Lorraine Bow
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Bow is a ukulele
teacher who is based in London
, UK. She owns the teaching company Learn To Uke, plays in the band KaraUke and founded the first ukulele jam night in London, Ukulele Wednesdays.
and was trained at Deeside Ice Rink as a figure [ice] skater during childhood by her cousin, Donna Gately, who also trained Steven Cousins
. Steven Cousins, Biography
In her late twenties, she returned to education to complete teacher training in the form of a City and Guilds qualification, Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
In November 2007, Lorraine started the only ukulele karaoke band in the world, KaraUke. KaraUke have played many notable gigs including the BRIT Awards
after show party, in which they appeared on TV with Peter Andre
singing with them. They have also appeared on BBC Radio 1 with Colin Murray
, Dizzee Rascal
and Kissy Sell Out
. They continue to play in London and at festivals and prove to be incredibly popular wherever they play.
As she was playing nearly all the time outside of work in 2008, people asked her to teach them how to play the ukulele. Lorraine has taught people privately since 2008 but founded Learn To Uke in 2009. Learn To Uke offers different types of ukulele workshops, either: Company team building or workplace wellness sessions, or to teach staff to perform a ukulele concert. Learn To Uke has taught company sessions at many places including Aviva, PwC and Comic Relief. Learn To Uke teaches many adult absolute beginners ukulele courses and adult advanced beginners ukulele courses which enable adults who have not played string instruments or any instruments to play ukulele with ease and a smile. She taught the Mayoress of Camden, how to play Learn To Uke also teaches ukulele lessons in Primary Schools, either to KS2 children in whole classes of 30 children at one time, or to teach teachers how to deliver these sessions via in service training days (INSET) sessions. Lorraine is due to feature in an upcoming BBC documentary with some of the children that she teaches playing a George Formby song with Frank Skinner.
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
teacher who is based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK. She owns the teaching company Learn To Uke, plays in the band KaraUke and founded the first ukulele jam night in London, Ukulele Wednesdays.
History
Lorraine was born the third of 3 children and raised in the north west of England. She grew up near to ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and was trained at Deeside Ice Rink as a figure [ice] skater during childhood by her cousin, Donna Gately, who also trained Steven Cousins
Steven Cousins
Steven Cousins is a British figure skater. He is the eight-time British national champion, the first Briton to land a triple axel in competition , and the youngest skater to win the British National Championships. He competed in eight World Figure Skating Championships and three Winter Olympics...
. Steven Cousins, Biography
Education and work
Lorraine left school to work her first job rather than returning to college. She held a number of marketing and administration roles before returning to education in her early twenties. She attended Greenwich University to study and graduated with a BA (hons) Events Management in 2006. She worked on many live music events including gigs, tours and festivals between 2002-2009.In her late twenties, she returned to education to complete teacher training in the form of a City and Guilds qualification, Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
The ukulele
Lorraine began playing ukulele after a workshop in 2007 with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. She enjoyed it so much, she founded the first ukulele jam night in London - Ukulele Wednesdays in April 2007. Ukulele Wednesdays still takes place every Wednesday in the basement of the Royal George Pub, Goslett Yard, off Charing Cross Road in London. Everyone who has a ukulele and voice is welcome to join the jam.In November 2007, Lorraine started the only ukulele karaoke band in the world, KaraUke. KaraUke have played many notable gigs including the BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
after show party, in which they appeared on TV with Peter Andre
Peter André
Peter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...
singing with them. They have also appeared on BBC Radio 1 with Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
, Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
and Kissy Sell Out
Kissy Sell Out
Kissy Sell Out an English DJ, producer and graphic designer. Kissy Sell Out quickly gained notability in 2006 for his eccentric electro productions and energetic DJ style. In 2009 Mixmag described him as "one of the most exciting, charismatic and entertaining DJs of the decade"...
. They continue to play in London and at festivals and prove to be incredibly popular wherever they play.
As she was playing nearly all the time outside of work in 2008, people asked her to teach them how to play the ukulele. Lorraine has taught people privately since 2008 but founded Learn To Uke in 2009. Learn To Uke offers different types of ukulele workshops, either: Company team building or workplace wellness sessions, or to teach staff to perform a ukulele concert. Learn To Uke has taught company sessions at many places including Aviva, PwC and Comic Relief. Learn To Uke teaches many adult absolute beginners ukulele courses and adult advanced beginners ukulele courses which enable adults who have not played string instruments or any instruments to play ukulele with ease and a smile. She taught the Mayoress of Camden, how to play Learn To Uke also teaches ukulele lessons in Primary Schools, either to KS2 children in whole classes of 30 children at one time, or to teach teachers how to deliver these sessions via in service training days (INSET) sessions. Lorraine is due to feature in an upcoming BBC documentary with some of the children that she teaches playing a George Formby song with Frank Skinner.