Ukuleles

    

      It Was A Family Thing...........

      A 1920's banjo ukulele my grandmother had picked up in the 20's at a roadside stand in San Jose had hung on the living room wall for years. My mom had even had the head replaced in the 70's. I was,to some extent,a snotty teen when it came to musical instruments- so I never touched it. I played one instrument at that time,guitar. Being the pre internet days,I had no access to hear ukulele music,and there was nobody in the area that played (that I knew about).

   Fast forward into the 21st century and I'm working part time. A good many of my then co-workers are buying ukes and taking classes. The instrument has gained a huge surge in popularity. Nearly everybody is not only playing one,it's deemed as a cool instrument! A far cry from the days of my youth. I still had that banjo uke of my grandmothers. Not very well made,but I get a set of strings anyway,tune it up,and am amazed at how fun it is to knock around on the thing. My Father at this point is blown away at my suddenly playing the uke. He deems it a mere toy,and wonders why I'm wasting my time with it. I wind up buying a slightly better ukulele and am taking it to the part time job with me. Then I wind up selling that and getting better ukuleles,my main ones now being a Daniel Ho concert size model,a Savannah Baritone ukulele,and as of last Christmas,a Gretsch reso uke.

  My Dad also got to see some videos of the Ukulele Orchestra of G. B.,and is now a fan of the instrument. The conversion power of the uke is tiny but mighty. Unlike any other instrument I've ever seen. I've wound up being a teacher of the instrument,favoring blues and the tunes of the roaring 20's and teaching baritone uke in addition to soprano.