The Ukesters

Author: derumsj

  • 9/4/25 Information

    Hey Ukesters! It’s so good to be thinking about our upcoming reunion this Thursday! I’ve missed our regular sessions, but oh so happy with the outcome of our Ukulele 101 sessions! We have so many new smiling faces joining us! 

    Welcome to our newbies:Willodeen B, Terri C, Maddy D, Tammie D, Janet G, Betty H, Wanda M, Kathy N, Karen N, Regina S, Susan S, Sheila T, Cindy Y-DAnd we continue to welcome our not-so-new newbies: Bonnie B, Wilma B, Anne B, Kay G.


    Thanks so much to all of you vets who stepped in to help with the August sessions! I couldn’t have done it without your assistance. The newbies have already had their first performance; we had a great recording session for Play Music on the Porch Day last Thursday. Thank you also to the additional Ukesters who joined us for PMOTPD recording, too! I waited until Saturday to post to the official site and the vids/pics are attached to this email.
    Happy birthday to our Ukesters with September birthdays!

    • Terri 6
    • Cindy 23
    • Willodeen 27

    This week we’ll be working on music for the September performances and preparing for
    Monday, September 8-Greg Gent Day , 
    Saturday, September 13-Albertville Farmers Market 9-11 am 
    Thursday, September 18-Terrace Lakes 2 pm. 
    There’s no limit on participation numbers for either performance or the GG workshop; I encourage you all to come strum/sing! Details will be sent out the Sunday before each performance, but always plan to be there to set up 30 minutes prior to the play time listed. 

    We have two rehearsals, September 4 & 11, to prepare for the September performances. 

    Participants who have signed up as of today for the Farmers Market:

    1. Betty B
    2. Wilma
    3. Goodie
    4. Susan C
    5. Lisa
    6. Colleen
    7. Eddie
    8. Libby
    9. Linda
    10. Denise
    11. Carol W

    I’ll have a sign-up list for both the Farmers Market (we could use more!) and Terrace Lake on Thursday

    The playlists for the September 13 & 18 events will be chosen from this alphabetical list:

    1. Amazing Grace
    2. *Blame It on the Ukulele
    3. Caissons/American Medley
    4. California Dreamin’
    5. *Come Sing With Us
    6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
    7. Crocodile Rock
    8. *Eight Days a Week
    9. *Hello Mary Lou
    10. *Hound Dog/Blue Suede Shoes
    11. *I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
    12. I’ll Never Find Another You
    13. *Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
    14. *Lion Sleeps Tonight
    15. Love Medley Elvis
    16. Make Your Own Kind of Music
    17. Making Our Dreams Come True
    18. *Pineapple Princess
    19. *Sea Cruise
    20. Sing Your Way Home
    21. Sweet Caroline – Key of D
    22. Thank You for Being a Friend
    23. There’s a Kind of Hush
    24. Ukulele Road
    25. *We’re the Ukesters

    Those with * denote easier songs/fewer and less difficult chords. It would be a really good idea to put your music in alpha order so that you can switch between songs with ease.

    Also, there will be an “Open Mic” opportunity at the Farmers Market; I encourage any of you if you’re so inclined, to just do it! No pressure, good opportunity to get your feet wet doing open mic. 


    As always, there are copies available in the “extras” books at the library. If you get the last copy of a song, please let me know through text or email so that I can print more. Please don’t tell me during rehearsal…..I will forget! You can also find most of our songs on our website, Ukesters.org under Music 25, and on our Facebook page, The Ukesters! under the Files tab. Once in the files, you can click on “File Name” and it will arrange the titles in (almost) alphabetical order so you can find files easier. If all those methods fail, don’t hesitate to text, email, or call me and I will print you one and bring it to rehearsal. When we have a totally new song, I always have copies available.Shirts: 

    We will be discussing getting new shirts this fall that Johnny has (again) volunteered to make for us. I need all of you (minus the newbies that submitted your shirt size on your info form) to send me your t-shirt size. I will compile a list of everyone’s sizes so that when we get ready, Johnny will know how many of each size to order. Also, Johnny dropped off some shirts that he had left from previous printings with various colors/designs. There are mostly sizes S, M, and a couple of L available. There is no set price for the leftover shirts. If you want one, give what you can or think is fair. The money goes to our Ukester account that helps to fund our events. 

