I caught the bus a 8:45 and got picked up on the way to Paul's house by Paul. We had to go to his dads house so he could alter the bridge on his Kala arch top ukulele. Once that was done we got back to Paul's house to check the ukulele and found that Paul's Amp was broken. After that we went to Ilfracombe infants school for a couple of lessons. During which Paul mainly taught some new chords and then used songs to help them get learned. Then we went to Berrynarbor School and Paul taught someone Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. After that we had a lesson in Northam during which Paul was teaching scale modes and fancy chords using music theory that I had no clue about.
By Jake Cole
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I arrived Paul's house at about 9:30 and there I learned some songs with him for his birthday party and he helped me plan for the lesson that I would be teaching later at Ilfracombe Infant School. After that we went to the school and I helped Paul with a guitar lesson. During it I helped the student learn the G and C chords. Then Paul taught him a song, using the chords the student had learned..
Once that was over we went back to Paul's house for a bit. After that we had a lesson just outside Barnstaple in which Paul was teaching some songs from the grade 5 rockschool book. After that lesson Paul had one at Arlington during which he taught Picking and sweeping on the guitar, and House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.
By Jake Cole
I caught the bus and got to Paul's house at about 9:30. There I helped Paul test his lighting equipment, before making a start on testing the PA equipment for a gig the weekend. But before we could finish we had to go to Ilfracombe junior school. There he had two lessons. In the first one, teaching scales and the other teaching Teenage kicks by The Undertones. Then we went back to Paul's house to finish checking his PA. Once that was over me and Paul went round Ilfracombe high street asking shop keepers to put up posters for Paul's ukulele lessons. Then Paul had a lesson in West Down where he was teaching a student major and pentatonic scales. By Jake Cole
Got picked up by Paul from my house at about 8:15am and we drove to Filleigh school. It took about 45 minuets to get there because of the traffic, which was terrible. There Paul taught some students how to change chords whilst strumming. After that we headed to Chittlehampton school where Paul taught someone how to read tab for the ukulele. Once that was over we went back to Paul's home, I had some lunch and then I helped Paul print & laminate some posters. Then we went back to my house so Paul could teach my brother. Just before the lesson I learned a couple of chords on the ukulele and then watched Paul teach my brother some grade 5 rockschool on guitar. Then we drove back to Paul's house.
Me at Filleigh School trying out one of Paul's Kala ukes.
Paul tuning up for a ukulele lesson at Filleigh School.
After spending a couple of hours at Paul's house, we headed to Larkstone cafe for ukulele club. It lasted for 2 hours during which we played songs by artists like The Clash The Beatles and Buddy Holly.
Me at Ilfracombe Ukulele Club held at Larkstone Cafe.
Outside Lakstone cafe with my ukulele.
Me and Paul with Larkstone Cafe in the Background.
Me and Paul just before Ilfracombe Ukulele Club started inside Larkstone Cafe.
By Jake Cole
I got picked up at about 10 o'clock.
Helped Paul sign in on four square (Four Square ID 34843477) at different places as we headed to Chumleigh Primary School. We went in at about 12 o'clock and came out at about 4 o'clock after doing quite a few lessons during which Paul mainly taught different students bass runs on the guitar. After that we went to South Molton to get some fish n chips. Once that was over we headed to a house about 10 minutes drive out of South Molton. There for an hour Paul taught someone some grade 5 rockschool and then we headed home.
Above is a picture of the farm just outside South Molton.
By Jake Cole
I have put a poster up in the Ilfracombe Tourist Information Center, for the ukulele workshop's. I'm hoping for new work from holiday makers in Ilfracombe, Bude and surrounding areas. I have taken a few pictures on route.
