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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/danielsimmons
Andy Ramos: youtube.com/andyramos
Rachel Webley: youtube.com/ukulaliensukuleleclub, youtube.com/ukulelewales http://ukulele.wales
Wesley Stevenson: Music with Moustro (youtube.com/wesleylamont)
Kris Gilbert: YouTube Kris the Uke Chick Gilbert

Daniel Simmons: COVID-19 Projects:

• Thank You Healthcare Workers.  Wesley (Moustro) is playing piano on the first song. https://youtu.be/PnG1dWA4P6E 
• Thank You to All Essential Workers.  Rachel is playing U-Bass on it.  https://youtu.be/xcLI0VomiF8

Video Creation Tools

• PowerPoint
• Keynote
• iMovie (Mac)
• Filmora (PC)
• LumaFusion (iOS)
• Final Cut Pro (Mac)
• Logic Pro X (Mac)
• Omnigraffle (Mac)
• Chordette Font (ukefarm.com)
• Little Kids Rock
• Audacity
• Time involved 1 hour to multiple days
• Break down the math based on the tempo of the song and the frequency of chord changes

The Favorite Play Along Video Each Person Has Created:

• Dan: Memory from Cats https://youtu.be/Cpxk2-WmEj0
• Andy: Traditional Spanish songs
• Rachel: Time Warp https://youtu.be/doq7NErqCoU Mama Mia https://youtu.be/d7g9Yz_gDD0
• Wesley: Look for the Good https://youtu.be/8lwx2FQ09dc Uptown Girl: https://youtu.be/QeQR0eUFhl8
• Kris: Sucker https://youtu.be/-0Uv2W8WBJc  House of Gold            A Million Dreams https://youtu.be/0_auBl2YMEQ 
• Chris: Lost Boy https://youtu.be/fM0UsV6P7vk

Advice for People Who Use Your Videos

• Not a replacement for the teacher, it’s duplicating the teacher (classroom setting)
• Split songs in groups and have small groups play specific chords (classroom setting)
• Gear icon…change the speed
• You don’t need to play the exact chords you see
• We choose our chords for specific reasons
• Don’t be frightened to push students at school (classroom setting)
• Don’t expect people to play things the first time through
• The whole point is to show you how long to play a chord
• Break it down like any lesson (classroom setting)
• Important practice tool: https://www.youloop.io 
• Many videos do not show strumming patterns due to differentiation
• It’s not always beginning to end
• You can have students strum at different levels in each class
• Fingerpicking is a choice, too
• At times, we may choose to simplify our chords for our audience

What Are Some Pet-Peeves of Making Videos, Comments, Etc.

• The “What’s the strumming pattern?” question
• “How does the song go?”
• “Can you do this for Baritone Ukulele or Guitar?”
• “Can you provide the tabs for this?”
• When you create a video and it is blocked worldwide
• Ignore the strumming because someone else will answer it
• “Dislike” because they dislike the song…why are you watching it then?
• “The videos are too fast.”
• “There’s no ukulele in this song.”
• “Your chords are wrong” (errantly reading Baritone version)

Song suggestions: http://www.tricider.com/brainstorming/2T8hS5LclQV

The Top 10 Ukulele Play Along Videos (as of May 2020)

• 10 – Lost Boy (Chris)
• 9 – This Is Me (Chris)
• 8 – Lava (Andy)
• 7 – Hallelujah (Dr. Reese)
• 6 – Count On Me (Dr. Reese)
• 5 – I’m Yours (Rachel)
• 4 – Rewrite the Stars (Chris)
• 3 – I’m Yours (Dr. Reese)
• 2 – Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Rachel)
• 1 – All of Me (Dr. Reese)

Advice for People Who Want to Make Videos

• Pick music you connect with or your students connect with; be authentic with who you are
• Many of us are offering professional development to other teachers and people who will create videos
• We do have a Facebook Group, Ukulele Video Play Alongs
• Just go for it
• It gets addicting!
• Make sure you are familiar with the software
• Give yourself grace
• Start with something easier
• Don’t just buy into what is popular