    Well, I think my novel is finished. LOL  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email, text, or call me. Hope to see you all Thursday, September 4, at the G’ville Public Library, 1-3 pm.

    Thank you for being a part of the Ukesters!

    Jennifer 

  • August Information

    Hey all, 

    Thanks for a great ending to our summer rehearsals and performances. Welcome to new members Tammie and Maddy!

    Happy birthday to our members with August birthdays! 

    4 Marilyn Wy

    7 Karen N

    This week starts our beginning ukulele lessons. 1-2:30 PM at the Guntersville Library. We have 17 signed up with the possibility of a couple more.  If you are interested in helping with the classes, please let me know. I will have materials to hand out and want to make sure I have enough for everyone. 

    If you’re not going to help but still want to strum regularly, the Mountain Valley Arts Council has graciously opened its doors for anyone who wants to strum at our regular time on Thursdays. Please send Cyndy an email to let her know you’re interested and will be attending. 

    September’s events:

    Saturday, September 13 – Albertville Farmers Market 9-11 am

    Thursday, September 18 – Terrace Lakes Assisted Living – 2pm

    There’s no limit on participation numbers for either event; I encourage you all to come strum/sing!

    Thanks to all of you who came out Friday to support Betty and Sand Mountain Jazz. What a fabulous benefit concert for a wonderful cause. I’ve attached the pics that we took. I know more of you were there…just didn’t come down for a photo.

    During August, I will NOT send out the regular weekly email, but will wait until the end of August to send out the information for September’s rehearsals and events. 

    See you in September….or this Thursday if you’re a newbie or helper.

    Jennifer

    P.S.—See You In September (Chord sheet available here)- We joked about this song at our last rehearsal because I won’t see many of you until September 4. Thought I’d send it out to you just for fun. We won’t be doing this song for a performance. 

    Play along with The Tempos for the first two verses, then they change keys…we don’t

    Probably a more familiar version is from The Happenings. It’s in a different key and has a few added lines.

  • New songs for July 31

    We tried “Will You Still Love Me” a few years ago. This is a new, improved version…maybe

    Play along with this YouTube Shirelles version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cENNxOOdytM&list=RDcENNxOOdytM&start_radio=1

    We Are Family is new to us-Play along with Sister Sledge with this YouTube version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpYgpF1bqQ&list=RDeBpYgpF1bqQ&start_radio=1

    See you tomorrow at 1:00!

    Chord sheets available on Music 25 Page.

  • July 31 information

    Hey all, thanks so much for a great showing Thursday at Lakeshore. What a great audience! And congrats to our “newbies” for experiencing their first outing with us! 

    This next Thursday (July 31) is our last time together until September, unless you are going to participate in the Ukulele classes in August, either as a newb or as a helper. If you’re a newbie and haven’t let me know you’re going to attend, please email or text me to confirm your spot. Also, let me know if you have your own ukulele or need to borrow one. If you’re a “vet” and want to help out, please let me know. We’re supposed to have 13 or more participants, so I can certainly use the help! We could also use some extra ukuleles to loan out. 

    If you’re a vet and don’t want to help, you have an opportunity to keep strumming together…..at a different location. Cyndy has offered to open the gallery at Mountain Valley Arts Council on Thursdays, at our regular time (1 pm), for anyone who wants to get together. The plan right now is to work on problem areas in songs, strumming patterns from the recent workshop, open mics, and sing-alongs.

    The next performance scheduled is at the Albertville Farmers Market on Saturday, September 13, 9am-11am. There will be three rehearsals, July 31, September 4, and September 11, to prepare for this event. I encourage all to participate and also to consider doing an “open mic” during the event. The only other performance in September will be at Terrace Lake Senior Living Community. Date TBD

    From Susan: Below is the menu needs list for the Greg Gent luncheon on Monday, September 8. Please let Susan know if you’re able to contribute any of the remaining items.

