We are lucky to have such an enthusiastic group of players who bring with them many skills learned throughout years.   

​Unfortunately, I was unable to participate for a couple of weeks in August (this time Co-vid) and once again Neville and Elly combined their talents, and the group ran smoothly. 
 
The organisers of the Seniors Festival event at Federation Square have decided that the first song chosen – The Real Thing – was not a good choice and we are now joining with other Ukulele players in a Mass Ukulele Performance of Happy Together, previously sung by the Turtles, on Sunday 6th October.

On Monday 2 September four players from Benalla are travelling to Goulburn Valley U3a in Shepparton, firstly to return the little gold Travelling Ukulele and secondly to meet up with the GV U3a players and get some ideas to improve our Ukes4Fun.

The group have also received an invitation from the Whittlesea Ukulele Muster to attend their 1-day Muster.    A couple of our group went to last year’s event, participated in the jamming sessions and brought back some interesting information from the Workshops conducted on the day.

Benalla Ukes4Fun have also been asked to perform at the Be Connected luncheon on Wednesday 16th October and again at the end of the year function on Wednesday 20th November.
​
Heather Wallace

​In other July news, we received an email from our mentor John Canty, from Goulburn Valley U3A, with this photograph of Benalla U3A Ukes4Fun ‘leadership team’ member Neville Young, who visited the Goulburn Valley Ukes group at one of their sessions in July.

John Canty set up the Uke3A group at Shepparton, mentors our group and now mentors new Ukes groups for U3A Network Victoria.

John wrote “I grabbed this photo of Neville with Andrew, the leader of our Uke3A group, at our session on Monday.  I welcomed and introduced Neville to the group and Andrew presented him with the ‘travelling ukulele’.  Uke3A member/s from Shepparton will need to return a visit to Benalla to retrieve the ‘Travelling Uke’”. 

We’re looking forward to a visitor/visitors from Ukes3A in Shepparton arriving to retrieve the ‘Travelling Uke’!

Heather Wallace

The group was asked to play at the recent Cooinda Christmas in July dinner.   A small group of our players took their ukes along and entertained the residents.     It was fun.

A number of our group are taking part in the combined Ukulele group appearing at the Seniors week activity on Sunday 6 October at Federation Square.  We are waiting for details of the songs we will be playing and singing so that we can practice over the next few weeks.

Our weekly sessions have been so much fun, not only learning new songs to add to our repertoire, we are revisiting some of our basic tools to improve our rhythm, timing and strumming.
​
Heather Wallace

​During the month we have implemented a more structured program that is still evolving as we learn together. We have had lots of enjoyable mornings with our team walks ups. I’m extremely proud of our group and the confident manner at which they tackle this voluntary task.

We are busily working on building and extending our song repertoire. Considering the cold winter, we continue to be well supported each week.  

It’s now the middle of winter!! Warm up your fingers and strum, strum, strum, uke know what to do!!

Semester II begins on Monday 1 July, so we are moving to our new timeslot of 11.30 am to 1.30 pm.  See you then!

Elly Smith

​Rene Martens

Ps - I've added this to 'Jamming Videos'... as members of the group were in the audience, imagining all the possibilities to come...  Bev Lee

When I popped in to Ukes4Fun to take some photos for the website on Monday 20th, mentor John Canty  was guiding  a 'walk up' by Trish Rogash,.accompanied by the group. It sounded wonderful.   Some treasured 'just jamming' followed, with songs - the 'House of the Rising Sun' and 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' - recorded on my ageing smartphone!

You can click on the full screen arrows to get a better look.

Hope you enjoy them!

​Bev Lee

I am currently unable to convene the group due to a back/nerve injury, however Elly and Neville have taken over during my absence.   

I called into see the group a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed with the way they were blending and singing together.   It brought tears to my eyes.    I am so proud to be part of a group of people who are getting so much enjoyment out of their chosen subject.     

Thank you to both Elly and Neville for supporting the group during my absence.   

​Heather Wallace

Hello all, Elly here! It was wonderful to have Heather join us recently. We all wish her well with her current health battles.
 
I just couldn’t let the May newsletter come and go without a few words from me.
 
