Mike Gradwell

I teach ukulele and guitar in primary schools, I teach on a one-to-one basis and I also lead the Garstang Ukulele Group. I've also taught adults in four-week courses, sometimes for beginners and sometimes they are for more advanced players.

 

On Monday 20th November 2017 I led a workshop entitled Ukulele Group Orchestration aka Sounding Better'. I received these responses...

 

"What a brilliant night.... thanks for your fantastic tips, ideas and help with chords and chord changes, singing and a great night playing and singing".

​"It was a great night...They want Garstang song books!! I’m learning the Mariah Carey song as we speak! We’ve all been inspired. A big thanks once again".

In June 2017 I ran a beginners' course at Flookburgh for the Grange U3A which I adventurously entitled  'C Am F and G7'. It was so successful that it was repeated at Garfest (the Garstang Ukulele Festival) on Saturday 26th August. I also gave a more advanced workshop called 'My favourite chord'. Now there's the start of long discussions in the pub :-)

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I led a fingerstyle course in January 2017 and one comment was...'The session with Mike was great – he is always entertaining and informative.  Just wish I could remember things!!  Will keep trying'.

 

The four-week course in September / October 2016 led to these  comments...

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The class was amazing and he is an amazing teacher!!  I learned a lot and now have to change the way I have been doing everything as I can see I have a lot of bad habits that will be difficult to break!  Although he is very open and accepting of whatever and says there is nothing he would consider the wrong way!  It's just if you do it 'right' I think you might play better in the long run!

 

He also has incredible energy and he taught a lot in an hour.  Maybe  abit too much as I couldn't take it all on board but mostly I got it. Certainly more than I thought it would be and much much better. I will move heaven and earth to do the next 4 weeks!

 

 It was great and I think that was the general sentiment. I take back the earlier concern it might be too basic. Also I was thinking it would be good to continue to the next level after the 4 weeks.

 

 

Last night's lesson was very good. We covered quite a lot of the basics and came away with some exercises to do. 

 

Although I can do a basic strum ok I already feel I learned a bit more about the different ways to play and how they affect the end result on the sound of the tune. 

 

The lesson was quite fast moving but I think both of the absolute beginners managed ok, I hope so. I certainly came away feeling I had learned several new things........now to get practicing those exercises. 

 

I know I am going to benefit from them and will probably be interested in continuing them later.