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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
 Posted - 02/25/2002 : 11:46:44 AM
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2002 : 12:40:44 PM
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Regarding all three of Ron Loo's books:
these books are a great introduction to slack key. They contain his arrangements of some very traditional mele, as well as a few of his own and other's compositions, all in a traditional style. Auntie Alice Namakelua was one of his teachers. I would recommend them to anyone interested in traditional slack key.
Ron presents, in the course of the arrangements, many fundamental building blocks of the slack key sound (such as vamp variations). I felt l learned much "vocabulary" and familiarity with traditional structure, from studying his arrangements as a group.
His books also happen to be great for someone who (like me) had never played guitar before. On the tapes that accompany the tabs, he patiently takes you measure-by-measure through the songs, and at the end he plays the whole piece as it should sound.
The three books were intended, I think, to be graduated in difficulty, but as a rank beginner, I found that not to be true. I found various pieces in each of the three books that were easier for me, and also in each book, ones that stumped me for a long time — not because I couldn't comprehend the tabs, but because they demanded more strength and flexibility in my fretting hand than I had acquired. Therefore I think that for an already accomplished player, the attraction of Ron's arrangements would be to expand acquaintance with and understanding of the scope of traditional slack key.
By the way, should one be interested in singing the Hawaiian songs, Ron does include, in the tab, a verse or two of lyrics for a few of them. He does not demonstrate, however, the singing of the songs, so one needs to learn that from another source.
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2002 : 7:46:14 PM
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Each of Ron's "notebooks" comes with a spiral bound notebook and a set of CDs that teach seven songs (all the songs are old style). There are three notebooks in all, varying in difficulty from easy for the first to medium/hard for the third.
Ron is very patient (overly so sometimes!) and takes 20-40 minutes to go through each song. He breaks each song into sections and then goes through each section measure by measure, spending extra time on measures he thinks may trip you up. (Note: In subsequent volumes he spends much less time holding your hand and devotes most of the time to playing and practicing.) The spiral bound notebooks contains complete tab for each of the songs, along with general information on Ki Ho`alu and tablature.
There is only one downside to these notebooks as I see it. In Vol. 1 Ron does not play through the songs from start to finish so you know what the song sounds like. He does play through each section from start to finish after he's taught it, but if you're like me you want to get the complete song in your head before you start learning it.
In any case, even with these minor annoyance the notebooks are fabulous, and the closest you can come to having a slack key master in your home teaching you a rich reportoire of songs.
Each notebook is around $25 with shipping (not bad if you consider you're getting over 3.5 hours of instruction).
For Vol. 1, the songs are essentially presented in order of complexity. Song lengths, as Ron plays them, are as follows:
Waikapu: 1:15
Lili`u E: 1:41
Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua: 1:44
Kealoha: 2:18
Ka Manu: 1:35
Salomila: 1:55
Old-Timer's Hula: 1:33
All the songs except for Kealoha and Old-Timer's Hula have a vocal accompaniment, which Ron demonstrates (he has a beautiful nahenahe voice). Partial lyrics are included with the tab, along with a reference to the publication where full lyrics can be found.
For more details, and to order, visit http://www.ronloo.com |
Edited by - cpatch on 11/08/2006 11:46:34 AM |
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jlsulle
Lokahi
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2003 : 9:46:11 PM
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Craig
I want to order Ron Loo's books but got a wrong number when calling the number in your last post. Has there been a change? Where might I find another phone number? Sulle' |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2003 : 10:39:49 PM
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This is from Ron's website:
quote:
For price quotes on all other services: (Studio Musician, Personal Performance, Concerts,Workshops/Seminars), write to the below address or email to ronloo @ hotmail.com
To order: Send certified check or money order to :
PILA NAHENAHE
P.O. Box 5126
Kaneohe, HI. 96744
Attn: Purchasing Dept.
The phone number is 1-808-239-4281. I know the email is good as I've traded emails with Ron's wife, Denise, before. Good luck! |
Andy |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2003 : 7:17:47 PM
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I spoke with Ron's wife, Denise, today and she said that for Slack Key Notebook orders you should contact Harry's Music at (808) 735-2866...ask for Alan.
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Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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ongchua
Akahai
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2003 : 5:50:24 PM
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2003 : 6:32:58 PM
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Depending on how its packaged, under $5.00 per volume.
Raymond |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2003 : 7:23:23 PM
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| I think Harry's charges either $4 or $5 per volume. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2006 : 07:30:52 AM
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| Ron's Instructional Books 1, 2, and 3 are now all available with CD's instead of cassettes. Putting them all on CD has caused the price to be cut practically in half. They are available for online purchase or usps mail order at www.ronloo.com. |
Andy |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2006 : 08:09:36 AM
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Wonderful! Thanks for the heads-up, Andy.
Everyone should have these (even pros like Kevin were impressed by them), but especially beginners and intermediate players.
We will get another whole set just to have the CDs instead of the tapes.
...Reid |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2006 : 12:23:42 PM
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| Highly recommended! |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2006 : 11:20:08 AM
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| FYI, I got an email from Denise Loo saying that the new book/CD will be sold through orders at their website and usps mail only. So Harry's and others may not be carrying the new ones. |
Andy |
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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 06:50:40 AM
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Aloha,
Ron Loo Music now has a slick webpage that lets you purchase the excellent Kī Hō'alu instruction books with CDs, as well as some fine Kī Hō'alu music CDs easily with PayPal. The website is: http://ronloomusic.com/index.html
Their contact information is as follows:
Denise Loo
P.O. Box 5126
Honolulu, HI. 96744
(808) 239-4281 - Home
(808) 699-0714 - cell
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 10:25:41 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Haolenuke
Ron Loo Music now has a slick webpage that lets you purchase the excellent Kī Hō'alu instruction books with CDs, as well as some fine Kī Hō'alu music CDs easily with PayPal. The website is: http://ronloomusic.com/index.html
It can also still be accessed at http://www.ronloo.com (which will simply take you to the page Haolenuke mentions). |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
Edited by - cpatch on 02/05/2010 10:31:08 AM |
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Puluke
Aloha
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2011 : 04:50:09 AM
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Aloha
I was wondering how these books compare in difficulty to Ozzie Kotani's book. I'm about half-way through Ozzie's, somewhat proficient on everything up to Maunaloa and working on Manamana Lele; definitely enjoying and learning from it, just thinking some extra variety would be fun.
-Bruce |
- Bruce |
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Ron Loo: Slack Key Notebook Number 1
