My name is Gerry Long.
I am a retired professional musician and music professor (woodwinds), who got hooked on the uke in my retirement about 7 years ago.
I belong to a large group here in Corona del Mar, Ca -- about 75 to 90 strummers who meet each week. Our most celebrated member is Bill Tapia, who became 100 years old on Jan. 1. I also teach uke classes here in Corona del Mar, and in Huntington Beach, and Laguna Woods, Ca.
Because of my background in music theory, jazz, arranging, teaching, etc., I have started a series of helpful articles for uke players entitled "UKE-TIPS", which I send to an email list of about 500 names.
The 'TIPS are free of charge, and are based on what I have learned about chords, chord progressions, and other practicing, performing and arranging principles over the years. Applying these principles to the uke have enabled me to make some rapid progress on the instrument. For example, one of my UKE-TIPS articles is entitled: "Learning 24 new chords in 5 minutes".
If anyone would like to get on my mail list they need only submit there email address to me at gerrylong@cox.net. There is, of course, and "opt out" option on each issue of the 'TIPS, should one decide not to receive them. They will be coming out about every three weeks.
I have also self-published a beginning chord-solo book for which I have a web-site www.ukesolos.com. Have a look at it. James Hill recorded all the solos in my book, and you can hear him play five of them on the web site.
The ukulele movement is a marvelous development world wide, and we are all fortunate to participate in it at a time when there are such great artists as Jake Shimabukuro, James Hill, Lyle Ritz, and many others. Enjoy.
Gerry Long
Newport Beach, Ca.