About

Aloha! My name is Brad Bordessa. I live in Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi and am a full-time musician and educator. I’ve been playing ukulele for over 20 years.

I’m super passionate about helping people play real music off the top of their head – just like pro musicians. Anyone can learn to ditch their music sheet if given the right tools. I try to provide this intuitive style curriculum with my teaching so that students can begin playing solos, learning songs by ear, and understanding music by feel.

Live Ukulele, since it’s creation in 2007, has been my platform to share my expertise freely, as others in the Hawaiian music scene have shared theirs with me. I hope to help you become a better, more confident musician.

📧 Contact me with questions, to point out site errors, or just to talk story.

Teaching

The majority of my work is in ukulele education. I’ve been teaching group and private lessons since I was 14!

Along the way, I’ve developed a signature style with an emphasis on confidence, self-expression, and musical exploration at any level.

This has led me to inventing many new methods of teaching – to critical acclaim – that nurture a student’s innate abilities.

🍏 I’ve been a staff instructor at:

• George Kahumoku Jr’s. Slack Key & Ukulele Workshop (2016-present)
• Hawaiʻi Island Ukulele Retreat (2013-2018)
• Kahumoku ʻOhana Music & Lifestyle Workshop (2011-2015)

Jammin’ with Herb Ohta, Jr. & Uncle George Kahumoku, Jr. PC: Gail Ginder

I’ve taught countless private and group lessons in my community and at Kō Education Center (formerly NHERC), Waimea Middle School (K-Arts), Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Hōʻā, Hāmākua Youth Center, Waimea Country School, and more.

Traveling for business isn’t so much my bag, but I’ve been near and far to share my teaching over the years:

• Pacific Islands Institute – Capt Sandys ʻUkulele Journey (Hilo, HI)
• Ukewerk – Kurse in Freiburg (Freiburg, Germany)
• Monday Ukulele ʻOhana (Tacoma, WA)
• The Ukulele Site (Wahiawa, HI)

Performing

I play a few gigs a month solo or in groups. Performing feeds my soul and gives me wonderful opportunities to meet new people and grow as a person.

🎶 Notable solo appearances:

• Slack Key Show
• Seattle’s Northwest Folklife Festival
• Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
• Kalama Heritage Festival
• Honokaʻa People’s Theater opening for John Cruz

I’ve shared the stage with Herb Ohta Jr., Sonny Lim, HAPA, the late Martin Pahinui, Hawane Rios, Buckman Coe, and Ledward Kaapana – to name a few.

Playing “Olinda Road” with Hapa at the Mauna Lani

I gig regularly with Keoki Kahumoku and Larry Miller as Sweet Kani Lehua and in my rock/funk/hip-hop band, Kingside.

The very first time I jammed with Uncle Led!

Visit my personal website, BradBordessa.com, to find out more about my music and see where I’m playing next.

My Gear:

These days I primarily play one of two Moore Bettah custom tenors made by Chuck Moore and strung with Uke Logic or Worth CH strings (Savarez Alliance KF95 low-G). Read more about the BB custom here.

From 2007-2013 I played a Kamaka HF-3 full time. You’ll see it in all videos, pictures, and lessons from that era. Read more about it here: My Kamaka HF-3.

Gear Breakdown