Of course I have more thoughts about the ukulele, and music in general, because, as with so many other things in life, there’s always some new aspect to cover. And I knew when I started that there’d be things I’d discover that would surprise me. I just had no idea what they were because if I did they wouldn’t have surprised me. One of those is that by picking up the ukulele I was actually joining a community. Of course that’s true of any musical instrument, and it’s true of singing, and really it’s true of almost any pursuit, but unlike, say, writing, which I’ve done for most of my life and which is very much a solitary activity, music is something you can do by yourself or with others. Some people do play music just for themselves and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it can also be a lot of fun in a group, and, yeah, it sounds like I could just as easily be talking about something else, but fossil hunting is an entirely different subject.
I first realized I’d become part of a group a few months after I started playing the ukulele. I was at work and found an empty conference room to practice in during my lunch break. I was sitting there by myself happily playing chords—badly—and a woman came in and sat down. She told me there was going to be a meeting in there later but that she really liked the ukulele. She told me she remembered watching Tiny Tim when she was young and also that her father played the ukulele. I thought, wow, what are the odds I’d meet a random person who knew a ukulele player? Then another woman came in, there for the same meeting, and told me she played the ukulele too, although it had been a few years since she last picked it up. And I thought, wow, what are the odds of that? Then a third woman came in and told me she’d taken up ukulele playing when she had a really stressful job and that it was the one thing she could do on her lunch break that relieved some of the stress. At that point I stopped wondering what the odds were and regretted not buying a lottery ticket because a fourth woman came in and told me she didn’t just play; she had a woodworking shop and had built her own ukulele. I was starting to wonder if I’d walked into a convention, but then several other people came in who were talking about fourth quarter earnings or something else business related. That seemed to be for the best because I had to get back to work. But as I’ve continued playing I’ve found that so many people, some I’ve known, some I’ve just met, play or used to play the ukulele too.
I picked it up because I wanted to try learning a musical instrument, and it seemed simple and inviting and fun, and it is, but I didn’t realize I was also joining a group.
Now for a completely random thought that came to me one day as I was strumming the strings: Ukulele players tune their instruments by singing “My dog has fleas”, guitar players tune their instruments by singing, “My dog does not have fleas”, and sitar players tune their instruments by singing, “Enough with the dogs and the fleas, I don’t know why you’re talking about them, and anyway I have a cat.”
I’m still at the point where I try not to inflict my playing on others but it is a fun instrument. And it still amazes me that I met three ukulele players purely by coincidence, though George Hinchliffe, founder of the Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, has said, “We may be responsible for the ukulele surging in popularity, and for that I am deeply sorry.”
The ukulele is a great instrument—so accessible. My aunt plays it too!
mydangblog recently posted…Third Time Ain’t The Charm
That’s one of the things I love about the ukulele: so many people play it. I’ve always thought of it as a funny, kind of eccentric instrument favored by outsiders but it turns out it’s so much more popular than I realized. And sometimes it’s good to be popular.
Music to my ears and eyes, Chris. I have found that most people have some feelings or connections to the ukulele — all positive! I’m so glad I’m in the group of ukulele players, like you.
Ann Koplow recently posted…Day 4410: Keep Going
And being ukulele players puts us in a group that includes George Harrison, among others. I love that there’s a whole community of ukulele players ranging from amateurs and beginners like me all the way up to dedicated professionals. And it’s wonderful that you and I have something else that connects us.