Ukulele Major: Why not?!?

ItsAMeCasey

ItsAMeCasey

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Hey guys, been a long time since I've posted anything. Haven't been playing a lot of Ukulele lately due to school.

I'm in my first semester at the University of Hawaii studying music education, and my main musical focus for the last half a year has been my major instrument, the tuba. I was wondering though, why the college of music doesn't consider the Ukulele as a major instrument. After seeing Jake and the other Ukulele greats play, it's pretty evident that the Ukulele is a "serious" instrument. There's also no shortage of Ukulele virtuosos in Hawaii lol. I also see the Ukulele being a more practical instrument than, let's say, a tuba, in a classroom environment. Feel free to discuss! I'd love to hear the UU'ers opinions!
 
ItsAMeCasey said:
Hey guys, been a long time since I've posted anything. Haven't been playing a lot of Ukulele lately due to school.

I'm in my first semester at the University of Hawaii studying music education, and my main musical focus for the last half a year has been my major instrument, the tuba. I was wondering though, why the college of music doesn't consider the Ukulele as a major instrument. After seeing Jake and the other Ukulele greats play, it's pretty evident that the Ukulele is a "serious" instrument. There's also no shortage of Ukulele virtuosos in Hawaii lol. I also see the Ukulele being a more practical instrument than, let's say, a tuba, in a classroom environment. Feel free to discuss! I'd love to hear the UU'ers opinions!
Click to expand...

Can't you work with a counselor in creating your own emphasis within a music major?
 
What Gary said. Is there some way that you might be able to develop a major (at my college when I was there, we called it "independent concentration") by cobbling together as many Music Department classes as you can and some Hawaiian music classes? I don't know much about majoring in music (I created for myself a major called social psychology) but I imagine someone in the Music Department ought to be able to advise you on how to major in Music and concentrate in ukulele.
 
mds725 said:
What Gary said. Is there some way that you might be able to develop a major (at my college when I was there, we called it "independent concentration") by cobbling together as many Music Department classes as you can and some Hawaiian music classes? I don't know much about majoring in music (I created for myself a major called social psychology) but I imagine someone in the Music Department ought to be able to advise you on how to major in Music and concentrate in ukulele.
Click to expand...

Isn't that what I said?

:rofl:

In my defense I was typing during the passing period for the kids (high school teacher).
 
I was a tuba major at the University of Nebraska. There was always talk about the lack of a guitar program, and folk instruments. A few folk instruments were taught for the Elementary Music Education portion of the K - 6 music education degree, but nowhere does the U offer ways for folk musicians to become classically trained.

That was years ago. Now there is a guitar program stemming from the jazz band instructor who is a jazz guitarist.

Guessing that these institutions of higher learning focus on classical music instruments as majors. Guess they have to draw the line somewhere. Maybe after several decades of music pieces written for ukulele and orchestra the uke could be a major instrument? Or look at what John King was doing, that might be another approach to being a uke major... play some of the stuff John was doing.
 
Perhaps all of us UU members should write to the head of the music department at the University of Hawaii and ask the same question?:D
 
There is only one ukulele major that I know of. One of my artists, Frankie de Rosa, is the first (and at one time only, not sure if this is still the case) principle ukulele major at the Berklee College of music. He started a year ago, so that is the first time they ever had a ukulele major, so they were still learning what to do with him! He has grown so much already in this first year and I am looking forward to seeing where he will be! So... in short... yes, it is possible! Surprised they dont have it already! Wonder if it is something that will come about later. You can always advocate for it and put a bug in someones ear! GOOD LUCK!

 
gyosh said:
Isn't that what I said?

:rofl:

In my defense I was typing during the passing period for the kids (high school teacher).
Click to expand...

I *did* begin with "What Gary said." :) I just took a lot longer to say it. Like Dickens, I get paid by the word.
 
I would only pursue a music major if the uke were allowed and encouraged! I play piano (classically trained) and other instruments, but the uke is the one I play most and that I can use to reach the most people. If I decided a music degree were worth something to me, I would advocate for the uke.
All the best to you, let us know when something comes of this!
 
At my uni, people in the music program looked down on guitar majors... Like hoping there was some other reason for choosing that. Maybe music is only your minor, or hopefully you're a composition major and it's just your tool. That's not right to do, but there you go. Musicians stuck in the academic setting can get strange elitist ideas and can be very stuck in their ways. Think of that professor you knew, in whatever subject, that sort of forgot what the world was like outside college. Those won't be the teachers you remember as the best ones, but they're usually the ones making decisions.. Since they've been there longest.

That's the first of many obstacles for the music teacher or student, who's really out there and noticing there's a new instrument in town.
 
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When I was at Carnegie-Mellon decades ago they had at least one person getting a degree in bagpipe !

So, why not major in ukulele. I'd much rather listen to a uke.
 
I believe that the reason is that it is not yet too with heavy books and striking arrangements for ukulele. Something as he wrote "Lyle Ritz" and James King.
And as the second reason I think that it is still a little composed and published compositions for solo ukulele.
I believe that schools do not get the material from which to create an educational program.
So compose and write new things!
 
Also, if you take lessons at a university level, you expect the best from your teacher. You don't want some person who just got a Mahalo to teach you. You want a specialist. When you're looking for a music program, you're not just looking for any program, but one strong in your instrument. I can't see universities hiring a uke-only teacher, so it'd be down to the guitar teacher.. how motivated, and how good they are.
 
One more thought. For me the most to this topic did James Hill with his project "Ukulele in the Classroom." Only it would be necessary that he or someone else wrote the books "Ukulele in the University".
And when a player has completed a book on the ukulele, play it with no problem arranging his "Billie Jean".
 
Ondrej said:
One more thought. For me the most to this topic did James Hill with his project "Ukulele in the Classroom." Only it would be necessary that he or someone else wrote the books "Ukulele in the University".
And when a player has completed a book on the ukulele, play it with no problem arranging his "Billie Jean".
Click to expand...

But the repertoire you go through in college, it's not from any one text book or method book. It's down to how good your instructor is, and how motivated you are to find challenging pieces. You play these pieces at recitals and take part in multiple ensembles. I'm trying to say it's a bit more involved than that.

I don't mean at all to say it's impossible, not in the least bit. Especially in freaking Hawaii. But there are some challenges. They're challenges that can be met, but it'd be cool to see.
 
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Plainsong said:
But the repertoire you go through in college, it's not from any one text book or method book. It's down to how good your instructor is, and how motivated you are to find challenging pieces. You play these pieces at recitals and take part in multiple ensembles. I'm trying to say it's a bit more involved than that.

I don't mean at all to say it's impossible, not in the least bit. Especially in freaking Hawaii. But there are some challenges. They're challenges that can be met, but it'd be cool to see.
Click to expand...

Dear Plainsong.
I agree with you. I just think that a good teacher needs a lot of books from the large repertoire ranges. Then he can choose songs by students of difficulty and so students move to the next level. For my ukulele students, I had to start tablatures write. Everyone has different technical levels.
 
Looks like you are going to have to write some more challenging stuff for us, please!

Ondrej said:
I believe that the reason is that it is not yet too with heavy books and striking arrangements for ukulele. Something as he wrote "Lyle Ritz" and James King.
And as the second reason I think that it is still a little composed and published compositions for solo ukulele.
I believe that schools do not get the material from which to create an educational program.
So compose and write new things!
Click to expand...
 
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