2012: It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn . . . (lyrics from “Feeling Good” – Nina Simone) and it’s time to embrace a new hobby!
So why take up the ukulele? The reasons are myriad (well two!). Playing an instrument looks such fun – though of course what you are not seeing is the struggle along the way prior to mastery! And of course it is very good for your brain (as is learning a language – a challenge for another year . . . ).
I chose the ukulele simply because it is supposed to be an easy instrument to learn. This is however all relative! French and Spanish are supposedly easy languages and they seemed to take quite a bit of effort to me!
It also has the advantage of being small and light. Maybe that’s why it is called the “uku lele” –literally “jumping flea” in Hawaii – where it comes from.
I have attacked the task with my usual vim and at least unlike the violin (which I played as a child) it sounds quite nice. Still not really got the strumming motion right yet though, and the tips of the fingers on my left hand seem to have gone numb. Undeterred I will practice my few chords today.
Indebted to youtube for so much free tuition!
In case anyone fancies following suit I bought my uke from the one and only
Duke of Uke (recently moved from Hanbury St to Cheshire St – off Brick Lane).
Video to follow once I can do a tune – may be a few months . . .!
