Ukulele Camp
Every July at Jalopy Theater in Red Hook Brooklyn, Mamie puts on Ukulele Building Camp for Girls. In this week-long camp for girl-identified kids aged 10-13, each camper builds a ukulele from scratch- starting with a pile of wood and materials on Monday morning and finishing with a real, working instrument to take home at the end of the week.
Building something from scratch gives girls lots of tools that they will carry with them- they’ll develop their ability to problem solve, to learn new skills, and to work independently. This camp aims to give each student the space to learn and grow in great company- some of Brooklyn Lutherie’s clientele visit during the week for performance and conversation, highlighting the experience of women who work in the music field. We’ve been serenaded by Ellia Bisker (Charming Disaster, Funkcrust Brass Band), Meg Reichardt (Les Chauds Lapins), Katie Down (the Ukuladies) and Chloe Swantner. The kid’s responses are heartening, exciting, and hopeful that the future of instrument making and the music industry can be more inclusive and humane.
Ukulele Building Camp for Girls is sponsored by Stewart MacDonald, and held at Jalopy Theater and School of Music in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
All photos this gallery by Amal Buford
Lessons
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Private Lessons
As a teacher, Mamie is easeful, compassionate, and effective. With 20 years of experience in teaching fingerstyle blues guitar under her belt, she focuses on song-based learning, and has developed techniques that help emerging fingerpickers with coordination, rhythm, and clarity.
Mamie offers private lessons in person and over Zoom. Please message (embed a link) for Mamie’s rates and availability.
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Group Lessons
Mamie also offers group lessons and workshops. Some past examples have been 4 and 8 week blocks offered at Jalopy called ,“The Guitar of Mississippi John Hurt,” “Beginning Fingerpicking Guitar,” and “Songs to Take Heart By.”