Season

Cutie Circle’s Regular Meeting Dates

We’ll be meeting from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on the following dates.
June 5, 2016 ** (moved forward)
July 10, 2016  (We will *not* be having a song circle this month as we will be holding a concert by Kimo Hussey and Zanuck Lindsey.)
August 14, 2016
September 11, 2016
October 16, 2016 ** (moved back for Thanksgiving)
November 13, 2016
December 18, 2016 ** (moved back due to room availability)
Starting time: 1:30pm
January 8, 2017
February 19, 2017 ** (moved back for Family Day)
March 12, 2017
April 9, 2017
May 14, 2017
June 11, 2017

Complete Event Calendar

Venue Location – Address, Directions and Facility Map

The Evergreen Cultural Centre’s address is 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, BC.

We’ll be meeting in the Rehearsal Hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. As in the past, we will have free parking on Sundays and evenings. Here is a map of how to find the way to the Evergreen Cultural Centre and the Rehearsal Hall and Studio Theatre. This road map will help guide you to the ECC entrance. With the SkyTrain construction, it is the only way to the back lot.

Evergreen Cultural Centre Map

Directions

TransCanada Route

From Hwy# 1 take exit 44 (at Cape Horn) and travel north or Hwy# 7 or 7A.

Barnet Route

From Barnet Hwy travel east through Port Moody, (along St Johns Street), and Coquitlam (along Barnet Hwy). Turn north (left) on Pinetree Way. The Evergreen Cultural Centre is located on the northeast corner of Guildford and Pinetree Way, four traffic lights north of the Coquitlam Shopping Centre.

Parking

North Lot (Studio Theatre)

Travelling northbound on Pinetree Way, turn right at the traffic control signal at Town Centre Boulevard. Travelling southbound on Pinetree Way, turn left at the traffic control signal at Town Centre Boulevard.

South Lot (Rehearsal Hall)

Access travelling westbound on Guildford Way. Please note there is no vehicle access from the main parking lot or from the eastbound lanes on Guildford Way.

Evergreen-Parking-Map-June-2014-FINAL

Wheelchair Access

Evergreen Cultural Centre is an entirely wheelchair accessible facility. There are three wheelchair parking spaces next to the drop off area and in close proximity to the centre.

Facility Map

Once you arrive at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, refer to this Facility Map for finding the parking lot, the ramps, the Rehearsal Hall and the Studio Theatre. (Click the image below for a larger version.) The doors to the facility will be opened 15 minutes before our meeting time.

Evergreen Cultural Centre Facility Map

Azo Bell, Aussie Ukulele Maestro, Gives Workshop and Concert

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Aussie Ukulele Maestro, Azo Bell, will be including a stop in Coquitlam during his North of the Equator Tour on September 16, 2016. We are extremely thrilled to have Azo teach and perform in Canada.

** Hot off the press **
The multi-talented Azo Bell has just been named this year’s Musical Saw Champion at the 2016 International Musical Saw Festival, Roaring Camp in Felton, California, in August.

Biography

Touted as “Australia’s top-ranked ukulele player” by the online magazine, World Music Central, Azo was already a professional musician with over 25 years experience as a guitarist when he began playing ukulele in 1992.

Since then he has played around his homeland (Australia) and the world as MD for Theatre group Stretch MK1, with his trio The Old Spice Boys, and solo. His tenth ukulele featured album is about to be released. (See his nine ukulele albums here.) His ukulele style stems from involvement in many musical genres, using techniques adapted from the Cavaquinho and the guitar, with an emphasis on improvisation.

Be sure to catch this very rare opportunity to see Azo Bell in action because the last time this ukulele legend toured in North America was almost 15 years ago. Guarantee your spot in the workshop and/or concert and register! There is a $5 discount for attending both workshop and concert.

