Welcome | Cali Rose

Welcome to my website and blog!

Singer, ukulele and piano player, teacher, songwriter, entertainer and recording artist. What fun!

for news about Zoom classes, jams, shows and my blog

Ukulele tutorial: “Better Times Will Come”

Janis Ian has generously shared her glorious and uplifting song with musicians everywhere, to learn, record, and share. Read more and get the chart.

View all tutorials

lots of people in squares using zoom to have ukulele classes

Zoom classes and lessons

Learn ukulele and have some fun! Donation-based Zoom classes for beginners and intermediates—open to the public!

Join in the fun!

Cali’s Ukulele Kids Club Academy Workshop

Learn to play and sing Cali’s tune “OO-KOO-LAY-LAY” — with all kinds of ways to fancy things up!! Get the sheet music here. The UKC is an international organization that helps children overcome the stress of serious health conditions by playing the ukulele. Check out their website and their YouTube page for more academy workshops.

The CC Strummers… in the news!

A great video story by Kristopher Gee about Cali Rose and The CC Strummers – read it here!

Cali Rose featured in OokTown’s Ukulele Podcast

Coming to you straight outta Culver City, Cali Rose comes to talk to us about the beginnings of The CC Strummers, affirms the power of the ukulele in music therapy, and takes us through her journey from studying nursing to full-time musician. Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown. Watch on YouTube or Listen on iTunes.

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Video tutorials

Pick up new ukulele skills at your own pace. Chords, embellishments and more!

Cali’s schedule

Zoom classes, workshops, appearances and more!

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Donations

Suggested donation per Zoom class is $5. Read about the preparation that goes into each class.

e-Newsletter

I’m loving the CC Strummers more and more every day. Thanks for allowing me to be an honorary member!!

—N.

How wonderful it is to celebrate you and all the pleasure you bring to us with your voice, our music, your smile and your great big heart.

—L & B

I’m thoroughly enjoying these classes! Thank you for all the time you put into these workshops, classes, gig’s (latest flash mob was the best!), music arrangements and everything else you do for us.

—Susan C. 5/16

Thanks for your ongoing fabulousnous and loving leadership in our uke community. A community that continues to grow at your helm.

—N.

You are our Den Mother! I’ve never met a teacher, coach, mentor or guide who took such pride in her charges, befriended all and supported all with that brilliant smile, sense of humor and empathy. Your spirit is the drive behind the success of CCS, Cali. We play our hearts…

Love, Toni 2/2017

THANK YOU for bringing such joy to us during these difficult times.

—S.W.

“I am feeling so good – listening to your CD. it is really wonderful. you have such a gift in knowing how to say/sing uplifting words/messages. the ode to joy is the perfect ending too. Thank you!!”

— Anne G.

…I saw the Musician Fest video with you playing and singing for the seniors, great job! Carry on, you’re an inspiration!

—C.W.

Delightful wonderful lively precious exciting and all other loving words that I can think of regarding your beautiful and sweet performance last evening. Thank you for sharing your head to toe talent with us here at Raintree.

—M.L.

It was a great class with lots of helpful tips on strumming and fingering and I have to tell you I appreciate the care you take in preparing the music sheets with all the information we need to play and sing as easily as possible. I really am…

—L.

“A good teacher will go through it slowly the first time, and address any helpful tips for making the fingering efficient, and any special strum patterns. The second time through the song, still playing slowly, and the instructor possibly calling out instructions for the tricky parts.” Which is what Cali does to a…

—Michael K. 12/15

Thank you for all you are and all you do to bring us joy period-—and joy through music!

—N.F.

Thanks for keeping us sane in 2020

—A.

Cali, thank you so much for your tutorial. It was FANTASTIC! It helped me out so much. It showed me how to combine all the techniques into a song along with the melody line. What a great teacher you are!! And you wrote a beautiful song.

—C.B.

Today was the best class ever, Cali! I learned so much and you were so clear on your instructions, I even had time to scribble them down.

—Toni

Note: This album was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album in the 2009 Hawaii Music Awards. It didn’t win and some folks were a little upset about that, like Ric Douglas, who wrote me the message below… 8 things That Can’t Be Robbed From Cali Are: Classiness Grace Musicianship Poise …

— Anon

“A most sincere thank you for the SMILES, your CD makes me happy, great production, you sound fantastic and the songs are a kick – “true classic Cali Rose !!!” with her uka uka uka uka LELE.”

