Best Ukulele Lessons Podcasts (2024)

1
Raglele, Six Weeks Later 17:07

5d ago17:07

17:07

Ragalele is the newest resource at Uketropolis.com. It was released about six weeks ago and the response has been amazing! New questions and conversations are happening every day as students begin to explore the 6000-year-old tradition of Indian classical music. Today we tackle one of these questions: how best to use Ragalele in a group context? To…

1
Summer Update: July 4th Specials & NEW Video Lessons 1:04

15d ago1:04

1:04

Shop July 4th Specials at Prodigies.com ____________________ 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music lessons with Mr. Rob & Prodigies? 🌈 Join Prodigies Music Lessons! ➡️ Enroll at Prodigies.com or …

1
Ragalele 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

My guest today is Sayali Tank, my co-author on Ragalele, a new resource that brings the magic of Indian classical music to the ukulele. Go to www.ragalele.com for a free download and follow Sayali on YouTube and Instagram. In this episode we talk about: How Ragalele came to be The healing power of music Western classical music vs. Indian classical …

1
Arranging Made Easy 17:12

3M ago17:12

17:12

Arranging. It's the all-too-often-overlooked skill that brings music to life... or not. Over the years, there is one simple strategy I've relied on time and time again. It's so simple that it's easy to miss. Plus: why not singing is one of the most important techniques for us singers. Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fire": https://www.youtube.com/w…

1
BONUS: The Dreaded Squeak 9:14

4M ago9:14

9:14

Are you afraid of strings that go squeak in the night? My latest educational project, Ragalele, brings the magic of Indian Ragas to the ukulele: https://www.ragalele.com Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fire": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGrTIBBjnY My online ukulele courses (some free, some paid): https://www.uketropolis.com…

1
Play First, Ask Questions Later 17:40

4M ago17:40

17:40

Music theory is a form of understanding that comes after you play and experiment. A lot. At least that's my opinion. In this episode I make my case for playing first and asking questions later. Enjoy! I'm on tour in Ontario and Quebec! Join me for an in-person ukulele workshop: https://www.jameshillmusic.com/tour Uke Heads new single "Hearts On Fir…

1
Travis Picking to the Rescue 15:16

5M ago15:16

15:16

Travis picking is named after Merle Travis, the Country-Music Hall-of-Famer who popularized the technique. If you're a bit bored with the same old strumming and picking techniques you've been using, well, it's Travis picking to the rescue! The thumb goes back-and-forth, the fingers dance on the melody. Simple, right? Not exactly. Like any physical …

1
27: E Minor Arpeggio Song | Mendelssohn Violin Concerto | Guided Listening 11:50

5M ago11:50

11:50

Welcome to episode 27 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael teaches the E minor arpeggio in Fixed Do solfege, Guides kids through listening for themes in Mendelssohn's Violin concerto in E minor, and demonstrates a "subito" piano and "subito" forte with another classical excerpt - Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in Eb! Mendelssoh…

1
165 Players, 10 Rehearsals, 1 Album: Uke Heads Has Landed! 48:56

6M ago48:56

48:56

My new album Uke Heads comes out tomorrow, February 16th, 2024! But it's not just my album, it's a project that has become a global community. How did an idea go from doodles on scrap paper to a full album with over 165 players from 15 countries? In this special episode, taped live at the Uke Heads Gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Chris Parsons a…

1
Angeline the Baker 13:26

6M ago13:26

13:26

"Angeline the Baker" (also known as "Angelina Baker") is one of the most well-known songs in the Old-time repertoire. It's appeal is a bit of a mystery: it only has two chords and its melody is pentatonic, meaning it doesn't even use all the notes of the major scale. And yet it contains multitudes. I continually return to this melody for its simple…

1
Flatpickers Welcome! 15:22

6M ago15:22

15:22

Is it legal to use a pick on the ukulele? Yes! Once and for all, YES! In fact, it's a gateway to some really interesting sounds. Specifically, it brings a level of agility to your melodies that is unlike anything else and it opens the door to tremolo flatpicking which can bring a new kind of lyricism to your playing. So, shine up your flatpicks and…

