Ukulele Corner 2023 In Review

What a year we’ve had at Ukulele Corner! So many new things have been happening and we created some great content for you to enjoy along the way. Let’s take a look back at what’s happened in 2023 so we can start preparing for another great year in 2024.

The Ukulele Corner YouTube Channel: ~50 New Videos

We’ve been pumping out all kinds of new content for you on our YouTube channel, with almost 50 videos this year. These include performances, tutorials, shorts, songs from Hawaiian to classical to pop to Christmas to blues and more. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Ravel’s Bolero on Classical Ukulele

How to Play Bossanova on the Ukulele

Delta Blues on Fingerstyle Ukulele

How to Play Hawaiian Style on the Ukulele

Clair de Lune by Debussy on Classical Ukulele

Clair de Lune for Classical Ukulele
how-to-play-bossanova-on-the-ukulele

The Ukulele Corner Blog: 20+ New Blogs

In 2023 we published over 20 new blog articles. Are you looking to buy a new ukulele? Or do you want to learn classical technique on ukulele? We covered these and many other topics on the blog this year — catch up on a few linked below.

Ukulele Sizes : Which is right for you?
Top 10 Classical Pieces for Ukulele
how-to-choose-a-ukulele
Classical Ukulele Technique

Ukulele Magazine Feature

Jeff was featured on the cover of the Summer 2023 issue of Ukulele Magazine. In this fantastic interview with Holly Rudin-Braschi Jeff talked all about his life as a rancher’s son, a performer, teacher, composer, and arranger, and his outreach programs throughout the world. He also discusses Ukulele Corner.  Go here to read the whole story.

Ukulele Outreach

Since 2014 Jeff has been touring with Keola Beamer teaching ukulele to students and performing concerts in collaboration with artists in countries around the world including Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and India.

This year Jeff and Keola visited Sikkim, India in the foothills of the Himalayas. They were able to bring instruments to the students there, teach at the school, and perform the first ever concert at the prayer hall at Buddha Park. Learn all about Jeff and Keola’s trip to Sikkim here.

Ukulele Outreach around the World

Workshops and Live Performances:

  • Jeff was one of the guest artists at the 2023 Classical Guitar Corner Summer School, where he taught lessons, led an ensemble, performed a concert, and played ukulele with an orchestra of 60+ classical guitarists!
  • Jeff was one of the featured artists at Jake Shimabukuro’s ‘Ukulele Time in Nashville, where he taught a class and performed in several capacities (this great event will be back in 2024!)
  • Jeff was a teacher and guest artist at the Forest Ukulele Retreat , which is part of the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain at the Forest of Dean (and Jeff will be back again in 2024!)
  • Jeff was one of the instructors at Keola Beamer’s Aloha Music Camp and, you guessed it, he’ll be back again in 2024!
  • Jeff was a guest artist for George Kahumoku’s workshop, Maui Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Workshop. Jeff will definitely be back again in 2024!
  • Jeff was a part of the 21st Annual Kahilu Theatre Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Festival with Led Kaapana, where he also performed in a concert with Jake Shimabukuro.

New Book

Jeff arranged a selection of studies from Spanish Classical composer Fernando Sor in the new book 35 Progressive Studies by Fernando Sor. These studies are organized progressively to challenge you to develop and build upon a variety of musical and technical concepts.

The book has divisions of “beginner,” “intermediate,” and “advanced” to give you a general idea of where each study belongs on a spectrum of difficulty. Those familiar with the classical guitar repertoire will love these arrangements and those of you not familiar with this music will find new pieces to fall in love with. In addition to being just great pieces of music to play, they provide a strong foundation in technique, reading skills, different playing styles, and a wide variety of repertoire.

You can buy a copy of the book 35 Progressive Studies by Fernando Sor here.

Ukulele Corner Academy

But this has also been a great year for Ukulele Corner Academy, Jeff’s online school for ukulele. Jeff has been bringing so much new content throughout the year, and there’s so much more coming in 2024! But here’s a look back at all of the new things added just this year:

4 New Courses at Ukulele Corner Academy

  • Jeff added a brand new Fundamentals Course, which introduces complete beginners to how to hold the ukulele, how to tune, left- and right-hand positions, and more. This is a great way to get started from scratch.
  • Due to popular demand, Jeff released a full Baritone Course with 60 lessons in total, covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced playing techniques and repertoire.
  • Jeff released the first 6 units of lessons (yes, there’s more to come!) of a brand new Blues Course. Want to dive in for yourself? Here’s a sample lesson from the Blues Course.
  • Finally, Jeff recorded lessons on all 30 of the Christmas songs from his book 30 Christmas Songs for Fingerstyle Ukulele. You can check out a sample lesson on Joy to the World here.

But, that’s not all! Jeff has been leading monthly live sessions with members, interacting with members in the Forum to create community, and has been planning for new content in the new year by listening to members. If you aren’t a member yet, you should consider joining today! Go here to become a member of Ukulele Corner Academy.

Looking Ahead…

2024 starts pretty soon, so expect new things right around the corner. We can’t wait to share another year with you here at Ukulele Corner! Let us know in the comments: What was your favorite ukulele memory from 2023?