    The alphabetical playlist for this week, July 24, is:

    1. Amazing Grace
    2. Blame It on the Ukulele
    3. Caissons/American Medley
    4. California Dreamin’
    5. Come Sing With Us
    6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
    7. Crocodile Rock
    8. Eight Days a Week
    9. Hello Mary Lou
    10. Hound Dog/Blue Suede Shoes
    11. I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
    12. I’ll Never Find Another You
    13. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
    14. Lion Sleeps Tonight
    15. Love Medley Elvis
    16. Make Your Own Kind of Music
    17. Making Our Dreams Come True
    18. Pineapple Princess
    19. Sea Cruise
    20. Sing Your Way Home
    21. Sweet Caroline – Key of D
    22. Thank You for Being a Friend
    23. There’s a Kind of Hush
    24. Ukulele Road
    25. We’re the Ukesters 

    Questions? or concerns? Email or text me.

    Jennifer

  • July 24 information

    Hey Ukesters,

    Thank you all for a great gathering last Thursday! Lots of good stuff going on. 

    This week we will NOT have a regular rehearsal at the library, as we’ll be performing at Lakeshore Sr Living, (behind CrawMama’s) 5000 Launch St, Guntersville. Please arrive by 1:30 to set up, take a pic, and be ready to play at 2:00. Ukesters shirts with jeans or shorts. Newbies, I encourage you to participate with us, even if you want to just come sing. You can wear a mostly solid, bright-colored top and will fit right in!  It will be really laid back and no pressure, I promise. Or if you want to just come observe, that would be fine, too!

    The playlist for Lakeshore is:

    1. I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
    2. Hello Mary Lou
    3. California Dreamin’
    4. Eight Days a Week
    5. Making Our Dreams Come True
    6. Love Medley Elvis
    7. Coney Island Washboard
    8. Come Sing With Us
    9. Thank You for Being a Friend
    10. Amazing Grace

    If there’s a title you don’t have, please let me know by Wednesday  and I will have a copy for you.

    Participants for Lakeshore:

    1. Betty
    2. Karen B
    3. Wilma
    4. Goodie
    5. Susan C
    6. Lisa
    7. Mike
    8. Colleen
    9. Eddie
    10. Libby
    11. Linda
    12. Delores
    13. Jennifer
    14. Ted 
    15. Denise
    16. Kim
    17. Carol W
    18. Jacee
    19. Marilyn W

    Anyone else? We can take as many as we want; the more, the merrier! Let me know if you can join us.

    Future event: We’re planning a Saturday morning gathering soon at Moody Brews in downtown Guntersville for those who want to play in an “open mic” situation. More info to come. 

    Thank you all for being a Ukester! 

    Questions? or concerns? Email or text me.

    Jennifer

  • July 17 Information

    Hey Ukesters, thanks for another wonderful week of togetherness!Rehearsal was great Thursday! Welcome to new members Anne and Karen N! We hope you enjoyed your time with us and will continue to come play/sing with us.
    Thanks to all of you who showed up today for the EAA breakfast! What an adventure, and a profitable one! We received $67 in tips, $30 from a generous EAA member who shared his 50/50 raffle $ with us, and will find out soon what we made in the shared profit from EAA. Based on the crowd, we should do pretty well. Thanks again, worker bees: you really knocked it out of the park. Thanks also to those of you who came to eat to support the cause!
    This week will involve two events on Thursday:1) 16 of us will be playing for the MMC GoldCare at the Guntersville Rec Center at 11 and 2) regular rehearsal at 1:00 at the library. 

