Stuart facilitates his innovative music workshops across the USA and abroad for schools, music festivals, hospitals, day care centers, corporate team building events, universities, yoga centers and for special needs populations. Stuart brings over twenty years of classroom and college teaching experience to his teaching artististry and can custom tailor a program to fit your needs.
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Stuart's ukulele workshops are available for your uke club or festival. Sessions are available for learning specific skills, musical genres and Stu's own ukulele orchestra arrangements. Please scroll down this page to read all the offerings available.
“Many artists give workshops and concerts. Stu Fuchs aka “Stukulele” stands out among them adding wit, intelligence, charm and ease to his teaching and playing style. Plenty of take-away for both beginners and advanced players. Pittsburgh wants him back!”
- Marlene Parrish, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steel City Ukuleles
All Workshops can be customized for your group's needs
Ukulele Zen: Get Rhythm!
This workshop will give ukulele players of ALL experience levels a rock solid foundation in ukulele strumming and rhythm. Ukulele players from a beginning to an advanced level will benefit from the focus on a holistic and effortless “Ukulele Zen technique". You’ll play lots of fun songs and learn many all purpose grooves, deepen your rhythmic sensibilities and improve your tone and timing. In addition you’ll learn great tips for both right & left hands - teachings that can quickly remove roadblocks and help your music to flow in a more natural way.
Stuart's fun & compassionate teaching style is based upon his own method of "Ukulele Zen", a path of holistic music education that uses simple and accessible practices from the wisdom traditions of yoga, meditation & qigong.
Stu has practiced mindfulness meditation for over two decades and has facilitated these techniques at retreats, festivals and holistic centers worldwide. They work and they are FUN!
"Ukulele Zen" has helped thousands of people cultivate good technique through a focus on body alignment, breathing & relaxation techniques - all of which create a deep & joyful workshop atmosphere of supportive community, deeper musicality, and a non-judgmental mindset for your music journey.
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
Rockabilly for the Ukulele: “Uke-a-billy”
Go cat go!!! In this workshop Stu Fuchs will teach rockabilly & classic rock n’ roll guitar styles adapted for ukulele. You’ll play classic songs and learn to make your ukulele emulate style of rockabilly rhythm & lead playing. We’ll play songs from Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Beatles and more. You’ll come away with a deep understanding of 12 bar blues form, pentatonic riffs, and how to decorate your strumming with boogie-woogie stylings that are guaranteed to get toes -a-tappin! Stu orchestrates the group into a super fun multi-part band.
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
Reggae & Calypso for Ukulele: Grooves from the Heart
The music of the Caribbean is a GREAT way to solidify and refine the basics of Ukulele strumming while exploring new syncopated rhythmic terrain. Award-winning ukulele teaching artist Stu Fuchs will show you how to play the joyful Caribbean grooves of Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady and Calypso.
This workshop is all about learning to groove better - You'll learn lots of fun and uplifting songs, new syncopated rhythms & strums, melodic riffs, and level up on your rhythm & coordination.
Stu's fun, caring & holistic teaching style of "Ukulele Zen" make his workshops a not-to-be missed experience. You'll come away with new skills & powerful practice tips to help deepen your music journey.
Be prepared to have a blast getting into the groove! |
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
The Life & Music of Chuck Berry (Rock n Roll Uke!)
Chuck Berry (1926-2017) has been called the father of rock n’ roll - he was a true musical pioneer whose fiery guitar playing and innovative songwriting blended rhythm & blues, soul, and swing into an entirely new and exciting style of American music. In this very fun workshop you’ll play lots of great songs from Chuck Berry’s deep catalogue and apply Stu’s “Uke-a-billy” method to give your ukulele playing that classic Rock n’ roll style & edge. You’ll learn new rhythms, song forms and learn tricks to improve your ability to strum and sing at the same time. In addition, you’ll learn several of Chuck Berry’s awesome lead guitar intro riffs and hot solo licks - and how to use them to take a rock n’ roll solo! It’s easier than you think! As Chuck once said, ”It’s Rock n’ roll, not rocket science”. As we play tunes, you’ll also gain an insight into the creative ways Chuck Berry weaves storytelling and rhythm & blues to help create the style of Rock n Roll music.
“If you tried to give Rock n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’ ” - John Lennon.
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
Fingerpicking Fundamentals for Ukulele
The ukulele was made for fingerpicking and can make your ukulele sing! In this workshop Stu will share tips and secret techniques he’s learned over a lifetime of classical and finger style guitar study. You’ll learn many useful patterns for accompanying your songs and serve as a foundation for solo playing. Stu will also share exercises and shortcuts for developing effortless finger style technique, flexibility and good tone as you play fun and easy to learn songs.