“I have a new ukulele hero, Azo Bell from Byron Bay. He closed out the all-day festivities at the Melbourne Ukulele Festival on Sunday with his combo The Old Spice Boys. Wow! I’ll be spending some time with him this week as I make my way to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.”
– Jim D’Ville, “Play By Ear” Ukulele Educator

“Azo Bell is one of the most interesting and creative uke players around the world today. He’s a virtuoso musician who never fails to surprise and delight with his ever-changing ideas. His dedication to this humble yet challenging instrument is evident in the music he produces.”
– Bob Brozman, Bluesman

“Azo Bell is a master musician and a superb ukulele player. In Bell’s hands this modest instrument is an object of wonder. The Old Spice Boys can lift the heart.”
– Rhythms Magazine

“[Azo Bell] He’s an amazingly great player. I’ve seen him in action many times since 2002 and he never disappoints.”
– Ralph Shaw, King of the Ukulele

“I met Azo Bell in 2002 in New Jersey, attending my first ukulele festival. I will always remember his stage performance, getting sounds and tones I never thought possible out of his soprano ukulele.”
– DaSilva Ukulele Co., Berkeley, California

“As with all the best musical wits, underpinning the hilarity is expert musicianship. Bell, both a virtuoso and highly imaginative improviser, wrests some glorious sounds from his ukulele.”
– John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

“Aussie Azo Bell is one of the best uke players of the new-uke generation. Along with band mates Billy Milroy on single string bass and Tim Reeves on snare drum, Azo shows off some amazing single note picking and strumming that are one part vaudeville, and one part modern jazz. Includes many standards Rag Mop, Foggy Day In London Town, Misty, and a slew of originals including the instant uke classic Spider Walk. Serious chops mixed with a wicked sense of humor.”
– Jim Beloff, Flea Market Music, California (from review of ‘Lost In Spice’ CD)

“In a sea of mediocrity it’s nice to watch a uniquely fresh-sounding band like The Old Spice Boys rise to the surface. They never fail to entertain an audience no matter how diverse.”
– Keven Oxford Founder/Producer East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival

“Armed with outrageously minimal instrumentation, The Old Spice Boys get more music, more laughs and more style from a ukulele, a tea-chest bass and a solitary snare drum than most bands get from a truckload of instruments and equipment.”
– Newcastle Herald

Check out some of his amazing performances.

Workshop (6:30pm)

Azo Bell’s workshop reflects his expertise with the instrument, as a musician, and as a person, and suits ukulele players of all levels and all persuasions. The focus is on musicianship rather than learning tunes. As far as possible the program is flexible to meet the varying interests and abilities of ukulele players.

1. Musicianship is often regrettably overlooked when people begin learning and sometimes continues to be. Azo’s workshop deals with the listening and trust required to be a musician – from the most basic level. The group is directed to listen, play (together), and imagine music in fun ways that encourage a functional relationship with music – and with each other as musicians.

2. Technical aspects of the instrument – can make it hard to play or spoil the sound. Azo will demonstrate some simple tests to reveal the most common problems and show how most can be corrected using common tools (or how to avoid buying an instrument that will be difficult to set up).

3. Azo will demonstrate his unique strumming technique. There will be some rhythm exercises. If there is interest, he’ll break it down (slow it down) and describe the learning process he followed to develop it and how to enjoy it.

4. Some time will be devoted to Q & A and general discussion. Whenever possible this will continue after the allocated time and wind down when everyone’s had enough.

5. Unless specifically asked, Azo will avoid harmonic theory. It is possible to be a fine musician knowing nothing about it, and discussion can easily get boring for those who already understand it and for those who don’t want to.

If asked, Azo will describe his pathway to understanding the instrument harmonically and how to draw “continuous fretboard” diagrams showing all possible chord and scale fingerings.

Solo Concert (8:45pm)

Azo’s dynamic multi-genre playing will charm uke lovers all over. Uke-flipping is just one of his many specialties! Be mesmerized by his masterful musicianship and his witty on-stage presence.

Date: Friday, September 16, 2016

Time: 6:30pm — 8:30pm; 8:45pm — 9:30pm

Location: Studio A, Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam

Cost: $30 for workshop; $15 for concert; $40 for workshop and concert.

Please complete the registration form below. A confirmation email will be sent to all registered participants.

