UkeStuff Podcast

Earlier in 2024, host Chris Russell was asked some questions about ukulele education, and he chose to record those thoughts in a longer format rather than to attempt to respond on YouTube. He has been busy (see Episode 43), and did not get around to publicly sharing that Podcast, although he did share it privately … Continue reading Episode 42 – Some Questions About Ukulele Educat...

Melanie Doane is quietly one of the most influential people in the world of the ukulele. Daughter of J. Chalmers Doane (the educator who introduced a systematic ukulele program that spread throughout Canada), Melanie has had a rich career as a actress in musicals, as a Juno award winning musician in the pop scene, and … Continue reading Episode 41 – A Visit with Melanie Doane &#85...

In this episode, host Chris Russell visits with music educator and YouTube creator, David Gray. David is a primary music educator in the United Kingdom who has been creating wonderful resources on YouTube, and also is an associate of Octopus Ukulele. In this podcast, Chris and David talk about many issues, such as the differences … Continue reading Episode 40 – A Visit with David ...

Host Chris Russell has the opportunity to visit with Aaron and Nicole Keim from The Quiet American (their performing group) and Beansprout Musical Instruments (Their instrument company). Aaron and Nicole were raised in Wisconsin, slowly landed in the world of folk music, and then professionally located in Colorado and Oregon as they established an instrument … Continue reading Episode 39 &#8...

In this podcast, host Chris Russell visits with Mike McQueen, the owner of The Uke Republic in Austell, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta). The discussion covers a wide range of topics, including the history of The Uke Republic, some perspective from the sales side of the industry, and a lot of Mike’s entertaining personality and … Continue reading Episode 38 – A Visit with Mike McQueen (Th...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, we visit with Pete McCarty, the world’s greatest ukulele song leader. Pete lives in Memphis, Tennessee, and helped to found the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob. Pete has led song/jam sessions throughout the world, including at MUFM events in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Hawaii, and in the … Continue reading Episode 37 – A...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with Daniel Ho for the second of two podcasts, and the focus is more on education topics. Daniel is an ‘ukulele virtuoso, slack key guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, singer-songwriter, producer, audio engineer, and record company owner. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, twelve-time … Continue reading E...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with Daniel Ho for the first of two podcasts. Daniel is an ‘ukulele virtuoso, slack key guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, singer-songwriter, producer, audio engineer, and record company owner. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, twelve-time Grammy Award nominee, six-time Taiwanese Golden Melody Award … C...

Today was a day where I ended up discussing left handed ukulele playing as a teacher twice. First, at the Georgia Music Educators Association, and the later on Facebook. So I am clear, I allow my left handed students (in 5th grade at the point) to decide if they want to play right handed, left … Continue reading Episode 34 – Best Practice with Left Handed Ukulele Players →

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with one of the main catalysts for the current “Third Wave” of the ukulele, Jim Beloff. Jim has created 36 music books, three other books on ukulele, twelve audio recordings, five DVDs, two classical works for ukulele, one of the oldest and most respected … Continue reading Episode 33 – UKEtopia! A visit wit...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with one of the main catalysts for the current “Third Wave” of the ukulele, Jim Beloff. Jim has created 36 music books, three other books on ukulele, twelve audio recordings, five DVDs, two classical works for ukulele, one of the oldest and most respected … Continue reading Episode 32 – UKEtopia! A visit wit...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with ukulele teacher and player Uncle Rod Higuchi. Rod was originally from Hawaii before coming to the mainland United States for college and then a career as a pastor, in the Christian Book industry, and as a school administrative assistant. In the world of … Continue reading Episode 31 – A visit with Uncle Rod Higuchi...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell visits with ukulele teacher and player Uncle Rod Higuchi. Rod was originally from Hawaii before coming to the mainland United States for college and then a career as a pastor, in the Christian Book industry, and as a school administrative assistant. In the world of … Continue reading Episode 30 – A visit with Uncle Rod Higuchi...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, Chris Russell visits with Spencer Gay, creator of the resources at ukeeducation.org. The episode discusses Spencer’s journey to the ukulele, his experience with the James Hill Ukulele Initiative, his ukulele brand (Barefoot Ukuleles), how he came to create his resources, and a tour of his website and all … Continue reading Episode 29 – A v...

