2025 Festival Workshops

At the heart of just about every chord is a triad. This workshop explores these powerful harmonic and melodic music gems.

We'll explore traditional and contemporary triads, starting with the triads you already know but don't know you already know. Finally learning what a sus2, sus4, add 2, add9 chord is. And, how to use them.

Triads can be used for everything from creating melodies and improvisation with single notes and chords all the way to creating contemporary songs.

NOTE: We actually only need three major triads and we are good to go!

A classic 8-bar blues in Em. Only 4 chords. Em B7 C7 and F#m7b5 for the more adventurous. If you know D7 we'll have you playing F#m7b5 in no time.

This workshop will have you playing the melody, the chords, the melody and chords and taking a solo.

Join the Aloha Boys in the traditional Hawaiian Kanikapila.

PDF: kanikapila-with-the-aloha-boys.pdf
(Size: 280 kB)

Join us for a musical journey through the songs of Hawaii with your favorite Uncle and Funky Frets' very own "Ambassador of Aloha!" In this engaging class, Uncle Bill will share his favorite Hawaiian songs, transporting you to the beautiful islands through melody and story.

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Hawaii as Uncle Bill delves into the places and stories described in these songs, offering personal anecdotes and experiences from his upbringing in Laie, HI. Whether you're a seasoned musician or simply a lover of Hawaiian culture, this class promises to be a heartwarming and educational experience.

We will be referencing songs from the The Daily Ukulele series of books.

Delicious Diminished and Amazing Augmented Chords We’ll study the sound of Dimished and Augmented chords and how they can be inserted in a chord progression to drive a tune with both elegance and moxie. This class covers blues, spirituals, and tunes from the 1960s and beyond.

Four-Chord Extravaganza! Just beginning your ukulele journey? Take an 80-year romp through music with just 4 chords, using just 3 chord progressions as your guide. Can’t change chords quickly? Don’t worry! We’ll cover how to keep up with a group of faster players, learn how to grow your chord vocabulary, and develop fluency in the chords you know.

Come and learn the folk dance from our 50th state, the hula! Simple steps and lovely hand motions combine to tell a story. Comfortable clothes and no shoes suggested.

And, if would kike you get to perform at the evening concert with the backing of the Amazing Aloha Boys. Can't get any more authentic Hawai'ian than that.

Come and make the perfect accessory to wear while playing your uke! We will make a wristlet with fresh flowers using the Wili method (winding).