I went to my first meeting of the new, local uke group last night. It was brought to my attention by another UUer (thanks, again, guitharsis!). The group meets once a month, and began in September.
I didn't quite know what to expect, but was very excited anyway....I'd never been to a uke group before, and have been lamenting the lack of a local group for over a year.
The group meets at a downtown music store, Bernunzio's Music. They sell mostly higher-end and vintage instruments; guitars, banjos and ukuleles, mostly. In ukes, they carry Pono, Koolau (sp?), Flea/Fluke, Republic resonators, and what I think may have been Myamoe (sp?). There may have been others that I missed.
The turnout was good; there were 26 of us in all. We sat in a large circle, two deep in some spots, and were given hand-outs of song sheets for 10 - 12 Christmas songs. We worked our way through them all, playing in unison. I think the arrangements were intentionally easy, as many of the group seem to be beginners. Felice Navidad was the hit of the evening, closely followed by Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
I had a ball! I've never played with anyone else before, and found that I liked it....alot! I guess we probably didn't sound wonderful, but I didn't care. 26 ukes, some of them banjuleles, many played by novices....you get the picture. The hour and a half went by too quickly, and soon it was time to go.
Next month's theme is Hawaiian songs. I can't wait!
My intent here is not necessarily to plug this particular uke group, but to share my experience as a first-time group attendee. If you've never played uke with others, if you've been self-conscious about your playing ability or shy about playing in front of strangers....go to a uke group! Heck, they make too much noise to hear what you're playing, anyways! If you get lost on a song, quit playing 'til you find your place and then jump right back in....no one will mind.
First thing I learned? Next month I'm not sitting quite so close to the banjuleles! I love 'em, but they're LOUD. I couldn't hear much else.
Anyone one else had a recent first-time uke group experience?
I didn't quite know what to expect, but was very excited anyway....I'd never been to a uke group before, and have been lamenting the lack of a local group for over a year.
The group meets at a downtown music store, Bernunzio's Music. They sell mostly higher-end and vintage instruments; guitars, banjos and ukuleles, mostly. In ukes, they carry Pono, Koolau (sp?), Flea/Fluke, Republic resonators, and what I think may have been Myamoe (sp?). There may have been others that I missed.
The turnout was good; there were 26 of us in all. We sat in a large circle, two deep in some spots, and were given hand-outs of song sheets for 10 - 12 Christmas songs. We worked our way through them all, playing in unison. I think the arrangements were intentionally easy, as many of the group seem to be beginners. Felice Navidad was the hit of the evening, closely followed by Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
I had a ball! I've never played with anyone else before, and found that I liked it....alot! I guess we probably didn't sound wonderful, but I didn't care. 26 ukes, some of them banjuleles, many played by novices....you get the picture. The hour and a half went by too quickly, and soon it was time to go.
Next month's theme is Hawaiian songs. I can't wait!
My intent here is not necessarily to plug this particular uke group, but to share my experience as a first-time group attendee. If you've never played uke with others, if you've been self-conscious about your playing ability or shy about playing in front of strangers....go to a uke group! Heck, they make too much noise to hear what you're playing, anyways! If you get lost on a song, quit playing 'til you find your place and then jump right back in....no one will mind.
First thing I learned? Next month I'm not sitting quite so close to the banjuleles! I love 'em, but they're LOUD. I couldn't hear much else.
Anyone one else had a recent first-time uke group experience?