Aaron & Nicole Keim

Aaron and Nicole Keim, co-artistic directors of Centrum's Ukulele program, are masters of ukulele and old-time folk music. Known for their intricate playing and engaging teaching style, they bring a wealth of experience in both traditional and contemporary music. As the duo The Quiet American, Aaron and Nicole blend old-time Americana with innovative ukulele techniques, creating a unique and joyful experience for players of all levels. Their approach to teaching emphasizes accessibility and community, ensuring that everyone, from beginners to advanced players, can find joy in making music together.

LINK TO FULL BIO

Port Townsend 2026 Class Descriptions

Hawaiian Strumming - Steven Espaniola
(3 Day)
In this 3-day class, Steven will introduce students to the beautiful world of Hawaiian ‘ukulele strums. 6 of the most widely used strumming patterns in traditional Hawaiian music will be taught, including “Olapa, Classic, IZ “Rainbow Strum”, Modern, Tahitian and 6/8”. Traditional Hawaiian songs will be used to show the strums in a real-world context. These techniques were elaborated in an article Steven wrote for Ukulele Magazine. Class will be taught in a fun, kani ka pila type of environment! 
(Confident Beginner and Up)

Hawaiian Kani Ka Pila 101 - Steven Espaniola
(Drop In)
Steven will focus on Hawaiian songs from the extremely popular He Mele Aloha book with emphasis on arrangement. Learn how to lead a kani ka pila or jam session and get familiar with some of the common "rules" and terminology of a good kani ka pila from intros to solos to outros!!  Books available for purchase.
(All Levels)

‘Ukulele Jazz Tool Kit - Neal Chin
(3 Day)
Ever wanted to explore the world of jazz through the ‘ukulele? Come and join us as we go through some of the essential elements to get us swinging and playing. We’ll cover the basics in rhythm and get a grasp on how to use harmony to create motion. Peppered in with melody making; everyone takes a solo here. Then we look at arranging and taking it out into the world such as chord melody and jamming with others. A bit of theory, the ability to play chords around the fretboard, and picking experience will get you the most out of this class.
(Intermediate/Advanced)

Soloing - Creating Melodies on the ‘Ukulele - Neal Chin 
(Drop In)
Everyone takes a solo in this class! It’s a safe place to explore the fretboard and try out a new ways to express yourself. Here we will discuss strategies for taking solos and hop between styles to get our ideas going. Basic picking, chords, and some music theory will help you most in this class. Come talk story with your ‘ukulele!
(Intermediate)

Triplets, Rolls, and Flares, OH MY! - Viggy
(3 Day)
Time to strengthen your strumming hand! In this three day course, we'll learn how to play complex rhythms like triplets and sixteenth notes through the use of roll strums and flare strums. We'll start with triplet strums, move on to more syncopated rhythms, and end with adding grace note strums to really create some fun sounds. 
(Intermediate)

Strum & Drum - Viggy
(Drop In)
A one day version of Viggy's 3-day class from last year! Learn the basics of percussive ukulele and how to incorporate kicks and snares into your strumming technique. Each day we'll drum along to a new song. (Intermediate)

Ukulele Medley Mastery: Seamless Song Transitions - Kelle Jolly
(3 Day)
Learn how to combine multiple songs into one fluid performance! Across three days, explore techniques for key changes, tempo shifts, and creative chord substitutions to transition smoothly between songs. End with performing your own mini-medley.
(Beg/Intermediate)

Ukulele in 3/4: Waltzing Through Songs - Kelle Jolly
(Drop In)
Learn to play songs in 3/4 time. Explore waltz strum patterns, fingerpicking techniques, and adapt familiar tunes to waltz rhythm.
(Beg/Intermediate)

 Join the Ukulele Revolution - Marianne Brogan
(3 Day)
Looking for fun to last the rest of your life? Start playing the ukulele! This class is designed for the beginner. Class will be paced appropriately and will introduce you to a whole world of bliss! Topics include: How to hold and tune your ukulele, how to produce clear tones and how to practice efficiently. But wait - that's not all: how to build your chord library and studies in rhythm. Rhythm is perhaps the most important component of playing. Learning how to be the best rhythm backup player for your band of one, or band of many will enrich your musical experience. learn the fundamentals of strumming and finger style. Loaner instruments available.
(Beginner)

Bass And Stuff - Ronnie Ontiveros
(Drop In)
Bass, everyone needs you, they just might not know it yet. Let’s talk about what we are supposed to do as bassists, where and how to put our hands, and make fun of guitarists. We will go over some “bassics”, some soloing, and some philosophy.

