joeybug
Well-known member
Hi everyone 
This time two years ago, I had no idea that the next day (August 31st) I was going to go into town and buy a purple Ukulele (Astrid) that would change so much of my life! Yes, it's been two years almost, well the official Ukieversary is tomorrow, but I wasn't sure if I would have time to post and didn't want to miss it!
So, what have I achieved in two years of Ukulele playing? Well, I now have eight Ukuleles, and barely play Astrid any more - mostly because of a fret buzz that I can't seem to fix no matter what I try. Yet, I can't get rid of her because she is the one that started it all. I started this blog in January 2011 and had been playing at that point for four and a bit months and had four Ukuleles - hence the name! I've since doubled that number and have an idea what I would like for numbers #9 & #10, though I won't share them here!
I have managed to learn so much about the wonderful ukulele, I have done numerous UU+ classes, had a free lesson or two from Ukulele teachers and have made a huge number of friends. In the last year, I have released a single - thanks to my friend, Kim and her husband, Anders working flat out to make my mess of chords into something recognisable and wonderful! I have finished learning every song in the book "The Daily Ukulele" and anxiously await book two where I plan to do the same thing again
A while back, in the early days of my playing, I did a "Ten reasons to play Ukulele" and thought that for my Ukeiversary, I would repeat that with some more personal reasons for me and why I continue to play!
1. FUN - I have had so much fun over the past two years, it's such a great little instrument that seems to always bring a smile to my face and I very rarely get frustrated when learning even the hardest songs.
2. FRIENDS - I have made so many good friends and it seems to be that no matter where you are in the world, the Ukulele will break down language barriers and bring the most loving people into your life.
3. PAIN RELIEF - As some of you know, I have Fibromyalgia which causes me a lot of pain, I worried at times that it would inhibit my ability to play, but so far it doesn't matter how much pain I am in, I am able to do something with the Ukulele that will bring a smile and some relief to me.
4. UAS - People joke about their being an "Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome" and that once you buy one, you get hooked into buying more. I agree that there could be a basis for this, but to be honest, every Ukulele I own sounds different and I like it that way, so for me, UAS, isn't a negative. If I don't have the funds, I don't buy! Plus there's nothing like the wait to get your Ukulele shaped parcel and open it!
5. FLEXIBILITY - The Ukulele is portable, you can buy ones small and sturdy enough to carry anywhere, you can buy ones that are large or small, buy ones that can be silent or loud and the flexibility of it allows you to take it anywhere (within reason) and play, whether it's the middle of the night or day, you can have it on headphones or blasting through an amp, it's flexible to suit your needs.
6. SOUND - The Ukulele sounds very unique, like I said, all eight of mine have different sounds - be that because they are different shapes or models, different tone woods. Solid or laminate or plastic or a mixture of all three.
7. COMMUNITY - The Ukulele community is by far, one of the friendliest and accepting of any I have been a part of. There are bad apples, but that's normal. The majority of people who are part of this worldwide community are there, willing to help and happy to see someone else be bitten by the Ukulele bug!
8. ADDICTIVENESS - I have yet to meet anyone who had a serious go at the Ukulele and wasn't bitten by the bug, people go from being a one instrument player, such as a guitar and are then interested in the Uke and suddenly, it's the only thing they can talk about.
9. EASE OF LEARNING - I used to play Oboe before my lungs put a stop to that, then I dabbled with Viola and when I left school pretty much stopped playing an instrument, until I picked up the Ukulele. It was so easy to learn the chords, the fingerings. I struggled with the strumming (mostly the up), but it didn't stop me from moving forward with my playing.
10. UKULELE "CRAZE" - At this point in time, with the internet making things a whole lot easier, the Ukulele is going through a craze. People are becoming more drawn to it because of some of the points I've made and from there become serious players. Others have always been playing (Hawai'i I'm looking at you!) and there has even been talk in the UK of swapping the recorder for the Ukulele. A move I approve wholeheartedly!
So, there you have it, ten reasons why I play Ukulele and why I think you should too! It's been a great two years and I can see myself in another year or two feeling the same way. Especially now that I have the band - The Rocking Dodars - and a group of friends who have helped me along the way!
So thanks for all the help, support, encouragement and down right awesomeness! Here's to another two years!