Local Accommodations

Directions and Parking

Visit Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Find Us page. Please check this page for latest updates on road construction near the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Studio A is on the North side of the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

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Evergreen-Parking-Map-June-2014-FINAL

2016 Ukulele Spectacular at Coquitlam Multicultural Fair

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2015 Group Photo at Spirit Square, Glen Pine Pavilion

Our dear friends, Gary Cyr and Ron Usher, will be leading us and playing the bass respectively during our performance on July 16 as a part of the Multicultural Fair at Spirit Square in Coquitlam. Our presentation is coined “Ukulele Spectacular”. If you would like to participate but have not signed up yet, complete the form below to let us know as the more the merrier! If you have spare ukes to bring for the audience to try, let us know as well.

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The Fair actually starts at 11 am and there will be “a variety of live entertainment, music and dance. Many cultures will be represented with performances from Chinese, South Asian, Polynesian, Korean and South American groups. There will be door prizes and activities for kids as well as adults. Visitors can try their hand at Chinese brush painting, calligraphy or learn a new dance.”

This year, we will also have a booth to give mini ukulele tutorials and/or to just hang out to meet other aspiring ukulele players. To sign up for the volunteer table, please use the same form below.

Admission to attend the event is free and there will be a concession with a barbecue lunch and other food available for purchase. There will also be door prizes and raffle draws. We are also contributing a couple of prizes for the event.

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Performance

Date: Saturday, July 16, 2016
Time: 11:30am – 12:00pm (Please arrive by 11:00am as requested by City of Coquitlam.)
Attire: Hawaiian-themed outfits (e.g., leis, grass-skirts, etc.) or Cutie t-shirts
Accessories: Bring an uke, a music stand and songbooks.
Location: Spirit Square, 3000 Burlington Drive, at Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Parking: City Hall parking lot, Glen Pine’s underground parking lot and its Burlington Drive parking lot. There is also parking at Town Centre field, but that will unlikely be necessary for you to park that far away.

A shuttle bus will run between Glen Pine Pavilion and Dogwood Pavilion during the event. See official website for current shuttle schedule and information.

Photo Credit: Terry Wilson

Photo Credit: Terry Wilson

Outreach Booth

Our outreach booth is our home base for us to leave our stuff and/or to hang out during the performances. We will have a few colour ukes to show visitors how to play (or for us to have a jam)!

Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm (We’ll be setting up our table around 10:00am.)
Location: Spirit Square, 3000 Burlington Drive, at Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Wi-Fi: Wireless devices should be able to pick up wi-fi signal from the Glen Pine Freenet.

Tent_Location

Map:

Informal Practice Jams

Note: Everyone is welcome to participate at the Fair without coming to the informal practice jams. However, please do register so that we can let the organizer know how many chairs to put on stage, etc.

Date: Monday, June 27, 2016
Time: 12 noon
Location: Noons Creek Park, 2500 Panorama Drive, Coquitlam
Accessories: Bring a lunch, an uke, a chair, a music stand, and songbooks.

Date: Friday, July 1, 2016
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Coquitlam Town Centre Park, 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Accessories: Bring an uke, a chair, a music stand, and songbooks.

Date: Friday, July 15, 2016
Time: 12 noon
Location: Noons Creek Park, 2500 Panorama Drive, Coquitlam
Accessories: Bring a lunch, an uke, a chair, a music stand, and songbooks.

Sign Up for Performance and/or Ukulele Mini-Tutorial Assistant on July 16

(There is no need to sign up for the informal jams.)

Canada Day Jam(boree) in Coquitlam

CanadaDayPoster

This Canada Day, we will have some fun activities for all Cuties and friends: a community parade with ukuleles, free mini ukulele tutorials, and a ukulele jam.

CanadaDay_2015

The march will happen at 12:15pm at the Coquitlam Celebrates Canada Day event in the Coquitlam Town Centre Park. Let’s make this the largest ukulele march on July 1 again!

1. The Community March with Ukuleles @12:15pm

Come and strum “O Canada” during the parade. Here’s the simple ukulele version.

