Starting Jan 18, 2006 Learn how to speak simple Hawaiian in the first hour and then in the 2nd use your correct pronunciation to sing songs, both Hawaiian and hapa-haole. The papa ‘olelo (language class) will be the based on the same materials used by Mika’ele Brito’s class (Cerritos, CA). This means if you meet another Hawaiian student in Southern California, you probably will have the same vocabulary! This method teaches the alphabet, the diphthongs, the grammar, and the pronouns in 17 lessons. It includes music in every lesson, which leads to…. The papa mele (singing class) will include the songs in the lessons above, but will include many other Hawaiian standards. If you play an instrument, bring it along—‘ukulele, guitar (slack key or Spanish), bass, gourd, steel guitar, whatevers. Mika’ele plays them all. We will do Hawaiian language songs, and find out what each word means. We’ll do parts: hula songs (2 or 3 parts) and himenis (hymn-style songs, with 4 parts). We’ll do hapa-haole songs. We can even do your requests.
Mika’ele McClellan, ke kumu (teacher) In 2004 Mika’ele was named a Los Angeles Treasure by the L. A. Craft and Folk Art Museum for preserving Hawaiian slack key and song in the city. In 2006 he will give at least 6 performances for children in L. A. libraries’ Cultural Diversity Program. He teaches guitar and ‘ukulele for Pierce College Community Education. He has written An Advanced Workbook for the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. To sign up, Phone: home (818) 999-3129 or work (818) 756-9086
Free Hawaiian Program for Children , 2006
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vocals, ’ukulele, and autoharp
The afternoon program will involve some stories, culture, and music from
the Hawaiian Islands. The audience will be asked to sing along and even do
some hand motions. The Hawaiian words will be explained.
Keep Your Eyes on the Hands (In English, with slack key) Call ahead to make sure of the time, etc.
Archived notes 12/2004
2004 was a good and a bad year for Mika’ele! On the good, he received a Los Angeles Treasure award from the City Cultural Affairs Department through the Craft and Folk Arts museum. To that end he gave two concerts in the San Fernando Valley that included traditional songs, his own compositions in Hawaiian, and his Hawaiian versions of Carmichael’s Stardust and Bach’s Jesus Joy of Man’s desiring! On the down side, he had five operations on his hands for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Finger. This meant that for several weeks he could not play at all, and when he could: lapuwale! The final operation is now history. He is playing better than ever! He’s ready for folk festivals, house concerts, luaus, wakes, bat or bar mitzvahs, TV or movie soundtracks, whatevers…. You don’t know what is Hawaiian slack key guitar? You don’t know what Mika’ele does? Request email copies of the concert advertisement and program (8 pages). Since he sings in Hawaiian, he provides translations. For variety, future concerts would include some melody ‘ukulele and melody autoharp. Hawaiians do consider the autoharp a Hawaiian instrument. Mika’ele has made his own with a spruce soundboard, a koa resonator, and thirty chords. Update 4/2004 "A hui hou, Mika'ele McClellan
About Mike's association with the Kapakahi Jug Band | |||
