by Alice Bulmer | Jun 15, 2020 | Beginner ukulele, Music and wellbeing, Ukulele practice tips
The other day one of my ukulele students turned up to class wearing a brace on her left arm. “I’ve been getting a sore wrist,” she said. Uh-oh! She’s having a week off. Music-related injury is much less of a problem with the ukulele than most instruments. But it’s...
by Alice Bulmer | Mar 26, 2020 | Beginner ukulele, Music and wellbeing
It’s fun It’s joyful It shifts energy, for you, for others nearby, and in your surroundings It raises your spirits, and the spirits of people listening It transforms emotions It creates connection Singing exercises your lungs and helps with breathing Stress...
by Alice Bulmer | Jun 27, 2019 | Music and wellbeing
Music is healing, in the widest sense of the word. This subject is very close to my heart. It underpins the reasons why I teach ukulele and make music in the way I do. In this post I’ll take a general look at some of the ways in which music is being used to heal. It’s...
by Alice Bulmer | Apr 3, 2019 | Beginner ukulele, Music and wellbeing, Ukulele teaching
I’m a ukulele teacher. I’m not a singing teacher. But singing is central to the way I teach and play ukulele. For me, the whole purpose of playing the ukulele is to sing songs. Singing is one of the great routes to joy. And singing songs that you love makes it even...
by Alice Bulmer | Feb 2, 2019 | Beginner ukulele, Music and wellbeing, Ukulele history, Ukulele songs
“You Are My Sunshine” is one of the most useful songs you can play on ukulele. It’s a children’s song, and it’s also very popular with the older generation. It’s easy enough for beginners to play. Everyone knows the chorus. And it has an interesting...
by Alice Bulmer | Dec 10, 2018 | Community music, Music and wellbeing, Ukulele beginners
When we start playing ukulele a world of unforseen possibilities opens up. I’m not exaggerating! This happened for me, and I’ve seen it working like this for many others. Beyond performing There’s a common attitude that making music is about performing, whether it’s...