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
Ukulele stunts & four string circus tricks
Be prepared to laugh—this workshop is a ton of fun! Participants will learn many of the “ukulele stunts” from vaudeville ukulele master Roy Smeck “The Wizard of the Strings". When placed with the right timing, these ukulele tricks can add a great deal of showmanship to a performance and bring a lot of joy to everyone around you! You’ll be tossing, spinning, and even rowing a boat, with your ukes—all while playing music. In addition to learning stunt ukulele from Stuart, participants will create their own imaginative ukulele tricks and stunts. Don’t worry - no ukuleles will be harmed during this workshop!
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, beginner to advanced.
"ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...and a Ukulele” - A Beatles Immersion
Do you love the ukulele? Do you love the music of the Beatles? Then this is the event for you!
The music of the Beatles and the ukulele are like peanut butter and jelly; they simply belong together. Is it that John Lennon played a ukulele? Perhaps it's because George Harrison often kept his car's trunk full of ukes so he'd be prepared for a spontaneous uke jam with friends! Whatever the reason, it's clear that the music of the Fab Four fits perfectly onto the fab four strings of the ukulele.Over the course of this fun & soul satisfying workshop, renowned ukulele teacher and performer Stuart Fuchs will lead a spirited and deep immersion into the music of the Fab Four. By studying the music of the Beatles you'll gain an understanding of many genres of music including blues, rockabilly, RnB, Soul and their own original style of songwriting.
You'll play Beatles' tunes from the band's early and late period with easy-to-play ukulele band arrangements. Stu has created his own arrangement with different parts to accommodate all levels of playing ability. Stu also teaches some of the most famous riffs and melodies, and shares fascinating facts and stories about the band's legendary history.
This workshop is open to beginners and up - some basic experience playing ukulele is recommended.
"While my Uke Gently Weeps” - Beatles Chord Solos
In this workshop, Stuart Fuchs will share his own easy arrangements of Beatles songs set to chord melody style style. Participants in this workshop will join together in a Ukulele orchestra of classic Beatles tunes. Played individually, these solos are always a hit at open mics & jam sessions. The arrangements will be for songs from both the early and late Beatles discography.
This workshop is open to INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED players
“The Uke in Black” - A Johnny Cash Ukulele Jam
Johnny Cash was arguably one of the most influential American songwriters of the 20th century. While he is often remembered as a country music icon, his music and poetry embraces blues, gospel, cowboy ballads, rock n’ roll and railroad songs. In this workshop we’ll play & sing many of Cash’s most celebrated songs in addition to many less known “deep cuts”. You will improve your sense of groove & timing through country & blues strumming patterns, and learn to sing as you play with greater ease. In addition we’ll learn many of the delightfully tawngy lead lines of his lead guitarist Luther Perkins that characterized Johnny Cash’s classic Sun Records sound. NOTE: Nearly every song in this workshop has just three chords (who needs more?).
This workshop is open to beginners and up - some basic experience playing ukulele is recommended.
"A Funky Uke Time" - Funky rhythms for the Ukulele
To quote the great James Brown..."ALRIGHT!!!" Get down & funky in this very fun class...old school funk ain’t nothin’ but a party! In this Ukulele playshop you’ll learn solid rhythmic groove & feel, chunking, funky riffs, & those jazzy 7th, 9th, & 13th chords . Stuart will demystify 16th note “scratch strums”—all of which use left hand muting for easier technique & better rhythmic articulation. This left hand technique applies to ALL styles of music but is very important in FUNK! Participants will learn classic songs from James Brown, soul & hip hop.
This workshop is open to beginners and up - some basic experience playing ukulele is recommended.
Ukulele FUNdamentals: A beginner's class in musical techniques
The ukulele is enjoying worldwide revival - come learn to play the “Jumping Flea” in this fun workshop! Stuart has facilitated ukulele classes across the globe and with his playful techniques for learning you’ll surprised by how much fun you can have while while learning. As a group we will jam on some very fun songs from a treasury of fun and easy tunes - many with just two or three chords!
This workshop is for ukulele enthusiasts of ALL LEVELS. While this session is geared for beginners, there will be plenty of great takeaways for more experienced players who would like to go deeper into their study of the uke and music in general.
Stu's decades of experience in teaching will get set on the right track for your ukulele journey. You'll receive a big boost to your ukulele playing as we review many of the fundamentals of strumming, rhythm, chords, how make practicing more fun and effective - and more! By the end of this session you'll understand how to play with greater coordination, speed, tone and a relaxed control of your playing.