— Kevin F.

I am so enjoying your lessons and especially your SPARKLE! Thank you so much.

—D.N.

“I really like this new scale chart (movable). I remember when i first grokked the three fret, 1 octave C scale, and a whole new musical world was opened up to me. And then i went on holiday with my uke and didn’t need music in order to…

—S.

“On the 15 songs here Cali showcases her solid uke chops (both strumming and picking) and her warm and friendly vocals. A clutch of standards share the CD with some well-crafted and hummable originals. Highlights include the title song, Cole Porter’s ‘True Love,’ ‘On Green Dolphin Street,’ ‘Soup Du…

— Jim Beloff, Flea Market Music

Thank YOU for teaching. I am so enjoying your classes. I consider your Zoom classes one of the few silver linings of this crazy pandemic. Cheers.

You have opened up a wonderful new world to me. I enjoy every minute I spend in class and with you.

—Barbara K.

“Cali, I wanted you to know directly that I find your current CD a wonderful pleasure to hear. My enjoyment began with the first bar of “Are You Having Fun!” Yes!

— Ernie S.

Wonderful! This one makes me cry!

—C.B.

Cali, I enjoyed your class Wednesday for the children’s uke group. One eye-opener for me: I’d wondered how to remember embellishments, and you mentioned printing empty uke grids!! Brilliant, and just what I needed. Thanks so much for all your amazing efforts and expertise!

—D., Ukulele Kids Club Participant

Today I became a CC strummer!! Cali is a fabulous teacher. Glad I was on mute. I wasn’t keeping up but I learned so much in one class! She’s amazing. I was very quiet. I sat in the hypothetical back row being a newbie!! I’ve got some practicing…

— L.

Thanks you, Cali. You are terrific fun. Good teacher too.

—B.

“Congratulations on your success. You are putting smiles on people’s faces far and wide. What pleasure–and humor. I tell you, my tush is happier for having listened.”

— Diane V.

I joined your class shortly after my husband passed away suddenly. Taking your class alleviated my mourning process because I had something fun to do each week and was happy to be in your class. For that, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for teaching me how…

— Y. C.

“I love your CD – full of great music, talent, and such happiness! Thanks!”

— Jill G.

Cali’s version of Chopsticks

Cali sings her own song “Smile, Smile, Smile

This Morning Something Wonderful Happened to Me (I Woke Up)

Cali Rose plays “The Way You Look Tonight” on piano

View more videos

The CC Strummers

Cali leads this ukulele group and teaches two weekly Zoom classes. Players local to the Culver City area are welcome to join our in-person jams.

Teaching

Cali teaches private lessons online and hosts fun group workshops and strum-alongs.

In the news

Cali was recently the featured instructor at a Ukulele Kids Club event. Read more!

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Cali’s blog

Read the latest stories and musings from Cali Rose. Sign up and get them delivered to your inbox, too!

Cali’s Blog

HELLO 2024 AND HELLO YOU!

ByCali Rose January 1, 2024January 1, 2024

16 Comments

The last blog I wrote was about Will Smith taking a swing at Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. What year was that? Feels like ancient history, considering all that is happening in the world. In our heads. And hearts. Well I’ve missed writing and connecting with you. The “music thing” has kind of taken over my life and this worker-bee loves to work. I still do one gig a week, teaching beginning ukulele at a local retirement community. Our … Read More

A SMACK GOES VIRAL AND THE STORIES WE TELL

ByCali Rose April 2, 2022April 4, 2022

8 Comments

I’m watching the Academy Awards, answering emails and cleaning my desk. That’s when I see Jada Pinkett Smith, sitting in the swanky front row with her husband Will Smith. The next presenter, Chris Rock, lays into her with a lame joke about her hair. She’s rolling her eyes and looking very pissed-off. Hubby is laughing, kind of fakey-like. Until he isn’t. That’s when he bounds on stage, all huffy-puffy, and smacks Chris Rock in the noggin. My computer screen goes … Read More

ONE YEAR LATER

ByCali Rose March 12, 2022March 14, 2022

29 Comments

One year ago, Friday, March 12, 2021, I had big plans for the day — two Zoom gigs and a Covid surge take-out dinner with my sweetie, wrapped and ready to go from our favorite Mexican Restaurant, Paco’s Taco’s.

But…

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,” wrote John Lennon. Instead of enchiladas, I stared down a baby bowl of tepid vegetable soup that a guy from dietary delivered to my hospital room.