    A separate email will be sent to the MMC participants. The playlist below is for our rehearsal in preparation for the July 24 Lakeshore Senior Living event at 2 PM. I encourage EVERYONE(newbs included) to be a part of this event. 
    Alphabetical playlist for rehearsal Thursday, July 17:

    1. Amazing Grace
    2. American Medley
    3. California Dreamin’
    4. Come Sing With Us
    5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
    6. Eight Days a Week
    7. Hello Mary Lou
    8. Hound Dog/Blue Suede Shoes
    9. I’ll Never Find Another You
    10. I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
    11. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
    12. Love Medley Elvis
    13. Making Our Dreams Come True
    14. Marshmallow World – play along with Brenda Lee’s version with this YouTube link   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMkCI-n6eRY&list=RDfMkCI-n6eRY&index=1
    15. Pineapple Princess
    16. Sing Your Way Home
    17. Sweet Caroline – Key of D
    18. Thank You for Being a Friend
    19. We’re the Ukesters 

    There will be copies available at the library if you don’t have access to a printer. 

    Hope to see you all Thursday,

    Jennifer

  • 7-10-25 Practice Info

    Hey Ukesters,
    This week’s rehearsal will be spent working towards our July performances.
    Alphabetical playlist for rehearsal:

    1. Amazing Grace
    2. Chapel of Love
    3. Come Sing With Us
    4. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
    5. Eight Days a Week
    6. Hello Mary Lou
    7. I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
    8. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (attached-newly revised)
    9. Love Medley Elvis
    10. Making Our Dreams Come True
    11. Ode/Happy Birthday
    12. Sing Your Way Home
    13. Sweet Caroline (attached-new key of D)
    14. Thank You for Being a Friend
    15. We’re the Ukesters

    If you don’t have access to a printer to print your own copy, there are extra copies at our Thursday rehearsals.You can find lots of our music files on both the Ukesters FB page 

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/theukesters and our website: https://ukesters.net/. On the FB page, you can find pics and videos from the past few years under the “Media,” then “Albums” tabs and our music under the “Files” tab.  On the website, you can find our music by clicking on the “Music25” tab for the music we’re currently working on or “Practice” for recordings you can play along with. 

    We have 9 people signed up for the beginning ukulele class that starts August 7. Several of them will be attending our rehearsal this Thursday to hang out with us and see what a great bunch of people you all are. If you have an extra uke you’d be willing to loan out, please let me know. I think there are 3 or 4 who are in need. I will  need a few volunteers to help with the class in August so that everyone gets some individual help during the class. Let me know if you’re available.

    Cyndy has offered to open the MVAC gallery in August on Thursdays, our regular time, for anyone who is not helping with the beginner class and wants to get together with other Ukesters to play. The plan right now is to work on problem areas in songs, strumming patterns from the recent workshop, open mics, and sing-alongs. Email Cyndy to let her know you’ll be attending. 

    EAA breakfast is Saturday, July 12   Arrive at 7:30 am

    ***For those not cooking, please wear your Ukester shirt.

    Breakfast will be served from 9-10:30.

    Cost is $9.00 per plate.

    If you’re not one of the workers, come out and eat if you possibly can!  We split the proceeds with the EAA after the food is paid for. 

    Looking forward to seeing you all at rehearsal Thursday, July 10, at 1:00 at the Guntersville Public Library. Email, text, or call if you have any questions. 

    Jennifer 

  • Happy 4th

  • Free Beginner Lessons

  • 7-3-25 Information

    Hey all, just a few things:

    • The EAA breakfast is Saturday, July 12 (NOT this Saturday)
    • Our Ukester Eddie and his son need our prayers. They were involved in an incident last Sunday involving an excavator going over an 80′ bluff. They’re both okay, but Eddie hurt his hip and back and his son got scraped up. Both are healing well.
    • The participant list for Thursday, July 17, MMC Goldcare luncheon is below. If you are on the list and your plans have changed, please let me know. 
    1. Betty
    2. Karen B
    3. Goodie
    4. Johnny
    5. Lisa
    6. Gail
    7. Colleen
    8. Mike
    9. Renee
    10. Libby
    11. Delores
    12. Jennifer
    13. Ted
    14. Kim
    15. Cyndy
    16. Carol W
    17. Jacee
    18. Karen W
    19. Marilyn
    • Our other July event is Thursday, July 24, at Lakeshore Sr. Living. There is no limit to the number of participants.

    Hope to see you all at rehearsal Thursday, July 11! A playlist will be sent out Sunday. 

    Jennifer