In this workshop Stu will also lead the group through a sequence of his "Ukulele Zen" exercises that will strengthen & improve the flexibility in your hands and fingers. These unique exercises will help you play your ukulele in an ergonomic way and lead to a pleasing tone, playing single string melody lines, and more. You'll sharpen your ears and your playing through simple and highly effective holistic practice techniques that Stu has used for decades.
This workshop is open to ALL LEVELS - beginning beginner and up.
Chord Melody: Solo Ukulele Arrangements Demystified
This class will teach you several easy to play chord melody arrangements for the ukulele. We’ll learn the nuts and bolts of how to create a solo piece, giving you the skills needed to create your own solo ukulele arrangements of your favorite tunes. With warmth & humor, Stuart will share his unique and holistic tips on improving your finger style accompaniment, single note picking and strumming will all be shared as we learn fun arrangements of classic songs.
This class will be best enjoyed by players who are not beginning beginners - a general knowledge of the basics of ukulele playing is recommended.
"Ukulele Zen Meditation Class”: Making music making EASY with ancient wisdom traditions
Stuart credits much of his musical growth to his two decades long practice of Yoga and Meditation. For this workshop experience he draws from traditions of Hatha Yoga, Buddhist mindfulness training, and Chinese Qigong practice to assist players of all levels in awakening their highest musical potential.
In each session, Stuart shares many of the ancient techniques of yoga practice and how to apply it to their Ukulele playing (or to any instrument). The class is led through a simple & gentle series of stretches, breathing exercises and meditations that will improve muscle and tendon health and bring your focus to the present moment. By cultivating focused attention and effortless action, yogic techniques help musicians to play with greater ease & clarity.
When practiced regularly these techniques will improve your body awareness & enable you experience deep relaxation while playing, eliminate playing tension, increase the effectiveness of your practice time, and free your mind from repetitive habits of thought that can sabotage the creative process.
We will apply these techniques to some simple songs, scales & strums that will be suitable for players of any level.
“Ukulele Zen” is also a retreat program offered at holistic centers such as the Omega Institue in Upstate NY.
Ukulele Zen is open to absolutely everyone & no previous experience in Yoga or special clothing is required.
This workshop is open to ALL LEVELS of player - beginning beginners and up. NOTE: Kindly refrain from wearing heavy perfumes or colognes during this class to help avoid distraction when practicing breathing excersies.
A Ukulele Zen Masterclass: Questions and answers on how to practice joyfully
According to traditional definitions:
“A music master class is different than other music classes in the way it is set up. In a “master class”, the students (and often spectators) watch and listen as the master takes one student at a time. The student then performs a single piece which they have prepared, and the master will give the, advice on how to play it - often including anecdotes about the composer and genre, demonstrations of how to play certain passages, and correction of technical errors. The student is then usually expected to play the piece again, in light of the masters comments, and the student may be asked to play a passage repeatedly in order to improve towards perfection of the passage. The value of the master class setup is that the entire audience can benefit from the master’s comments on each piece.”
Yikes! Sounds serious - but it's not! This traditional definition applies to classical music studies, but for this master class, Stuart would like to offer something different. This masterclass will be set up in a similar format and be just as meaningful - however he will guide the experience in a relaxed light hearted way fitting of a Ukulele experience.
The word practice can mean many things - sometime mis interpreted as a chore, or something we “have to do”. Stuart Fuchs’s definition of practice is to create an oasis of “gentle repetition - with kindness, attention, and focused listening”. Stuart will share with you many practice techniques gained over a lifetime of musical studies at the feet of several master teachers of classical and rock guitar, music theory, jazz improvisation, african drumming, didjeridoo, and of course...the ukulele! In this workshop, you’ll learn powerful practice methods to streamline and simplify the learning process making it easier to learn ANYTHING. You'll develop deep listening, how to strengthen the mind/body connection and command even the most subtle of coordination. We’ll use songs and music examples that will be open to players of all levels - beginner to advanced.
Prior to becoming a Ukulele artist, Stuart was a self taught rock guitar player. During his college years and beyond he studied Classical Guitar, African Drumming, Yoga, Didjeridoo, Gypsy Jazz and Free Improvisation with master teachers. His experience working as a professional performer, teaching artist, theater pit musician, arranger and composer gives him a unique perspective on how to streamline the learning process and how to engage in “super learning”.
Stuart’s masterclass will offer detailed advice on how to play difficult Ukulele music, while showing both the participants and spectators how they can go about creating a self nourishing practice routine that offers more than mere “improvement” - illuminating how their artistic path something that enriches their entire life. Please be prepared to share something, or just be a part of the audience to watch & learn!
Open to ALL LEVELS of player, but can be modified to be more advanced upon request