O_Canada_easy

2. Mini Ukulele Tutorials

CanadaDay2015

Courtesy L Steele.

At our tent (located on the east side of Trevor Wingrove Way) from 1:00pm onwards, Cutie volunteers will be giving free mini ukulele tutorials to visitors. Send your aspiring ukulele friends along for some fun. We can always use more volunteers.

Free Public Parking Map:

3. Ukulele Jam (and Practice)

At 5pm, we’ll have our ukulele jam (and practice). Everyone is welcome to join us.

Join us and RSVP below to participate in the march, volunteer at the booth and/or join us at the jam!

See you all and Happy Canada Day!

Schedule

11:00am Set-up at the Cutie Booth on the “Community Drive” (see attached map)

12:15pm @the Meadow Stage

We will all meet at the Meadow Stage at 12:15pm, each group has been assigned a position and we will arrange ourselves in that order. The parade will be led by the performers on the Meadow Stage, Ache Brazil at the end of their set at 12:30. Please be ready to go by 12:15pm so that it is a seamless procession once they leave the stage at 12:30pm to start the Procession. We will be walking towards the Meadow Stage, first circling the Meadow area and then heading down the right side path around the front of the stage. The Mayor and Council, RCMP and MPs and MLAs will have chairs on the stage. See attached map. Please fill out the area in front of the stage getting ready for the singing of O Canada Day.

After the singing of O Canada we will have the formal speeches ending with a ribbon cutting and cake give away.

The order that we will go in is:

  1. Ache Brazil
  2. RCMP
  3. Mayor and Council
  4. Dignitaries
  5. 777Roayal Canadian Air Cadets
  6. Coquitlam Martial Arts
  7. Coquitlam Ukulele Tine Instrument Enthusiasts Circle
  8. Arthur Murray Dance Studio
  9. Coquitlam Express with Mascot
  10. City of Coquitlam Environmental Mascot
  11. Tri City Iranian Cultural Society
  12. Immigrant Service Society of BC
  13. Society Francophone de Maillardville
  14. Tri-City Chinese Community Society

1:00pm Cutie Circle Ukulele Tutorials

5:00pm Ukulele Jam

6:00pm Wrap-Up and Take-down of Booth

10:00pm Fireworks

Sign-up Form

Let us know how many are attending the Ukulele March by signing up here. We’ll have flower leis to loan to add to the summer feel. If you need to borrow a uke for the march, just let us know when you sign up!

Sign Up

 

Jim D’Ville Gives Play By Ear Workshops

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We are so pleased to announce that Jim D’Ville will be in town on August 14, 2016 to give Cuties two popular ukulele workshops: Picking Ukulele by Ear and Play Ukulele by Ear: Chord Progressions and the Circle of Fifths . Jim is known for his Play By Ear approach to ukulele pedagogy all around the world. This is a rare opportunity to learn from Jim in person! Sign up early to guarantee your spot in the workshops! There is a $10 discount for attending both workshops.

Biography

Jim D’Ville is a music educator and facilitator who is on a mission to get ukulele players off the paper and playing music by ear. Over the last six years he has taught his Play Ukulele By Ear workshops to thousands of players in the United States, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean. Jim is the author of the Play Ukulele By Ear DVD series and hosts the popular Play Ukulele By Ear website.  Jim is sponsored by Kala Brand Ukuleles.

Workshop 1 (4:10pm)

Picking Ukulele by Ear

Learn to pick the melodies to your favourite songs without tab! This ground-breaking workshop is the first of its kind to use the solfege syllables to organically train your ears to hear and play the scale patterns where all the melodies live. Topics will include playing scales, arpeggios, rolls and fills, and of course songs! This workshop is the first step to being able to play anything that comes into your head!

Workshop 2 (5:25pm)

Play Ukulele By Ear: Chord Progressions and the Circle of Fifths

Being able to hear and identify chord progressions will go a long way toward demystifying music. Before you know it you’ll be hearing and recognizing dominant seven and diatonic chord progressions. This exciting workshop will open your ears to the way all songs work around the Circle of 5ths and see how we can use it to understand the underlying structure of how all songs work. Knowledge of chords C F G7 A7 D7 E7 Am Dm Em is helpful.

