Join us for #100DaysofUkuleleSongs 2020! (Patreon)

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Aloha, Patrons!

I'd like to invite you to join me for The 100 Day Project, which starts this Tuesday, on April 7th. Given that so much of the world is staying home under pandemic quarantine measures, you might be interested in diving into this kind of project as a creative outlet.  A lot of Patrons have inquired about how to participate, so here's more details and some helpful tips to get started.

What is The 100 Day Project?

#The100DayProject is a free and inclusive art project, covering any artistic discipline you can dream up (not just ukulele or music). It takes place annually (since 2014), and is located primarily on Instagram. The global Project encourages people around the world to commit to 100 days of exploring their creativity in whatever way ignites their passion.

What is #100DaysofUkuleleSongs?

In 2015, I joined in and called my ukulele-specific project #100DaysofUkuleleSongs.  My goals were simply to get better at ukulele, and to get better at filming and recording myself.  I used the project to push myself out of my comfort zone and get over the fear of sharing my art. 
That year's project turned into my album Ukulele Days, which then went on to hit the Billboard charts!  In 2018, I formally invited ukulele players around the world to join me during the hundred day period, and many did. In 2019, even more Patrons and other ukulele friends joined in. Perhaps you were one of them!

>> Check out this post from 2019's Day 100 Celebration!

How do I participate?

For the #100DaysofUkuleleSongs project, all ukulele players are invited to participate in whatever way will spark creativity and inspiration on the ukulele and feed their creative spirit. 

• Step 1: Record yourself playing ukulele (tips on self-recording below) - you can share a song, practice a riff, playing instrumentally, play with family, etc.  What you share is up to you.
• Step 2: Share on whatever platform is easiest for you (Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube - links to groups and hashtags below).  
• Step 3: Repeat for 100 Days (or as many as you like, the project is for your benefit, so you decide how much you want to do)

Whether you’re posting every day or not, whether you’re sharing video or photos, and whether you’re playing songs or interpreting the challenge in another way, I encourage you to use it to create a fun and sustainable daily practice.  I like to say "Practice your ukulele 5 minutes a day, it's good for your brain and good for your soul."  The step beyond that is to share what you've learned, to push yourself and to inspire others.  

I also like to say "There are no rules in ukulele."  Take whatever approach you like.  The beauty of this project is that you learn to post, let go, and move on to the next day.  

This year’s official Day 1 is April 7, 2020. Join us if you like!  You can also start this project any time you like.  Again, it's for you.  Use the project to grow and explore your creativity in any way that benefits you.

Where to share videos and get support

Participants can post on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.  On all platforms, you can use the original hashtag #100DaysofUkuleleSongs and add our new #100DaysUke2020, so that your post can be linked to others. Use these hashtags to see others’ projects, too.

On Facebook, please join our “100 Days of Ukulele Songs" facebook group  to post and/or to view others’ posts, or to ask questions about the Project.  We have a number of moderators to help with the facebook group (thank you mods!!).

On Instagram, if you have a private account, others won't be able to see your posts, so some folks create a separate uke-only public account.  You can follow and tag @CLukesquad, which is the CL Community account where we share #100DaysofUkuleleSongs posts, as well as activities held by Cynthia Lin Uke Squads around the world.  The #100DaysofUkuleleSongs hashtag on IG has over 10k posts!

On YouTube, you can upload an unlisted or public video, and then share that link in the facebook group.  That way, you can also share the video with friends who are not on facebook. 

If you're doing the project this year, please comment below with your handle so we can look out for your posts.  If you’ve participated in the past, whether as a player or a spectator, I’d love for you to comment about your experiences. 

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Advice from 2019 Participants

I know that making ukulele videos can be a daunting prospect for beginners, for players who haven't had much experience playing on camera, or for those who wonder how much "equipment" they might need to make a "good" video. The short answer is: you can have as little as a camera (or phone w/camera) and your ukulele, but there are lots of additional tools and apps you can play around with, if you like. We asked some of last year's participants to share how they approached the project, technically and philosophically. Here are some of their thoughts:

Kim said: Making a great ukulele video isn't rocket science and doesn't require a lot of fancy and expensive equipment. All I use is my phone (Oppo R11) with a forward facing camera (AKA selfie camera), a phone wallet case, a music stand (to pop your phone camera on) and a filming environment that's well lit (natural lighting works best). Just set your music stand and phone up on a good angle, press that record button, and away you go! I also have fun playing with the filters, just to mix it up a bit. Yep... It's as simple as that!

From Angela: I got an inexpensive bendable tripod with a remote control and that helped tremendously. You are your own worst critic. It gets easier as you go. Oh! I would remind people that [keeping] 100 videos (plus out-takes) is going to eat up a LOT of storage. Plan ahead so that you're not figuring out which family video to delete to give yourself some room.

Jenny shared: I started with my old iphone, and I'd pop the headphones in (but not wear them) because I got better sound from the headphones mic than my internal phone mic (which had a weird click). Eventually, I bought a small mic that plugs into my phone and sounds even better, but it's certainly not a requirement. I also started by propping my phone up on things, then got a bendy tripod, then eventually got a taller (but cheap) tripod with an inexpensive phone mount. You can always get more "stuff," but it's not necessary at all. Sometimes I record in low light, and the video gets grainy, but I'm not trying to win any awards for cinematography. I deleted each video off my phone after I uploaded it to YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, to save space .

From Dorain: I just use my iPhone selfie camera, and I prop it up to record. Nothing fancy at all here. And make sure to clear off your bloopers (I would have a bunch everyday LOL), as they take up a lot of storage. I made a folder on my computer to save my videos, and would move them off my phone periodically. I also printed each song daily and made a book of my 100 days. Nobody sees/hears your mistakes but you. Save the easy songs for the days you are not feeling good. Out of 100 days, there will be one or two, and you will be glad you have the easy ones to play.

Wendy shared: I use my MacBook's Photo Booth program to make a video and export to desktop, then drag it into Facebook. For Instagram I use my iPhone and sometimes just film my laptop video for the 1 minute clip. I have a YouTube channel for backup - mostly private videos there, but I can easily share a link with special audiences that aren’t in the group.

From Valerie: I usually use my iPhone. I find that my first or second take is usually the best and if I keep trying to make it perfect I won’t ever be satisfied. My favorite videos are the ones I do outside. I suggest just keep posting and you will improve so much and don’t be so hard on yourself.

Michelle said: I set my phone on a windowsill or prop it on a shelf and hit record. I let it run for about 20 mins or until I get a few verses in (or an entire song, which is my current goal but takes longer). The sound/video quality isn’t the highest, but I take a very relaxed approach. Filters can be fun, but I’ve been using them less. Stay comfortable, but also reach outside that zone a bit and trust the journey. I’m so very glad I did.

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If you're still feeling intimidated and want more advice, information, or encouragement, pop on over to the Facebook group and share your hesitations with this friendly group!

I hope you’ll join me in 100 Days of Ukulele Songs this year.  I look forward to sharing my own videos, and to seeing your posts. 

Questions, comments, or reflections? Please share below!

Good luck, and enjoy!
xo cynthia