It has been an absolute pleasure working with the ‘Getting Started’ ukulele group. It was so satisfying to see each of you go from timid strummers and hesitant chord changers to playing loudly, tapping your feet to the beat, having fun, laughing, singing and believing in yourselves. The smooth transition into the jamming group is testament to how much you’ve achieved. 

Thanks for your support. 

A huge thank you also to Neville Young for all his support, patience, encouragement, listening to my suggestions and comments and answering my many questions!
​
I must also thank John Barry and John Sleinis, who also helped keep me on track.  

​Elly Smith

​Great news.  The ‘Getting Started’ group is now being integrated with the ‘Just Jamming’ players.  They have been welcomed into the fold, with members happy to offer assistance as required.

It can be quite daunting at times to extend your musical knowledge, but they have already demonstrated their ability to do so.

I must offer my congratulations to Elly for the excellent job she has done teaching the newbies.

A lot of hours are put in by the instructional group preparing various handouts of tuition notes and song sheets to achieve the results.  Well done.

Remember – UKE CAN DO IT!

​
Neville Young

The Ukes4Fun groups worked well during Term 1, with the beginners’ group now ready to join the ‘Just Jamming’ group each week.   

Elly Smith worked with the ‘Getting Started’ group during my absence and full credit must go to her for the way the group has been conducted and how much the members have enjoyed their introduction to playing the ukulele. Thank you, Elly.

Neville, both the Johns and other members of the ‘Just Jamming’ group have worked together to keep the ‘Just Jamming’ group involved in playing the ukulele.   

The groups will be combining commencing on Monday 8 April and will meet in U3A Meeting Room 1 from 12.00 noon until 1.30pm.    If players can arrive from 11.00 am to tune their instruments and set up their music, we can commence promptly at 12.00 noon.


Heather Wallace

​The Ukes4Fun ‘Getting Started’ group, which gathers in Room 1 each Monday at 11 am, has been working with several tutors over the past month, with Elly and John taking the class when our roving photographer called by at their last session in February.  Such concentration on the faces of all involved! 

Ukes4Fun had an early start to their year with members eager to get together and have some fun.    As this is our second year, we were able to get into the swing of jamming straight away.

As an aside, during the last year I lent my Aklot Soprano Ukulele to a group member and when I opened the Uke case to tune the instrument before my first class this year, I noticed that an Ashton Ukulele had been put in the case in error.    That is what happens when we are in a hurry to pack up sometimes and not checking our equipment.    If my Aklot Soprano Uke can be returned I would be very grateful.    I have taken very good care of the Ashton Uke whilst it has been in my possession and it is looking forward to being reunited with its rightful owner. 
​
Heather Wallace

The Ukes4Fun Getting Started group commenced on the 15 January.   Over the past 3 weeks the group has learnt the 4 chords that form the basis for many of the songs that have been written as well as learning the secrets of strumming.     The group then moves into the Just Jamming group and have been participating in this group as well.
​
Heather Wallace

November turned out to be another busy month for the Ukes4Fun Group.     The group performed at the end of year U3A Concert alongside the Recorder Group and the Singing for Fun Group.  It was a ‘full on’ morning of musical entertainment and the Ukes really made their presence felt.   ​

During the Benalla Festival the Benalla Theatre Group held a free ‘Come and Strum’ day for people interested in playing the ukulele which several Ukes4Fun members attended.  A most enjoyable joint Jamming Session with Stephen Winkler and the Benalla Theatre Company ukulele players followed in late November.

A Ukulele Jamming and Workshop Day held by the Whittlesea Uke Group in late November was attended by John and Claire, who not only had a good time but attended a number some of the workshops held on the day.    Contact is now being made with other Uke Groups asking to be included on their mailing lists for information about Ukulele Jamming Sessions being held in 2024, with an opportunity for members of our Group to attend and gain further experience as well as having fun with like-minded people.

In 2024 we are introducing ‘Ukes4Fun--Getting Started’, which will consist of 5 x half-hour weekly sessions before Monday’s ‘Just Jamming’ sessions, for members wishing to learn to play the Ukulele.  We are also piloting a monthly self-help drop-in for players who have mastered the fundamentals of basic chords and strumming and would like to practice new cord sequences and strumming patterns with others.

