bbkobabe
Well-known member
Greetings from NorCal!
After lurking here for a year or so, I've decided to join...Coming to you from Santa Rosa and Sonoma, CA.
I've learned so much from this site in the past, I thought it was time to go all in. I researched here before I bought my first 'real' uke, and ended up with my Kala SSTU Travel Tenor, which I love. I also first heard about Pono ukes here, and so when one turned up used on Craig's List I jumped on it. And I REALLY love my AT-CR! What will I buy next? What would you suggest?
Here is my ukulele origin story: After becoming a decent bass player but striking out on the guitar, it was time for something new. About a year and a half ago, my local public radio station KCRB was offering a Kala uke as a 'gift' for pledging. I thought "why not?" I picked up my yellow Shark right before Thanksgiving day, 2018, and started in. By Christmas, I was sounding pretty good and I upgrades to a Kala mahogany ply concert. Daily playing and the Rise Up Singing books made it happen.
Next, I decided to try something: Teach all my students to play. I was teaching 6th grade at the time, and I suggested to all the parents of my students that they all give ukuleles to their kids as holiday gifts. At the same time, I started buying all the <$40 uke's I could find on CL to hedge my bet.
I worked out great: Most of the parents came through, I loaned out all the ones I had collected, and everybody had one! I know lots of folks on this board like to list all the uke's in their collection. Well... I have 24 kids that all have uke's and all learned how to play. We performed for the entire school at the end of that year, and everyone was blown away by how well we played... It was awesome!
And here is what happened next: It turns out ukuleles are the gateway drug leading to other stringed instruments! Many of my students moved up to guitars and basses, and last year when we were in seventh grade, bands started forming, and now many in the class are jamming together at every recess! Doubly awesome!
Lately, I've been messing around with a borrowed Baritone, which brings my back full circle to my guitar days, almost. I can see now that my hands are too small for a guitar neck, but I can fly around the smaller necks of these ukuleles.
I'm still playing every day and loving every minute of it. Not sure how I'm going to keep the music teaching going, though, what with schools all moving online now... suggestions, anyone?
Anyhow, it's fun to able to post here after lurking for so long... and...
Thanks, UU, for keeping these boards alive!
Bill
After lurking here for a year or so, I've decided to join...Coming to you from Santa Rosa and Sonoma, CA.
I've learned so much from this site in the past, I thought it was time to go all in. I researched here before I bought my first 'real' uke, and ended up with my Kala SSTU Travel Tenor, which I love. I also first heard about Pono ukes here, and so when one turned up used on Craig's List I jumped on it. And I REALLY love my AT-CR! What will I buy next? What would you suggest?
Here is my ukulele origin story: After becoming a decent bass player but striking out on the guitar, it was time for something new. About a year and a half ago, my local public radio station KCRB was offering a Kala uke as a 'gift' for pledging. I thought "why not?" I picked up my yellow Shark right before Thanksgiving day, 2018, and started in. By Christmas, I was sounding pretty good and I upgrades to a Kala mahogany ply concert. Daily playing and the Rise Up Singing books made it happen.
Next, I decided to try something: Teach all my students to play. I was teaching 6th grade at the time, and I suggested to all the parents of my students that they all give ukuleles to their kids as holiday gifts. At the same time, I started buying all the <$40 uke's I could find on CL to hedge my bet.
I worked out great: Most of the parents came through, I loaned out all the ones I had collected, and everybody had one! I know lots of folks on this board like to list all the uke's in their collection. Well... I have 24 kids that all have uke's and all learned how to play. We performed for the entire school at the end of that year, and everyone was blown away by how well we played... It was awesome!
And here is what happened next: It turns out ukuleles are the gateway drug leading to other stringed instruments! Many of my students moved up to guitars and basses, and last year when we were in seventh grade, bands started forming, and now many in the class are jamming together at every recess! Doubly awesome!
Lately, I've been messing around with a borrowed Baritone, which brings my back full circle to my guitar days, almost. I can see now that my hands are too small for a guitar neck, but I can fly around the smaller necks of these ukuleles.
I'm still playing every day and loving every minute of it. Not sure how I'm going to keep the music teaching going, though, what with schools all moving online now... suggestions, anyone?
Anyhow, it's fun to able to post here after lurking for so long... and...
Thanks, UU, for keeping these boards alive!
Bill