1
Live Long and Posture 19:55

6M ago19:55

19:55

Can't do the Vulcan salute? No problem! Stretching your fingers apart (think "live long and prosper") isn't the only way to play challenging chords. In this episode, we explore the difference between stretching for the notes in a chord and reaching for the notes in a chord. Although posture is a huge topic that we can't possibly cover in one episod…

1
26: E Minor Scale Descending | Tchaikovsky Symphony 5 Guided Listening | Theme and Variations 12:08

6M ago12:08

12:08

Welcome to episode 26 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael teaches the E minor descending scale in Fixed Do solfege, Guides kids through listening for themes in Tchaikovsky Symphony #5, and demonstrates that a "theme and variations" is! ____________________ 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfeg…

1
The Magic Triple Strum 20:34

7M ago20:34

20:34

The triple strum: it's one of my favourite ukulele topics... ever! I've been fascinated by this technique since I was a kid. Today, we get to dig into the magic of the triple strum and discover how left-hand muting takes this already-great strum to a new level. If you're looking for a bucket-list ukulele experience, check out the Ukulele Hideaway i…

1
Walking Backwards 20:14

7M ago20:14

20:14

Welcome back! I took a bit of time off to do a tour and release a new album but I'm back now and I have several episodes lined up for the coming weeks. This week I'll show you a simple strategy you can use in your practice to figure out which left-hand fingerings will work best. It's a simple thing but it can make a huge difference! Reminder: next …

1
25: Christmas #1 | E Minor Ascending | Christmas Carol History 12:03

7M ago12:03

12:03

Welcome to episode 25 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael explores some nostalgic Christmas feelings, dives into the history of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and introduces an E Minor ascending scale and song! ____________________ 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and le…

1
24: Aloha Kakahiaka | Ukulele, Aloha & Kanikapila w/ Mr. Rob & Ms. Sam 15:32

9M ago15:32

15:32

Welcome to episode 24 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Rob & Ms. Sam bring some extra aloha to the pod with Aloha Kakahiaka and lots of fun facts about Hawaii's favorite instrument, the Ukulele! ____________________ 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about ins…

1
A Tree With No Root? 16:07

9M ago16:07

16:07

This week, two topics: 1) How can you have a chord with no root? 2) Ideas for managing stage fright through creative pre-concert prep. Learn ukulele with James: www.uketropolis.comBy James Hill

1
Turn a one-chord lullabye into a two-chord rocker 11:36

9M ago11:36

11:36

A short, bite-sized bonus episode for ukulele teachers. Here's a technique you can use in the classroom RIGHT NOW: turn any one-chord song (e.g. Row Your Boat, Frere Jacques, Every Night, etc.) into a soulful rocker. It's easy and fun. Definitely something you want to have in your bag of tricks as a classroom teacher, private instructor or communit…

1
23: G Major Arpeggio | Percussion Ensembles 12:08

9M ago12:08

12:08

Welcome to episode 23 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael leads us through the descending G major scale and helps us discover lots about percussion ensembles! 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! __________…

1
Speed vs. Style 25:05

10M ago25:05

25:05

Welcome to Season 4 of the Uketropolis Podcast! To kick things off, a question from Uketropolis student Doug leads us to explore the relationship between speed and style in music. Specifically, we take a page from jazz saxophone technique in an attempt to have it all: speed and style.By James Hill

1
22: Boomwhacker Fun, G Major Descending and Sustain 11:19

10M ago11:19

11:19

Welcome to episode 22 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Rob leads us through some more Chromatic Solfege and helps us discover lots about Boomwhackers and Sustain! 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ___________…

1
21: G Major Scale Ascending + History of the Recorder 11:57

10M ago11:57

11:57

🎵 Welcome to episode 21 of our NEW Podcast, Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael leads us through the G major scale, introduces solfege F#, teaches a quick history of recorder and what Sforzando means! 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music h…