We will spend some time each class rotating bassists in a “jam” format. Get your chance to play bass for a song you don’t know, with minimal guidance, and oh yeah don’t mess up! This will be an exercise to show you how good you already are. All instruments (basses and others, the weirder the better) are welcome. If you have a u-bass and want to bring an amp feel free.
(All Levels)

Even Ukuleles Get the Blues - Ukulenny
(3 Day)
Just pulling your ukulele out of its case brings the promise of joy and playfulness. But nothing's wrong with having the blues now and then too. Whether you are just starting on your ukulele journey or just want to explore new musical genres, playing the blues can evoke deep emotions, fuel songwriting, and create musical connections with others.  It's also a great way to learn your chord families (1-4-5) and do simple fingerpicking exercises using blues scale patterns.  This class is designed to give you a strong foundation so you can join the blues jam faster than you can say AAB!
(Beginner)

Intro to Looping - Ukulenny
(Drop In)
Never play alone again. Be your own backing band with the power of the loop pedal! We'll cover the ins and outs of looping: creating loop arrangements, how to use loops in your playing, and the biggest obstacle to your looping career – timing! We will also discuss loop pedal options, features, and special setups in this truly uke-spiring workshop.  No looper required to participate, but feel free to bring your own if you want to try it out!
(All Levels)

Classical Fingerstyle - Jeff Peterson
(3 Day)
This workshop will explore solo fingerstyle arrangements of classical music across generations from the Renaissance to Modern eras.  We will learn an etude for developing tone, relaxation and speed, then pieces that feature arpeggiation, finger independence, and multiple parts.  The simple parts can be played separately to create duets or solo for more of a challenge.
(Intermediate/Advanced)

Beatles for Ukulele - Jeff Peterson
(Drop In)
We will explore fingerstyle arrangements of classic Beatles songs including “Here Comes The Sun”, “In My Life” and “Here, There, and Everywhere”. The arrangements can be played solo or as an ensemble with strumming, fingerstyle accompaniment, melody, and harmony.
(Intermediate/Advanced)

Serious Fingerpicking Practice - Del Rey
(3 Day)
The purpose of fingerpicking is keeping time while playing melody. This works easily until you leave patterns behind and start playing syncopated melodies. The road to syncopation is practice. This three day class will play basic picking-hand figures until they settle into your muscle memory. If you haven’t tried fingerpicking, this will serve as an introduction. If you are an experienced fingerstyle player but lose or compress time when you syncopate, this class is especially for you. Re-entrant (high G) tuning preferred. By ear, no TAB.
(Advanced Beginner and Up)

Introduction to the Delmore Brothers - Del Rey
(Drop In)
The Delmore Brothers were early country music songwriters from Alabama who wrote and sang bluesy folk songs starting in the 1930s, performing on guitar and tenor guitar. Each day we’ll learn one of their songs, arranged for ukulele. Re-entrant (high G) tuning preferred. By ear, no TAB.
(Intermediate/Advanced)

Songwriting - Victoria Vox
(3 Day)
Let’s turn those ideas in your head into something tangible and unleash the creative songwriter within you! We'll use popular song examples to analyze harmonic and melodic structure. Bring In Your WIPs (works in progress) to the workshop / class, even if it’s just a small bud of an idea! Through song analysis and crafted strategies, you'll learn how to rewrite/edit, get out of a rut, make your current song stronger, find and fix any problem spots, play with rhythm, rhyming, and harmony, and learn which song structure is best suited for your title. We’ll work with some daily song prompts to get the ideas flowing.
(All Levels)

Uke Can Do It - Victoria Vox
(Drop In)
In this beginner class, you’ll be able to gain confidence with your ukulele by reinforcing good technique and maybe breaking some bad habits. We’ll touch on good form, chords, learning to play chords and melodies with TAB, and some different strumming patterns, while playing popular songs. 
(Beginner)

Western Swing and The Baritone Uke - Larry Wyatt
(Drop In)
Welcome baritone players! In this class we’ll learn chord progressions common in Western Swing.  We’ll take these progressions and work them up the neck in different positions and a variety of keys.  Then we’ll apply them to some classic Western Swing tunes.  We’ll break them down and jam them up. GCEA ukes are welcome also. You should be familiar with your open position chords to get the most benefit.
(Advanced Beginner and Up)

Clawhammer Ukulele - Jere Canote
(3 Day)
We’ll explore the joys of this Appalachian banjo technique that uses a fingernail and the pad of the thumb.

