Come and join the
FOREST UKULELE RETREAT
Speech House, The Royal Forest of Dean,
30th JUNE - 2nd JULY 2023
A WHOLE WEEKEND OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING
We have invited six of the best ukulele teachers from around the world to come and teach you. Lessons will be in small groups so you'll get to soak up heaps of incredible tuition and ask plenty of questions. As well as small group lessons there will be a teacher's concert to inspire you, and a student concert where you'll get to perform in a small group in a supportive and fun atmosphere
A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION IN THE HEART OF THE FOREST
This year we'll be located at Speech House, a beautiful 17th Century Hunting Lodge built for King Charles II. We're right in the heart in the Forest of Dean and will be taking advantage with ukulele walks and wellbeing sessions too. You can stay in the lovely rooms on site and you'll be supplied with great food all weekend.
TICKETS INCLUDE:
SMALL GROUP TUITION WITH ALL OF THE GUEST TUTORS
TEACHER'S CONCERT SATURDAY EVENING
UKULELE MEDITATION SESSIONS / UKULELE WALK
SMALL GROUP TUITION AND STUDENT'S CONCERT SUNDAY
LUNCH AND EVENING 2 COURSE WARM BUFFET SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
COFFEE & PASTRIES WEEKEND MORNINGS
TICKETS
£379 pp SOLD OUT
You can purchase from our secure shop HERE or click on the box to the left.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKETS DO NOT INCLUDE ACCOMMODATION
Please email matt@theukeroom.com with any dietary requirements for the inclusive meals for the weekend.
Please note that Speech House is now full for residential rooms. Please see the links further down with recommendations to locql B&B's, hotels and campsites.
Your tutors
SPECIAL GUEST INTERNATIONAL TUTOR 2023: JEFF PETERSON
This year we will have more tutors so all levels of ability are made welcome and supported. If you think you might struggle with a particular workshop an alternative will be available at all times.
I am so excited that we are able to bring as wonderful a musician and teacher of Jeff Peterson to the UK for the Forest Ukulele Retreat this year. I have experienced Jeff’s incredible teaching and performing first hand and I’m passionate about sharing this with you. He embodies so much of the traditions of Hawaiian music and shares what makes it so utterly magical.
Jeff Peterson is one of Hawaii’s most talented and versatile musicians, at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene today. His compositions feature on two Grammy Award winning albums (and have been included on the soundtrack to a major Hollywood film - The Descendants). He has been awarded with eleven Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in Hawaii and his solo album Maui On My Mind received a Grammy nomination in 2010.
As well as being an incredible slack key guitar player Jeff writes, performs and teaches on ukulele. He runs the popular Ukulele Corner curriculum and community and he is the author of several incredible ukulele books including the successful Graded Repertoire for Ukulele.
We have carefully chosen teachers to cover a wide variety of styles including Pop, Blues, Country and Classical.
We will shortly announce more tutors, further to our UK based teachers, covering further styles including Hawaiian.
Our amazing UK based tutors
CONNECT WITH NATURE &
OTHERS
This year we will have a focus will be on nature and wellbeing and the power of music in bringing people together. As well as our normal tuition sessions we will have a ukulele meditation session by the lake and a ukulele walk around the beautiful arboretum and nature reserve next to the site. We want you to feel good, have fun and make lasting friendships.
Our beautiful location at Speech House is set in the centre of 110km of one of the last surviving ancient woodlands in England. You can explore the grounds and local woodlands between sessions, soaking up the healing power of nature. As well as the Forest you will be just a few miles from the Wye Valley Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Why not stay for a whole week and explore the area?
If you'd like some more inspiration for exploring the are have a look at this website HERE:
https://www.visitdeanwye.co.uk/
PROVISIONAL
SCHEDULE
To help you plan your time here
FRIDAY EVENING From 7pm - Welcome drinks and Kanikapila
In the Edwin Tauber Suite with views of the ancient woodland. Get to know your fellow students and tutors. Join Matt and your tutors for an inclusive and fun live jam.
SATURDAY
MORNING From 9:30am - Small group sessions with all the tutors
Very small groups so you get to soak up the learning & ask questions of our experts. Coffee and pastries. Four different classrooms throughout the site.
LUNCHTIME - Buffet for all
Refresh and fill yourself up. If it's sunny perhaps take a stroll around the garden and lake?
Ukulele Meditation -
Let go of any tension and immerse yourself in a relaxing ukulele mediation session in the gardens. Learn to fall in love with the sound of your ukulele. Another optional class will be available here too.
AFTERNOON - Small group sessions with all the tutors
EVENING 2 COURSE HOT BUFFET
Freshly made with local produce.
EVENING - Tutor Concert
Sit back in the impressive and historic Verder's Court for an evening of entertainment and inspiration courtesy of your talented tutors. A bar will be available so you can relax with a drink or two, alcoholic or otherwise,
FINISH AROUND 10PM
SUNDAY
MORNING From 10am - Repertoire sessions with tutors
On Sundays we do things differently! Each tutor will take one of the small groups through a piece of fun repertoire. There will be something for everyone, whether strumming simple chords or showing off with a super solo. You will learn new skills and have a really cool piece of music to take away. As a group you'll perform together in Sunday evening's Student Concert.
LUNCHTIME - Buffet for all
UKULELE WALK - We'll take a guided walk around the arboretum and the beautiful local nature reserve, where if we're lucky we'll get to see a host of wildlife including birds of prey, deer, wildfowl, songbirds, wild boar, and butterflies. Those wanting to stay on site will have the option of an extra lesson or just some chill time.
AFTERNOON - Repertoire sessions with tutors
EVENING 2 COURSE HOT BUFFET
Freshly made with local produce.
EVENING - STUDENT CONCERT
Now your turn to show off and perform in the historic Verderers Court. You'll perform the repertoire you learned earlier, in a small group and joined by your tutor. By now we're all friends (if we weren't already!) and we all support each other. There's no pressure - any shrinking violets can hide at the back!
FINISH AROUND 10PM