1
The Tuning Paradox 30:55

1y ago30:55

30:55

In this final episode of Season 3, we tackle a thorny musical question: how can your ukulele be in tune and still play out of tune? It's a question that will take us on a fascinating listening journey. Ultimately, you'll discover why tuning to the song may be the only way around this tuning paradox.By James Hill

1
What everyone can learn from jazz ukulele 32:03

1y ago32:03

32:03

Jazz teaches us many things. Even if we're not playing jazz, we can apply the lessons learned to many areas of music-making. In this episode: how jazz teaches us to do more with less (e.g. easier ways to play the B-flat chord), and how jazz encourages us to find our own personal musical style (e.g. artfully re-writing a melody to fit within a small…

1
NEW YouTube Videos + Christmas in July Specials 2:52

1y ago2:52

2:52

Prodigies, Season 1 is COMPLETE and while we wait for Season 2 to come this fall, we invite you to ... Check out Summer Blockbuster Playalongs on our YouTube Channel Score Back to School specials during Christmas in July Teachers - Try 30 Days free to our K-5 LMS at ProdigiesAcademy.com Make sure to check out all 20 episodes from Season 1 and as al…

1
Music Teachers: Try 30 Days Free to ProdigiesAcademy.com 4:07

1y ago4:07

4:07

Music Teachers!! Don't go back to school without checking out 30 days free to our full blown music curriculum and LMS at: ProdigiesAcademy.com Prodigies Academy Features All 1000+ Prodigies videos & curriculum resources Standards-based, sequenced & paced for PK-5 Single sign-on & rostering for students Google Classroom, Clever, MS Teams & more LMS …

1
Cliffhanger 17:17

1y ago17:17

17:17

There's an open question in the ukulele community: what to do when the tuning of the baritone doesn't mesh with the tuning of the other ukuleles in an ensemble? In this episode we explore this vexed question and as well as some possible solutions. BONUS: this episode includes a preview of my ukulele-orchestra arrangement of George Bizet's "Farandol…

1
20: Season Finale - Nursery Rhyme Compilation (10 Minutes) 12:28

1y ago12:28

12:28

🎵 Welcome to the 20th episode of our NEW Podcast, Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael and Miss Mandy leads us through five nursery rhymes, singing the solfege and lyrics! 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! _____…

1
A Bridge Between Tunings 11:42

1y ago11:42

11:42

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a bridge between standard tuning and baritone tuning? Turns out, there is! In this episode: how to make the transposition between standard and baritone tuning in the most painless way possible.By James Hill

1
Show of Hands 13:00

1y ago13:00

13:00

Are your hands too small for baritone ukulele? Probably not. That being said, there's one chord that might give you trouble: the diminished 7. In this episode: a workaround for the diminished 7 that works on all sizes of ukulele, not just baritone.By James Hill

1
Baritone Bonus! 8:33

1y ago8:33

8:33

A bonus lightning round of the most common baritone-ukulele questions.By James Hill

1
19: Nature & Orchestral Listening, Poetry, and Goodnight Irene 12:10

1y ago12:10

12:10

Welcome to episode 19 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where Mr. Michael leads us through a third chillout bedtime podcast! 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music lessons with Mr. Rob …

1
Baritone: What's the Big Deal? 15:31

1y ago15:31

15:31

People who love baritone ukulele really love baritone ukulele. Why? We kick off Baritone Month with a simple question: "What makes baritone ukulele so great?"By James Hill

1
June is Baritone Month! 1:33

1y ago1:33

1:33

This month is all about our favourite BIG ukulele. Welcome to the land of D-G-B-E tuning! Tune in starting next week for episodes about the benefits of baritone, how to make the transition to bari painlessly and how to better understand the place of the baritone in ukulele ensembles. #BariIsBeautiful…

1
18: Bedtime #2 w/ Nature Listening, Brahms Lullaby, and Boo Poetry 11:38

1y ago11:38

11:38

🎵 Welcome to episode 18 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! This week, we're thrilled to share some bedtime friendly listening for kids as requested by many of our listeners! Check it out, enjoy and as always, #HappyMusicing 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build…