Day 1 will focus on the basics; the “Hot Coffee” rhythm, the proper timing of the thumb pluck and simple melodies. (Beginner)

Day 2 we’ll play more melodies and add pull offs and hammer-ons. (Intermediate)

Day 3 will consist of more up the neck melodies, 4^th string fretting and an alternate tuning (Advanced)

Back up a Real Live Fiddler - The Canote Brothers
(Drop In)
Fiddle tunes are happy 32 measure melodies with lots of repetition and usually 3 chords! They are especially fun in the key of C. Join the Canote Brothers as we learn the freight train strum and other boom-chuck backups, all while having fun!
(All Levels)

Solo Superstar: Singing and Playing Alone - Danielle Ate the Sandwich
(3 Day)
How do we create impactful performances as solo singers and performers? We’ll explore finding the best key for your vocal range and playing ability, learn easy techniques that add texture and dynamics, practice how to engage the audience during a song, and how to portray yourself as an artist to gain confidence and capture the audience’s attention.
(Intermediate)

Easy Two Finger Picking - Danielle Ate the Sandwich
(Drop In)
Let’s move into the world of fingerpicking with a simple two finger pattern that uses the thumb and index finger. This technique is an easy way to add interest and emotion to your playing. We'll work it into popular songs and give you ideas to spice up the songs you already know how to play in your jam circles and performance songs.
(Intermediate)

Songs for Community and Connection - Nicole Keim
(Drop In)
Join Nicole as we come together in song. We’ll warm up our voices and bodies and learn pieces you can bring home to teach others. No ukuleles or formal singing experience needed, just your positive attitude and a willingness to share your voice!
(All Levels)

Jug Band Ensemble - Aaron Keim
(3 Day)
Jug band music is a fun and accessible mix of blues, jazz and string band music. Join Aaron for three ensemble pieces arranged for ukulele, baritone ukulele and bass.  Do you play something else? Bring it along. There will be parts to play for any level, including some fancy picking and melodies.  
(All Levels)

General Schedule
(subject to change)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
8:45 - 9:15am: All group gathering
9:30 – 10:45: Choice of classes
11:15 – 12:30: Choice of classes
1:45 - 3:00: Choice of classes
3:15 – 4:15: Serendipity Hour
4:30 – 5:30: Open Mic

Evenings
7:30: Friday and Saturday - public shows in Wheeler Theater
Sunday - Party in the USO

Monday, May 4
8am: Breakfast
9am: Shuttle leaves Fort Worden for SeaTac Airport
11am: Must be out of housing

Are the Ukulele Festival workshops appropriate for my skill level?
The Port Townsend Ukulele Festival is a gathering appropriate for advanced-beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. The word “beginner” covers a lot of ground. Most offerings at the workshop are geared towards people who know more than a few chords, and are capable of changing chords smoothly and in rhythm. In 2026 we are offering several beginner level classes.

You’ll get the most out of your experience if you can do the following exercise in three different keys. Use a metronome!

At 60 beats per minute, play each chord four times (four beats per chord). Play the chords without diagrams, that is, by heart.

C – Am – F – G7 – C
It should take 20 seconds. Try it in these keys as well:
F – Dm – Bb – C7 – F
G – Em – C – D7 – G

If you can do this, then this workshop is for you! If you need to look up any of these chords, then you know what you have to work on (and master) before the festival starts.

Most of our workshops are family events, and we welcome musicians of all ages and abilities to participate. Our programming has annually evolved to meet the needs of very young musicians, and we devote considerable resources to this end.

If you are under 18, you must be accompanied by a registered adult. Please register the adult first, as you will need a confirmation number.

*2026 cost information coming soon*

Cost:

Tuition: $550

Private Dorm Room: $250

All Meals: $290

Lunches Only (3): $85

Shuttle to/from SeaTac: $60 each way
Departs SeaTac at 2pm on April 30; departs Fort Worden at 9am on May 4.

Scholarships
If you need financial assistance, Centrum has a robust scholarship program. Apply online as you register. Please note that except in rare cases, scholarships are available for tuition only. Centrum requires a deposit of scholarship applicants, which is fully refundable before March 23 if you are unable to attend. 

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Full tuition is due upon registration, $50 of which is non-refundable. No refunds of any kind are available after April 1, 2026.

Room & Board
Most participants stay in private dormitory rooms at Fort Worden. There are a limited number of double rooms, that is, rooms with two twin beds. If you’d like a double, please request one, and list another registered participant who has signed up for room and board in order to share that room. It is first come, first served.

Meals are served at Fort Worden Commons. 

Room and board final payment is due by April 1, 2026. We tend to run out of rooms as the workshop approaches, so if you’d like room and board we recommend signing up for it when you register.

If we haven’t answered all of the questions you may have, please contact Peter McCracken at 360-385-3102, x127, or peter@centrum (dot) org.

If we haven’t answered all of the questions you may have, please contact Peter McCracken at 360-385-3102, x127, or peter@centrum (dot) org.

Find more answers - Centrum FAQs

Workshop tuition includes admission to everything including the public performances listed below.

Performance information will be posted by January 1.