Ithaca Ukes

About Us

Ithaca Ukes is a club of ukulele enthusiasts in Ithaca, NY and beyond. Started by Robbert van Renesse and Emoretta Yang from a ukulele workshop during Ithaca's first Porchfest in 2008, Ithaca Ukes have marched in the Ithaca Festival parade, played for the Cayuga Waterfront Trail's Water Music and the Holiday Fair at the former Neighborhood Pride. We try to meet at least monthly to jam on the last Saturday of each month, at Hickey's Music Center. Other events, such as classes, workshops, house concerts, uke flash mobs, etc., will be announced via the group's e-mail Yahoo group, as well as on the Ithaca Ukes Facebook page. Strum some!

Upcoming Events

Last Saturday of the month @ Noon: Uke'n Do It - a free ukulele jam usually at or near Hickey's Music Center. Sponsored by Hickey's. No charge, no obligation.

Hickey's Music Center is at 104 Adams Street, between Dey and Auburn Streets.

Charts for the monthly uke jams can be found here.

Saturday, July 27th @ Noon, Hickey's Music Center:

Players of all ages and levels are invited to join Auntie Emo for our Free Uke Circle on Saturday, July 27th at 12:00 PM, at Hickey's Music Center!

Auntie Emo will also be available at 11:30 AM for all beginners. Feel free to bring a specific question or problem you've encountered in learning ukulele. We'll set up on the patio in front of the store. Bad weather, we'll move inside.

Music: Auntie Emo will bring a grab bag of charts, and invite you to bring a chart (with 3 copies to share) of a song you would like to play in group. This could be from past Hickey's Uke Circles or Ithaca Ukes performances, available at ithacaukes.org. In an effort to minimize copying, bring your old charts.

If you have a ukulele book, bring it. Examples could be any ukulele primer or compilation such as the The Daily Ukulele (edited by Jim Beloff).

Remember that Hickey's is a premier resource in Central New York for music and music instruction books. The shop has a special rack just of ukulele books.

If you have a favorite ukulele resource from the internet (ithacaukes.org, Cynthia Lin, Mike Lynch, Ukulele Underground, Dr. Uke, Todaro music), bring a sample chart (with 3 copies) of a favored song.

If there's time and interest after song jamming, Auntie Emo will give a brief introduction to chord-melody playing.

So, just to keep clear: Hickey's July Uke Jam is this coming Saturday, July 27, noon to one (or 11:30am for new-comers).

As you prep for some love song jams...
Don't forget that on Uke Saturday everything is 20% off!

No charge, no obligation - come prepared to have fun! We'd love to see you.

Need an instrument? We'll lend you one for the session.

Questions? Call the store at 607.272.8262.

Contact Us

To join our mailing list, sign up for our Yahoo Group.

Group Leaders:
Emoretta Yang
Robbert van Renesse

Facebook Page:
Tom Hirasuna

Hosts For Uke Jam:
David Zimet, Hickey's Music Center

Please send comments, suggestions, links, etc. to Webmaster.

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