Gaithersburg Ukefest

01/23/2025

As we approach the 2-year anniversary of our last and final ukulele festival, Nani Lowery and I were reminiscing about all the awesome people we met in the worldwide ukulele community. The three in-person festivals took place in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and the online/virtual festival events took place in 2020 and 2021. The online/virtual ukulele events included 154 online ukulele workshops, and 34 performer showcases, featuring ukulele artists/instructors from around the globe.

At the present time our family could really benefit from words of encouragement. Sharing your memories with us would mean a lot to us at the time!

Did you take part in any of these events? What events did you attend? In what ways did the event(s) encourage you, and/or help you progress in your ukulele journey?

Mahalo for your reply!

07/07/2024

Yesterday was my 60th birthday! Thank you to all those who wished me well. Today our 2016 Kia Soul turned 100,000 …miles that is!

05/11/2024

Thursday, June 6th! Great workshop opportunity!! Email [email protected] if you are interested in attending this workshop.

12/23/2023

Aloha,

We are offering an excellent workshop to kick off the New Year!

Here are a a few reminders regarding our monthly workshop offerings:

All Patrons get to attend for free, regardless of their tier support level. To find out more, go to https://www.patreon.com/IslandJoyMusic?fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Non-patrons pay $20 per workshop, of which $12.50 goes to the instructor

For the registration fee you receive access to the Zoom meeting, any notes provided, and a video recording of the workshop within 3-5 business days.

To register, reply to this email and you will get a PayPal request for payment for the fee amount.

Matthew Quilliam Bio: Sometime in mid-2011, a young boy picked up his first ukulele, quickly becoming fascinated with the instrument. 12 years later Matthew Quilliam became the first person to use the ukulele for an entire music degree, graduating in 2023 with first class honours.
Thanks to his life-long connection and expertise with the instrument, he has developed a wide skill set and a popular range of shows, whilst showing no signs of slowing down. What are other ukulele greats saying about Matthew?

“One of the most hard working, adaptive, versatile and complete ukulele players on the scene”

Samantha Muir, ukulele PhD doctorate, 2023

“One day soon, you’ll be up there with the greats of the ukulele”

Peter Moss, international professional ukulele player, 2021

12/03/2023

This workshop promises to be a fun one! Get in the holiday spirit with this virtual trip “across the pond”. Mari US will be certain to broaden your knowledge of the world of ukulele with his unique style of teaching. You could register yourself, or gift a registration to a friend of yours in the ukulele community. Send your request to: [email protected]

12/03/2023

Natalie Ai in Kona.

11/15/2023

Great Opportunity!

Get more from Island Joy Music on Patreon

11/14/2023

Get more from Island Joy Music on Patreon

11/13/2023

We would love to build up the Island Joy Music e-mail distribution list. Those folks who receive email from us keep apprised of upcoming monthly workshops. The typical cost for these is $20, and includes the video recording afterwards. If you become a patron of Island Joy Music (at any level), you are invited to all workshops at no additional costs. Go to Patreon.com, and put Island Joy Music in the search area to find us!

Aloha,

In our transition from Gaithersburg UkeFest to Island Joy Music, we needed to create then build a new e-mail distribution list. We’re specifically looking for those in the ukulele community who might be interested in joining in on monthly or bimonthly online events, such as online workshops or possibly concerts. If you would like to be in the know by being on the e-mail distribution list, private message us with your name and email address. You could also email us at [email protected]. Mahalo!!

08/16/2023

Here is a wonderful opportunity to brush up on your fingerstyle technique, or take the first steps in this adventure. Natasha is an excellent teacher, and you’re sure to learn some practical skills to improve your playing ability.

If you would like to register, email [email protected], and we’ll send you a PayPal request for payment. Once payment is received you will be registered, and you will receive the Zoom login information 3-5 days prior to the day of the workshop. Mahalo!

07/29/2023

Nani Lowery at a Happy Hour.