I started playing ukulele out of curiosity…Matt brought one home and it looked very interesting, friendly, even. I played it one time and was hooked. Addicted. In Love.
There is something so wonderful about the ukulele. Its sound is beautiful, it’s fairly simple to get started on–you can be playing songs your first lesson–the strings don’t hurt my finger like guitar strings do, it’s small and portable, I can play it anywhere. Sometimes I’ll be out and about, working, errands, something, and I suddenly think, “man, I just wish I was home playing my ukulele.” It’s that fun.
My favorite thing to do after we get our boys to bed is pull out my giant book of ukulele songs and just play and play and play. It is a great stress reliever. This week I’ve been working on Hotel California, To Make You Feel My Love, and Georgia on My Mind.
Being a percussionist/drummer, I’m accustomed to lugging massive amounts of equipment around. But ukulele, it’s one tiny bag! It’s so light! I discovered I can play while we’re on road trips and it passes the time beautifully (I mean, when I’m riding, not driving. Don’t worry.).
I have been dreaming of one day starting a non-profit that provides ukuleles and teachers to people on bed-rest and/or children in the hospital.
So, if you’re looking for something to bring you joy, relieve stress, or start a new hobby, may I suggest the ukulele? Jake Shimabukuro, rock-star of the ukulele, once said, “If everyone played the ukulele, this world would be a much happier place.”
I couldn’t agree more.