This time two years ago, I had no idea that the next day (August 31st) I was going to go into town and buy a purple Ukulele (Astrid) that would change so much of my life! Yes, it's been two years almost, well the official Ukieversary is tomorrow, but I wasn't sure if I would have time to post and didn't want to miss it!
So, what have I achieved in two years of Ukulele playing? Well, I now have eight Ukuleles, and barely play Astrid any more - mostly because of a fret buzz that I can't seem to fix no matter what I try. Yet, I can't get rid of her because she is the one that started it all. I started this blog in January 2011 and had been playing at that point for four and a bit months and had four Ukuleles - hence the name! I've since doubled that number and have an idea what I would like for numbers #9 & #10, though I won't share them here!
I have managed to learn so much about the wonderful ukulele, I have done numerous UU+ classes, had a free lesson or two from Ukulele teachers and have made a huge number of friends. In the last year, I have released a single - thanks to my friend, Kim and her husband, Anders working flat out to make my mess of chords into something recognisable and wonderful! I have finished learning every song in the book "The Daily Ukulele" and anxiously await book two where I plan to do the same thing again
A while back, in the early days of my playing, I did a "Ten reasons to play Ukulele" and thought that for my Ukeiversary, I would repeat that with some more personal reasons for me and why I continue to play!
TEN REASONS TO PLAY UKULELE
1. FUN - I have had so much fun over the past two years, it's such a great little instrument that seems to always bring a smile to my face and I very rarely get frustrated when learning even the hardest songs.
2. FRIENDS - I have made so many good friends and it seems to be that no matter where you are in the world, the Ukulele will break down language barriers and bring the most loving people into your life.
3. PAIN RELIEF - As some of you know, I have Fibromyalgia which causes me a lot of pain, I worried at times that it would inhibit my ability to play, but so far it doesn't matter how much pain I am in, I am able to do something with the Ukulele that will bring a smile and some relief to me.
4. UAS - People joke about their being an "Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome" and that once you buy one, you get hooked into buying more. I agree that there could be a basis for this, but to be honest, every Ukulele I own sounds different and I like it that way, so for me, UAS, isn't a negative. If I don't have the funds, I don't buy! Plus there's nothing like the wait to get your Ukulele shaped parcel and open it!
5. FLEXIBILITY - The Ukulele is portable, you can buy ones small and sturdy enough to carry anywhere, you can buy ones that are large or small, buy ones that can be silent or loud and the flexibility of it allows you to take it anywhere (within reason) and play, whether it's the middle of the night or day, you can have it on headphones or blasting through an amp, it's flexible to suit your needs.
6. SOUND - The Ukulele sounds very unique, like I said, all eight of mine have different sounds - be that because they are different shapes or models, different tone woods. Solid or laminate or plastic or a mixture of all three.
7. COMMUNITY - The Ukulele community is by far, one of the friendliest and accepting of any I have been a part of. There are bad apples, but that's normal. The majority of people who are part of this worldwide community are there, willing to help and happy to see someone else be bitten by the Ukulele bug!
8. ADDICTIVENESS - I have yet to meet anyone who had a serious go at the Ukulele and wasn't bitten by the bug, people go from being a one instrument player, such as a guitar and are then interested in the Uke and suddenly, it's the only thing they can talk about.
9. EASE OF LEARNING - I used to play Oboe before my lungs put a stop to that, then I dabbled with Viola and when I left school pretty much stopped playing an instrument, until I picked up the Ukulele. It was so easy to learn the chords, the fingerings. I struggled with the strumming (mostly the up), but it didn't stop me from moving forward with my playing.
10. UKULELE "CRAZE" - At this point in time, with the internet making things a whole lot easier, the Ukulele is going through a craze. People are becoming more drawn to it because of some of the points I've made and from there become serious players. Others have always been playing (Hawai'i I'm looking at you!) and there has even been talk in the UK of swapping the recorder for the Ukulele. A move I approve wholeheartedly!
So, there you have it, ten reasons why I play Ukulele and why I think you should too! It's been a great two years and I can see myself in another year or two feeling the same way. Especially now that I have the band - The Rocking Dodars - and a group of friends who have helped me along the way!
So thanks for all the help, support, encouragement and down right awesomeness! Here's to another two years!
