Ukulele skills workshops

A series of workshops to build your playing skills run by long-time BUMS member Derek Farrell. The workshops will run over seven Thursday nights (6.30pm to 7.30pm) from 15 January 2026 at Ferny Grove Bowls, Sports and Community Club.  The first four workshops focus on finger style, and you will need to attend all four sessions. The remaining three workshops are stand-alone sessions.  

A discount price applies for all the workshops for BUMS members. When buying a ticket, remember to log in to the website if you are a member to ensure you get the 'member's price'. If you're not a member, why not join now ($60 for 12 months membership) and save $20 or more immediately.

Workshop 1 - Finger style (beyond strumming) – 4 x 1-hour lessons

Learn how to use your right ** hand fingers individually using different fingering patterns. Great for playing on your own, or with a few friends, finger style playing can really lend colour and character to your playing. It also leads on to other things, such as the “Playing the Blues” workshop. Plus it’s just good fun.

Starts on Thursday 15 January 2026, continues on 29th January, 5 February and ends on 12 February (no session on 22 January).  Be aware that to get the most from these workshops, you will need to attend all four sessions AND practice between the sessions to build up muscle memory in your fingers. The four sessions cost $50 for BUMS members and $70 for non-members (plus a small Member Jungle processing fee).

You pay up front for the four sessions, as an incentive to keep you motivated. 

Requirements: Competent with chords. 

Notes: Workshops are suitable for high and low G players and soprano, tenor and concert ukes. ** Course is just as valuable for lefties. 

Workshop 2 – Playing the Blues – 1 x 1 hour workshop

Learn how blues tunes work and how to play them finger style. Learn how to bend notes. Learn about major and minor pentatonic scales (not as scary as it sounds).

The session runs on Thursday 19 February 2026 from 6.30pm.  Costs $15 for BUMS members and $20 for non-members (plus a small Member Jungle processing fee).

Requirements: Competent with basic finger style.

Notes: When buying a ticket, remember to log in to the website if you are a member to ensure you get the 'member's price'. The Workshop is suitable for high and low G players and soprano, tenor and concert ukes.

Workshop 3 - Left Hand and how to use it - 1 x 1 hour workshop

Learn how to hammer on chords, slide into chords, mute chords with your left hand. Learn fingering tricks that help you change into and out of awkward chords more easily. We might even stray beyond the third fret!

The session runs on Thursday 26 February 2026 from 6.30pm.  Costs $15 for BUMS members and $20 for non-members (plus a small Member Jungle processing fee).

Requirements: Competent with chords.

Notes: When buying a ticket, remember to log in to the website if you are a member to ensure you get the 'member's price'. The Workshop is suitable for high and low G players and soprano, tenor and concert ukes.

Workshop 4 - Strummin' the beat - 1 x 1 hour workshop 

Learn how to strum with emphasis to add a percussive effect to your playing. Learn how different time signatures work. Learn that you don't have to strum all the strings all the time. Learn that you can use different strumming patterns in different parts of the same song.

The session runs on Thursday 5 March 2026 from 6.30pm.  Costs $15 for BUMS members and $20 for non-members (plus a small Member Jungle processing fee).

Requirements: Competent with chords

Notes: When buying a ticket, remember to log in to the website if you are a member to ensure you get the 'member's price'. The Workshop is suitable for high and low G players and soprano, tenor and concert ukes.

Email totallyinsaneukes@gmail.com if you have any queries about the workshops.