I love this lesson, Lisa. I've been playing for 3 years - but still very much a beginner. I've always been frustrated by not being able to sing while playing, and lately my exasperation has peaked. I feel like it holds back my learning, and I feel like I haven't actually learned how to play a single song because, despite being able to strum and fingerpick many, I can't sing them! Honestly, just as I get that impulse to sing, before the words even exit my mouth, my strum falls apart. I've tried a lot of techniques that others have taught, but not made much progress. I like your idea of just vocalizing a word (e.g. up down or banana-papaya) and getting the body more into it. To be honest, I'm someone who tends to live in my head (hence, long KZfaq comments!) and that may be a factor - so anything to get out of it. I'm going to give these techniques a try (I'm thinking I'll start with super-simple song's like Happy Birthday and Mary Had a Little Lamb) and am feeling optimistic and energized!

Wonderful lesson Lisa! Thank you for continuing to "think like a learner". 🎶❤

Terrific lesson!! Very easy to follow step-by-step methods and great suggestions. You've inspired me to keep working on "problems" I need to solve to keep adding new skills to my ukulele playing. Thanks Lisa.

Thanks for the encouraging lessons, Lisa. I am going to start practicing every day!

Great lesson…Lisa thanks. I’m practicing doing this now ..a little bit at a time.

Really helpful lesson Lisa. From one Lisa to another, many thanks. You're a brilliant teacher. Take care.

Your advice is exactly what I did to learn to play the Island Strum. I could only play the Island Strum while singing the words "Water come to me eye" on C chord along with your tutorial on that song. Because as you explained the words aligned up with strum pattern so well With repetition & time I could Island Strum with other chords & lyrics

OK Lisa, this is your best lesson yest! (Be soft and gentle) Thanks lady!

Love it

Great help.

My lesson notes look like this: So what to do according to Lisa? Slow and easy since it takes time Work on it everyday without fail Practice strumming 1,2,3,4 over and over one down strum at a time. use her chart…HUM! Add a simple pattern like: down, down, up … use the same chart but do one pattern per section 1,2,3,4. HUM Add a few words singing and then more words as you continue the chord changing and attention to time. Use a familiar song that repeats the same lyrics/words…keep at it slow and easy daily until You Go It!

Is it correct, is it helpful to think of the Cowboy strum as being the first half of the Island strum?

Too much talk