Series: Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Hal Leonard; Pap/Com edition (September 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0634079794
ISBN-13: 978-0634079795
Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.2 x 12 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #259,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #58 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Songbooks > Guitars & Fretted Instruments > Ukuleles #119 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Instruments > Strings > Ukuleles #288 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Songbooks > Strings
And tell Tchaikovsky the news: The Classical Ukulele turns the popular perception of this little, four-string instrument as a toy or musikalischer spass on its head. This book/CD collection presents serious music for the perennially whimsical ukulele and the promise of some serious fun for those players looking to stretch their abilities and fulfill their latent musical talent. The music is presented in both standard notation and tablature so it's not necessary to read music to learn these beautiful classics. All the pieces - from Bach and Beethoven to Scott Joplin - are supplied with generous fingering instructions as well as historical notes and helpful tips. The recording, done with a bottom-of-the-line production ukulele (you won't need a vintage Martin to sound great), is absotutely faithful to every note and rest in the written score. The recording - both the performance and technical apparatus - is first rate and I often find myself just listening to the recording for the sheer pleasure of it. Mr. King is a musician first and I seldom think about the instrument he is playing when I have the CD on in the background. But the music flows forth unstintingly in freshets of rippling, shimmering notes. I like this set because it delivers 64 pages of well-loved, professionally engraved pieces in a graphic format that is easy to comprehend and will challenge the skill and intellect of the player. Now all we have to do is convince Mr. King to do a book of Chuck Berry transcriptions for an encore!
Being new to the ukulele I thought I would find John Kings book hard but quite the opposite. Unlike the guitar where I could read the music when playing here I needed to use the symbols. After a while it becomes really easy with the symbols. He has a good selection in this book and the arrangements are carefully designed to lie under the fingers. I would recommend this book as an antedote to anyone who thinks that the ukulele is simply a 'strumming' instrument.
This is a wonderful value for any ukulele player. Not only does it contain John King's transcriptions of these great pieces in both musical notation and string and fret numerical notation, it comes with a CD of him playing these pieces.The notation on the pieces is easy enough that a rank beginner like myself can follow them. What a thrill it was to receive the package and be able to begin playing Bach, Chopin, and the traditional Japanese song 'Sakura' right away.The CD is also very beautiful to listen to.Overall a great package for any ukulele player interested in expanding their playing horizons.
This is a treasured collection of some of John King's classical and traditional pieces arranged for ukulele. Sadly, John recently passed away. He left us these precious transcriptions so now we can follow in his unusual footsteps,using the ukulele to play moving lines of melody and harmony, much as the classical guitar is used. The uke sounds beautiful and harplike when played by John. You can see and hear him on Youtube. I look forward to many hours of enjoyment playing the pieces in this book.
Excellent book. Not easy but with practice you will be well rewarded. As a casual player, playing these technical pieces has my highlighted my sloppy finger placement among other things and has forced me a become a better uke player. A bit of history is given about each piece presented and some technical notes that will help the player. That, combined with the CD and overall quality of the book makes it a must have and a great gift if you don't know what to get your favorite uker. I will definitely be ordering a few more of the Jumpin Jim series in the future.
This is a great book for playing classical music on the Ukelele! - although it is thought for more experienced/advanced players -.For beginners to intermediate uke players I recommend Easy Classical Ukulele Solos: Featuring music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and other composers. In Standard Notation and TAB,a book of classical arrangements for Ukulele, that features the greatest classical hits in a simple way: 1812 Overture, A Little Night Music, The Blue Danube, Bridal Chorus, La Donna é Mobile, Dance of the Flowers, Für Elise, Greensleeves, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Jesu, Joy of Man Desiring, Land of Hope and Glory and some more. Another great choice.
John King plays ukulele like a virtuoso violinist plays a violin, and the result is pretty much the same. Wonderful music. The Campanella style works really well on uke, and the tones ring wonderfully. On the more chordal pieces, his technique is enough to carry them off. I can recall playing the Chopin Prelude on piano when I was a piano student. To hear it on ukulele is amazing. The tab and notes are well done, and I can see they will present a real challenge. If you can finally play some of these wonderful arrangements, you have arrived as a ukulele player. If you love good classical music, well performed, grab this set. If you play ukulele and you don't have this set, you are an idiot.
I bought this about 2 years ago, when I came back from Hawaii with a new Nalo Acoustic Concert Ukulele. I have not played it much and because of this request for a review on this book, I found the book again and listen to the CD and read the music. I understand that music score now with the TAB for the Ukulele and the Guitar. It will be fun to practice with now. My wife and I are practicing the Ukulele and from all the books I have been able to read and understand this book. Now I have more music that I can practice with and try to get better. John is an outstanding performer and great teacher.
John King - The Classical Ukulele (Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters) The Daily Ukulele (Fakebook) (Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Songbooks) Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Tips 'N' Tunes: Ukulele Technique The Daily Ukulele Leap Year Edition (Fake Book) (Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Songbooks) From Lute To Uke: Early Music For Ukulele (Book/Cd Package) (A Jumpin Jim's Ukulele Songbook) Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Gems: Ukulele Solo The Daily Ukulele - Leap Year Edition: 366 More Songs for Better Living (Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Songbooks) The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living (Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Songbooks) Ukulele Song Book 1 & 2 - 50 Folk Songs With Lyrics and Ukulele Chord Tabs - Bundle of 2 Ukulele Books: Folk Songs (Ukulele Songs) Modern Masters, Vol. 7: John Byrne (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)) Essential Elements for Ukulele - Method Book 1: Comprehensive Ukulele Method (Ukulele Ensemble) Ukulele Song Book 3 - 20 Jazz Standards with Lyrics & Ukulele Chord Tabs (Ukulele Songs 1) Ukulele Song Book: Ukulele Christmas Song Book I - 20 Christmas & Holiday Songs with Lyrics, Chords and Chord Tabs: Christmas Songs (Ukulele Song Books Strum and Sing 1) Music Theory - Ukulele Chord Theory - Circle of Fifths Fully Explained and application to Ukulele Playing (Learn Ukulele Book 1) Ukulele Christmas Song Books 1 & 2 - 40 Holiday Songs with Lyrics and Ukulele Chord Tabs - Bundle of 2 Books: Holiday Songs (Ukulele Christmas Songs) 21 Songs in 6 Days: Learn to Play Ukulele the Easy Way: Ukulele Songbook (Learn Ukulele the Easy Way) Jim Henson's Storyteller: Dragons (Jim Henson's the Storyteller) Jim Henson's Storyteller: Witches (Jim Henson's the Storyteller) John Deere: Plow, Plant, Grow (John Deere (Parachute Press)) (John Deere (DK Hardcover)) Digital Painting Techniques: Practical Techniques of Digital Art Masters (Digital Art Masters Series)