Jiminy Kokopo's Ukulele Sing and Strum Fun Book [Paperback]

Jerrold Connors (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2002

Jiminy Kokopo's Ukulele Sing and Strum Fun Book combines the fun of ukulele playing with sound theory in this exceptional new music instructional manual. The diagrams are sharp, the illustrations are charming, the crazy potato comics are.. well, crazy. This is an excellent book for any beginner regardless of age and a great book to share with kids.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... an outstanding musically correct ukulele method book and the first new idea in children's ukulele music since the 1950's. -- Geoffrey R. Rezek, Ukulele Society of Connecticut

An excellent book that every ukulele enthusiast should own. -- Fred Pearson, Ukulele Society of Great Britain

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Alligator Boogaloo (June 30, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 097214160X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972141604
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Learning Resource - Not Just For Kids!, February 26, 2005

By 

J. Hauser (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jiminy Kokopo's Ukulele Sing and Strum Fun Book (Paperback)

I've been working with a number of books and DVDs on learning the uke. To be perfectly honest, I am a total beginner at playing the ukulele and I thought that I would need a very detailed manual to learn anything. Wrong. It turns out that this book lets you learn picking (one of the prettiest versions of Aloha Oe I've ever heard) and chords in a way that let's you learn without being overwhelmed. Before I knew it, I was actually making some pretty fluid chord changes. Not only that, but the section on introductions, endings and flourishes is very cool. Wanna learn the uke? This is your book!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most beautiful Aloha'Oe I never thought I could play this good!!!, November 20, 2009

By 

YogaKat "YogaKat" (Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jiminy Kokopo's Ukulele Sing and Strum Fun Book (Paperback)

This is the best beginner book out there (and for all age groups, even us adults!). It presents learning in a very fun, yet thorough manner. The book starts out with the basics including history, ukulele diagram, holding the uke, strumming & picking, tuning. I liked the review on reading music as I have not picked up an instrument in years.

You start off by learning music scales made fun and easy with the notes and where they are on the fingerboard. I like it that they start you with finger picking and you learn fun songs that are rewarding since you're not just strumming the Uke (you learn chord songs later in the book).
You learn basic melody playing
1. Little Brown Jug
2. Funky Little Uke Tune (so fun!!!)
3. Aloha `Oe (harmony playing, my very favorite song in the whole book)
Then you move on to chord playing of Little Brown Jug, She'll Be Comin', and more.

I love all the little tidbits of fun things throughout the book like:
Mystery Tune Puzzle where you finger pick the notes and try to figure out what song you're playing.

The "Introductions, Endings, & Flourishes" is a kick. You learn little tunes that you can add to end of songs (or just get the attention of your friends and family) like "Shave and a Haircut" and more!

Some of the songs are not familiar to me and it would be nice to have a CD included in the book. I would also love more of the harmony playing in the format they use in the book. It's so easy to learn and smile and laugh a lot using this book!

Here's the song included in the book:
Little Brown Jug
Funky Little Uke Tune
Aloha `Oe
She'll Be Comin'
Old Folks at Home
The Alphabet Song
Pet Shop Hoedown
My Love for You Is a Gaga Gugu
The Mongoose Shuffle
Your Momma Wears Army Boots
Old Lunchroom Blues
My Grandfather's Clock
Jackson is a Monkey (aka Tip-Toe Through the Tulips)

There's also a very helpful chord list in the back of the book.

And, finally, check out their web site for more ukulele songs that you can print out at home: alligatorboogaloo dot com

Aloha :o)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 3, 2003

By 

Jason Krogh (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jiminy Kokopo's Ukulele Sing and Strum Fun Book (Paperback)

This book is an excellent mix of the instructional and the entertaining. I especially like all the great background information on everything from the history of the instrument to tips for young performers. The book has a really creative feel to it which helps make the instructional content really approachable for a young audience. Highly recommended.