Video clip of Ilfracombe harbour
http://youtu.be/cOXJFFfxuNY More information in the ukulele workshop's here http://paulclews888.weebly.com/ukulele-workshop.html
Click on this link if you would like to become sexier. http://paulclews888.weebly.com/guitar--ukulele-lessons.html
When to practice your musical instrument. For guitar or ukulele lessons, face to face in North Devon, or anywhere else in the world by Skype click here http://paulclews888.weebly.com/guitar--ukulele-lessons.html
I have joined the worlds biggest band. At 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 7th 2,000 guitarists or more will be gathering on Lyme Regis front beach to attempt a new UK record for the largest number of guitarists to play a song simultaneously. I want you to join the band. If any of my students would like to join the band, let me know. I will arrange the transport around the numbers. See more at http://www.guitarsonthebeach.co.uk If you would like to take part but can't play, lessons face to face in your home or by Skype are available at http://paulclews888.weebly.com/guitar--ukulele-lessons.html Down load a pdf file of the song.
I've heard it said that learning to play the guitar is fun. Well, I completely disagree. I remember when I was learning to play some 35 years ago, the little fun that was to be had, was soon replaced with frustration. Many times, I could have happily just chucked the guitar out of the window. I believe, that anybody can learn to play the guitar, in this respect learning to play is easy. But not everybody will. What stops them? Why do people give up having started to learn?. Motivation. I'll say that again, motivation. What motivated me all those years ago was 'to play in a band'. It was the age of punk. All you needed apparently, was three chords (not true) and a safety pin. The band was put together and named before any of us could even play a single note. The band had two 'guitarists'. Neither of us could play a thing, so I use the term 'guitarist' loosely. We came to it from opposite points of view. He took all the strings off his guitar except the bottom two, cranked up his expensive amp, and sounded what I thought at the time, fantastic in about a week. He had tuned the two strings (what I now know to be a fifth apart), and played with one finger. Me on the other hand, started the long process of learning to play properly. It took me ages. The motivation was to play in a band. I kept the motivation bigger than the problems. It seems simple doesn't it? Practice for 15 minutes every day. What's stops these well meaning people from doing this? The answer has many versions as wanna be guitarist quitters. What's your excuse? Too tired? Not enough time? We don't have any chocolate ice cream in the fridge? After all, one excuse is as good as another. I somehow kept my focus. Once I had mastered the bar F, a momentous moment in any guitarists career, (ask any of them), It was a very short time after this, the band recognised me as the best guitarist. Not long after this, the other guitarist in the band quit. He'd given up on his rock star dreams, and I don't think he ever played the guitar again. Well, let's be honest, he never really learned to play anything. Me on the other hand kept going. Wouldn't it be great to play that classic Chuck Berry intro to Johnny B Goode? 'It's the only lick I'd ever want to learn' I said at the time. Having mastered that, I thought Layla by Eric Clapton had a great riff. I didn't like the song much, but loved that riff. Mastered that, and so it went on. You never stop learning the guitar. In fact, that's true for any instrument, except the kazoo and maybe the triangle. You learn to live with the frustration. So what are the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument? For me, that first punk band was great fun. So have the 20 or so bands since. All have been tremendous fun. It has enabled me to meet and converse with some amazing people. When I moved from Great Wyrley, the village I was brought up and schooled in, to Ilfracombe, playing guitar enabled me to meet people, and make new friends. This list could go on for ever, but ultimately it has given me a career and business. This started, not with guitar playing, but recording other bands on my 4 track recording studio. I still record demo's, jingles and other similar things today, but the technology is far more sophisticated now. I ran Flipside for 7 years. This was a shop in Ilfracombe selling records, CDs, videos and of course, musical instruments. I play in a band called The Backtrackers. A function band playing weddings and parties all over the Uk. My main income is from teaching. All day long, 6 days a week, privately and in schools teaching guitar and ukulele. Well, what a life playing music has done for me. From punk band to teacher, a fantastic, and in many ways unplanned journey. I didn't know back in the early 80's where I'd be today, but I'm glad to be here. I never made it to rock star status, but then again, I don't think I ever really want that. So what is your motivation to carry on? What is your excuse to quit? I look forward to your questions and replies. If you would like to book guitar or ukulele lessons in your home, school or by Skype.
http://paulclews888.weebly.com/guitar--ukulele-lessons.html If you would like to book The Backtrackers for your party, wedding, corporate event, or function. http://paulclews888.weebly.com/backtrackers.html If you would like to book time in my recording studio. http://paulclews888.weebly.com/16-track-multi-track-recording-studio.html |
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