In this episode, Chris Russell (host) interviews Matt Cantlon from Aloha City Ukes, a ukulele specialist store located in the Chicago Area. You can find Aloha City Ukes at: http://www.alohacityukes.com ************************************************ You are invited to visit the UkeStuff blog/website, ukestuff.info (a free resource).  You can also find UkeStuff on social media: Twitter (@UkeStuff)...

In edition of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell discusses a wide range of topics while stringing up a 3D Printed Ukulele for the first time. The index of topics is: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 3D printed travel ukuleles 04:39 Flight TUSL-KIDZ Ukulele 08:00 Oasis strings 08:47 Some favorite ukulele tools 09:26 Channel updates 10:27 Beads … Continue reading Episode 27 – Playing a 3D...

After 11 months, 1000 subscribers, and 4000 total view hours, my ukulele channel was finally able to be monetized. This is a summary of how things went that first month–which gives you a great perspective on how hard it would be to make a living on YouTube. This is a hobby for me, so I’m … Continue reading Episode 26 – (Insider Info)How Much I’m Making on YouTube Afte...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, Chris Russell (host) visits with five of the creators of ukulele play along videos: Kris Gilbert, Andy Ramos, Daniel Simmons, Wesley Stevenson, and Rachel Webley. Daniel Simmons: youtube.com/danielsimmonsAndy Ramos: youtube.com/andyramosRachel Webley: youtube.com/ukulaliensukuleleclub, youtube.com/ukulelewales http://ukulele.wales Wesley Stevenson: Music wi...

In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, Chris Russell (host) discusses a number of things including why it has been a while since a podcast was published, different ways to market a channel or website with apparel and accessories, and what some of his “dream” ukuleles are. The ukuleles used in the podcast episode are … Continue reading It’s been a while! (Episode 24)...

Episode 23 of the UkeStuff Podcast In this podcast (video and audio available) I discuss the ukulele-related items that I received this Christmas. Video created (and audio exported) on the iPad Pro using Luma Fusion.  Motion video background from https://www.motionbolt.com  Check out the UkeStuff Podcast, where I talk about ukulele education and my own ukulele … Continue reading The “U...

The UkeStuff Podcast, Episode 21! After the 2019 Wisconsin Music Education Conference – November 2019 Welcome to the 22nd Episode of the UkeStuff Podcast! Links: Peripole: http://www.peripole.com Luna Guitars (and Ukuleles): lunaguitars.com Enya: enya-music.com Jowoom Smart Tuner: http://www.jowoom.com Ukefarm Fonts: http://www.ukefarm.com Baritone Resources: -baritoneukulele.net -pdfminstre...

The UkeStuff Podcast, Episode 21! In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Chris Russell, a music educator who has integrated ukulele into his teaching, discusses a number of topics–basically an opportunity to catch up on a number of things that have occurred since the last episode of the podcast in July! The topics include … Continue reading Thoughts from Fall 2019 →

UkeStuff Podcast Episode 20! In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, Chris talks about his ukulele observations from Summer NAMM 2019. The video podcast on YouTube includes some additional pictures of some of the things that he saw. Check out the UkeStuff Podcast which discusses ukulele in education and more. Available on Radio Public, Apple … Continue reading Back from Summer NAMM 201...

Ukestuff Podcast Episode 19! In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, Chris visits with the Ukulele Sisters, authors of the 21 Ukulele Song Series and the Ukulele for All method book. The Ukulele Sisters have provided a special page where you can download 10 free songs in the Key of F by going to: http://www.ukulele.io/podcast … Continue reading A Visit with the Ukulele Sisters! →

Episode 18 of the newly renamed UkeStuff Podcast! In this episode of the UkeStuff Podcast, host Christopher J. Russell, Ph. D. discusses the new name change to the podcast, talks about several new products that he will be reviewing soon, discusses the completed transfer of videos from his old YouTube site to two different channels, the … Continue reading July 2019 – Channel News &...