Finally, I would like to thank Elly, Neville, Hans and guest presenters John Canty and Michael Dobson who helped keep the group going this year while I was unwell.  I’d also like to thank the whole group for achieving what they have and giving me so much pleasure over the last twelve months. 
​
Heather Wallace

​Rene's 35 minute video can be viewed above or by clicking the link to his Youtube channel. Rene suggests "change the resolution to 4K and sit back and enjoy".

​Thanks to Stephen Winkler from BTC for leading the session, and to Rene for the video!

What a wonderful day we had on Wednesday at Meet and Mingle.   The feedback from those who attended was terrific.

As discussed previously, a number of the group attended the Come and Strum day held during the Benalla Seniors Festival run by the Benalla Theatre Company.     Following discussions about the running of the Benalla Ukulele Jamming Group I received the following Text Message:

************

Hi Heather.    Deb Patterson here from the Benalla Theatre Company...

As promised we have finally found a date that we could get together and play our ukuleles. Steve will be there to give us some tips and strum patterns and music but we will mostly just have a play.

Date- Tuesday 21st Nov
Place- Rotunda Benalla Gardens
Time-6.30
We will finish by 7.30
BYO- ukelele, chair, music stand, if you have one, wine & glass     Also remember the Mosquito repellant.

So, if you would like to let your members know we will see you then. I will give you a text if it has to be cancelled due to weather.
​
Cheers Deb

************
It would be wonderful if you are available and would like to attend.     The activity at the BARC Huts was such fun.


Heather \

Ukes4Fun were invited to play during the recent lunch break at the Be Connected – Get Online Week activity held in October.   The group had put in a lot of work to get up to speed for this event and were very thrilled that it went so well.  It was encouraging to see people ‘moving and singing along’ whilst waiting for their lunch to be served.  ​

It is hard to believe that most of this group had not been close to a ukulele, let alone played a ukulele, in February this year.  We have all come so far.  Rene Martens’ film of our first public ‘gig’ can be viewed on You Tube -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-PHnkqRKyM, or in the post below.

Next year it is anticipated that there will be two Ukulele groups. The Monday group will be ‘Ukes4Fun – Jamming’ whilst a more advanced group will be put in place to expand their skills with the ukulele.   Further details in the next Newsletter.

Interested future Uke players will be welcomed in the Strumming group, where they will gain experience with chords, strumming, and getting to know their Ukes.    It is such fun to play and socialise with like-minded players.

We have been invited to join the other musical groups to perform a couple of songs at the end of year Meet and Mingle which we are looking forward to.

Heather Wallace

Thanks so much to Rene Martens for this wonderful video of our first public performance.  It's around 18 minutes long, so sit back, relax and enjoy!   It starts fairly quietly... also, Rene said you can change the resolution in Settings to 4K for best viewing if it defaults to very low resolution when you go to play it.   

The group has been practising for our first concert which will be during October’s Get On-Line week BBQ lunch at 12 noon on Thursday 18th October.  The group has selected a group of songs which should appeal to all who will be in attendance.

Heather Wallace

You'll need to increase the volume on your speakers to listen to the following - unedited - clip of 'Amazing Grace' recorded on a smartphone on 7 August...   It starts slowly...so persevere....  .

At the end of the session we heard the news that Heather's operation that morning went well, much to everyone's relief and indeed joy!   Get well Heather!

​At our first session in July, guest presenter John Canty, founding convenor of the U3A Ukes group in Shepparton, introduced the group to jam session ‘walk ups’ in which individuals or small groups offer to play something they have been working on, add their name to a board and are called out to perform for an audience.  In a practice run (pictured), Neville, Phiona and Claire worked as a group and performed their first ‘walk up’!

Ukes4Fun was also led by a couple of its members during July, learning new songs and reviewing the four chords which are the basis for the majority of the songs written and sung these days – Chord C, Am, F and G7.     

Over recent months we have been fortunate to welcome experienced musicians Neville and Hans who are happy to lead the group when necessary.  

It is so rewarding to see how far this group has developed, from beginners to being able to sing, play and enjoy our music together.


Heather Wallace