1
My Three Principles for Left-hand Fingering 15:18

1y ago15:18

15:18

Navigating the ukulele fretboard is a bit like playing chess: sometimes it's mathematical, other times it's intuitive. Because there's no perfect solution for left-hand fingering it's a perennial topic among players of all levels. In this episode I offer three principles you can use when coming up with your own fretboard fingerings. The examples in…

1
17: Bedtime w/ Nature Listening, All Through the Night and SEL Affirmations 11:09

1y ago11:09

11:09

🎵 Welcome to episode 17 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! This week, we're thrilled to share some bedtime friendly listening for kids as requested by many of our listeners! Check it out, enjoy and as always, #HappyMusicing 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build…

1
How do I know which notes to noodle on? 13:55

1y ago13:55

13:55

It's one of the most common student questions: when I'm improvising or composing, how do I know which notes to use? In this bonus episode, we explore practical and intuitive ways to create melody. Spoiler alert: in the end, there's only one scale you absolutely need to know...By James Hill

1
Fringe Twins 32:07

1y ago32:07

32:07

Booster Uke is one of the most popular courses at Uketropolis for good reason. Who wouldn't want to learn easy ways to play Blues, Gospel, Pop and Jazz tunes? It's pure musical magic courtesy of a fretboard phenomenon called Chord Twins. But what happens at the fringes of the Chord Twin concept? What happens when we stop analyzing and, instead, use…

1
Free "Raising a Young Musician" Book Download 1:58

1y ago1:58

1:58

Download the NEW version of our eBook, "Raising a Young Musician" at: Prodigies.com/bookBy Mr. Rob

1
Alex Beds Interviews... James! 37:58

1+ y ago37:58

37:58

Alex Beds interviews James on his Ukes With Podcast. Get to know Alex better: Ukes With Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ukeswithalex/episodes Alex's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ukeswithalex Alex's Website and Original Songs: https://www.alexbeds.co.uk/ Southern Ukulele Store: https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk…

1
16: The Wheels on the Bus (MOYC Part 4 of 4) 11:38

1+ y ago11:38

11:38

🎵 Welcome to episode 16 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music l…

1
15: Echo Singing with Down By the Bay (MOYC Part 3 of 4) 11:22

1+ y ago11:22

11:22

🎵 Welcome to episode 15 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music l…

1
Brad Bordessa's Brave New Approach To Online Teaching 39:01

1+ y ago39:01

39:01

Brad Bordessa's new online course brings important elements of traditional Hawaiian teaching into the digital age. It's a brave new approach to online education... and it might just work.By James Hill

1
Slide Ukulele 34:39

1+ y ago34:39

34:39

Slide ukulele slows us down and helps us savour the music we make. Here's how to get started with this beautiful style right away: an easy, gentle and fun introduction to the "slow uke movement." Bonus: get two free slide ukulele lessons with me here: https://www.uketropolis.com/slide. Enjoy!By James Hill

1
14: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (MOYC Part 2 of 4) 14:07

1+ y ago14:07

14:07

🎵 Welcome to episode 14 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music l…

1
13: Solfege Singing w/ Totigies + Interview w/ Boo (MOYC Part 1 of 4) 12:37

1+ y ago12:37

12:37

🎵 Welcome to episode 13 of the Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! ____________________ 🎵 Want more music l…

1
North, South, East and West 19:21

1+ y ago19:21

19:21

What does it mean to explore the fretboard in all directions? It brings discoveries at every turn: move across the strings for speed and efficiency and or along a single string to gain understanding. To join the next live taping of the Uketropolis Podcast, go to uketropolis.com/podcast Get two free lessons from my new course Americana Ukulele. Go t…

1
12: Beat Boxing (Rhythm Week 4 of 4) 12:03

1+ y ago12:03

12:03

🎵 Welcome to the twelfth episode of our NEW Podcast, Prodigies Music Lesson Show for Kids, where we sing, hand-sign and play our way to an amazing music education! 😊 🎵 — Mr. Rob 🌈 Here at Prodigies, we build mad musical skills by singing Solfege, tapping echo rhythms and learning about instruments, music history and music theory! __________________…

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