Subject: Re: [MK8] ukeleles

Am a recipient of 30 kala Ukeleles from guitars in the classroom, a nonprofit giving guitars and Ukeleles to teachers who learn their curriculum. I have guitars from little kids rock. I beg for nothing but do respond to free instruments and training. For the past two days I have introduced the instruments to ks and up to 6th grades.
My kala brand is not the cheapest I have 3 Hohners with no gears n nylons. Strings. Bad plus doesn't hold the tuning. another I won is Mahalo. Thin sound quality.

Ellie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 26, 2013, at 11:31 AM, M Stanley wrote:
>
> I lucked into a dealer special and got 5 extras! I went thru my local
> music store. Others have shopped online and then priced matched with their
> favorite vendors.
> Other than that, I don't have any good ideas for buy ukes.
> Oh, here's one - get a donor!
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 9:32 AM, Robin Lavinder <
> robin.lavinder@frco.k12.va.us> wrote:
>
>> Thanks so much for replying! I love the info about growth as I am still
>> trying to pick a goal this year. I will check out this brand, where did
>> you find the best price? Robin in VA
>>
>>
>>> On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM, M Stanley wrote:
>>>
>>> Mine is going well. I've been developing manipulatives and
>>> posters/flipcharts, etc., to make teaching well.
>>> I am about to develop a set of checklists so I can "show growth" for
>>> different skill levels.
>>> I have one special needs kid who is hauling butt and can play "When I'm
>>> gone" and "Silent Night" very nicely. Woo hoo.
>>> My emphasis on the singing with accompaniment, so EVERYTHING we do has a
>>> song attached.
>>> With first graders, for example, we learned a SM song with a chant part
>> and
>>> accompanied ourselves on it AFTER we knew the vocal parts.
>>> My plan is to teach the songs first, then add the ukes. I'm digging
>> into a
>>> lot of old songs that are classics....Buffalo Gals, Sandy Land, etc.
>>> I'm using the ukes to REALLY work on form, btw. And singing of course,
>>> and steady beat.
>>> I'm enjoying it.
>>> My strings are now staying in tune. But at the beginning I PULLED the
>>> strings up and stretched them every day for two weeks before tuning them.
>>> Pulled pretty hard too, and they settled down. They kept their basic
>> tune
>>> all summer - but that's a long stretch to hold a tune, so I did have to
>>> retune, but it wasn't awful at all.
>>> I have Lanakai LI - 11 - the lower end model. They are just fine. I
>> chose
>>> this brand partly because they come with Aquila strings which are highly
>>> recommended. Many other brands use lesser strings and the sound gets
>>> complained about. If you change your plinky strings to Aquilas, you may
>>> hear a big difference.
>>>
>>> Love these little babes.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 6:50 AM, Robin Lavinder <
>>> robin.lavinder@frco.k12.va.us> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Good Morning List! I know we have discussed ukeleles before, but I was
>>>> wondering how it was going for those of you using them. What brand did
>>> you
>>>> buy? Are they holding their tune? Did you change the strings? I
>> have a
>>>> cheap one and I've played around with it but I don't know if I can
>> stand
>>>> the plinkyness! Funny since I can teach recorder all day and we know
>>>> that's not always a pretty sound! Anyway, I was thinking of asking for
>>>> boxtop funds to purchase some ukes, so any info would be appreciated!
>>>> Thanks, Robin in VA
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Robin Lavinder
>>>> Music Teacher: Lee Waid/Rocky Mount
>>>>