janeray1940
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- Nov 19, 2009
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A couple of things I've seen or heard this week have got me to wondering: why are uke players (to generalize) so self-deprecating? First there was this post about a t-shirt*; then a few comments from people I know IRL either face to face or via email basically implying that they are mediocre players at best. Heck, I do it myself sometimes: when someone asks if I'm "good" - kinda dumb question in the first place! - my stock answer is "I'm the best ukulele player on my block," knowing full well, of course, that I am the *only* ukulele player on my block
Many of us didn't even start playing until late in life. Many of us, while juggling the responsibilities of jobs and school and kids and elder care, have also shown the dedication to take up an instrument and learn it. Many of us have gone on to learn far more than we set out to and have shown the commitment to keep it up over the years.
No, that doesn't make us Jake, assuming that Jake is the gold standard by which we are all to be measured (insert note of sarcasm here). For that matter, not all of us even *want* to be Jake. But all of us who come home from work and play music regularly and work somewhat diligently to improve in whatever way we want to or can - well, I think we deserve credit for what we *have* done. So can we all just give ourselves a little pat on the back?
*(The t-shirt, FWIW, also exists in a guitar version. Which surprised me, since I'm used to guitarists who have a bit more... rock-star confidence than that.)
Many of us didn't even start playing until late in life. Many of us, while juggling the responsibilities of jobs and school and kids and elder care, have also shown the dedication to take up an instrument and learn it. Many of us have gone on to learn far more than we set out to and have shown the commitment to keep it up over the years.
No, that doesn't make us Jake, assuming that Jake is the gold standard by which we are all to be measured (insert note of sarcasm here). For that matter, not all of us even *want* to be Jake. But all of us who come home from work and play music regularly and work somewhat diligently to improve in whatever way we want to or can - well, I think we deserve credit for what we *have* done. So can we all just give ourselves a little pat on the back?
*(The t-shirt, FWIW, also exists in a guitar version. Which surprised me, since I'm used to guitarists who have a bit more... rock-star confidence than that.)