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2016

Time: 4:10pm — 5:10pm; 5:25pm — 6:25pm

Location: Coquitlam

Cost: $30 for one workshop; $50 for both workshops

Please complete the registration form below. A confirmation email will be sent to all registered participants.

Local Accommodations

Directions and Parking

Visit Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Find Us page.

A Mid-Summer Eve’s Delight of Romantic Favourites by Ukulele Jazz Masters Kimo Hussey and Zanuck Lindsey

Jazz Ukulele Concert

Once again we are bringing Kimo Hussey and Zanuck Lindsey to Coquitlam this July. We are pleased that they will be offering the new Chord-Melody Secrets for Ukesters workshop (July 9), a jazz ukulele concert, A Mid-Summer Eve’s Delight of Romantic Favourites (July 10), and the MasterClass for Ukulele Mentors (July 11). Attend both the workshop and concert for a discounted value package. Get your tickets now for best seat selection!

Delight your senses and enjoy the mastery of jazz played with a Hawaiian flair by two world-renowned musicians. This fine summer evening promises to be filled with sweet sounds of romantic ballads. Expect an evening of extraordinary music featuring talents that are rarely found in both instrumentalists and vocalists. Kimo’s latest album is a nominee for the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts’ 2016 Ukulele Album of the Year distinction.

Biography

Kimo Hussey is a much sought after performer and teacher, traveling extensively to ukulele festivals and workshops worldwide. He has recorded two solo CDs, “Eminent Ukulele” and “Low G” (from iTunes), and has participated in several composite CDs. He is an author of the multiple award-winning Hawaiian songbook,”He Mele Aloha” which has sold millions of copies and has been translated into other languages. Kimo is the president of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii and his love for the instrument has made him a natural bridge between players and luthiers.

Zanuck Lindsey has been a professional musician, bandleader, teacher, composer, and producer for 30+ years. He has traveled extensively, performing internationally. A few highlights include performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Irvine Meadows, Shoreline Amphitheater, Aloha Stadium, Royal Hawaiian and the Oneness Center in Golden City, India to mention a few.

Concert


Title: A Mid-Summer Eve’s Delight of Romantic Favourites

Date: Sunday, July 10, 2016

Time: 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

Location: Evergreen Cultural Centre, Studio Theatre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam

Parking: Free

Cost: $25 (inclusive of GST and Capital Improvement Fee) Reserved Seating

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Tickets are also available through the Box Office by phone at 604.927.6555 or in person at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

Workshop

If you are looking to move to the next level of your ukulele pursuit and would like to venture into chord melody, this workshop is for you! Learn from ukulele masters, Kimo and Zanuck, the techniques that can bring more joy and pleasure to your playing! This is the first time we are offering a workshop on chord-melody and we have been looking forward to it for sometime now! Be sure to take advantage of this rare opportunity!


Title: Chord-Melody Secrets for Ukesters

Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location: Evergreen Cultural Centre, Rehearsal Hall, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam

Parking: $0.75 per hour.

Cost: $30

Buy tickets for both the concert and workshop for only $50.

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For tickets to the workshop only, please call the Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Box Office at 604.927.6552, complete the registration form, or visit the Evergreen Cultural Centre in person.

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MasterClass


Intended for practising and/or aspiring ukulele teachers, Kimo Hussey will be providing a small MasterClass focused on techniques and insights on becoming ukulele mentors. This MasterClass is limited to a total of ten (10) participants to allow for exchange of ideas in an intimate setting. SOLD OUT.

Thank you for the tremendous enthusiasm and support!

Title: MasterClass for Ukulele Mentors

Date: Monday, July 11, 2016

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location: Coquitlam

Cost: $50

Please complete the registration form below. A confirmation email will be sent to all registered participants.

Local Accommodations

Directions and Parking

Visit Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Find Us page.