There is a school of thought that human beings are 'hard-wired' for music. Our evolutionary process has depended on music to uplift, calm, educate, entertain and energize us. This has gone on since someone first decided it sounded good to repeatedly clonk a stone upon a hollow log.
But eventually, with the advent of Rock and Roll, melody and rhythm making was taken out of the hands of the many and put into an elite realm of the few. Only those with the capability and desire to form bands comprised of electric instruments and drumkits could participate. Although the folk movement of the 1960s provided a home-based reaction to the mass selling of Rock music: ukulele might well have taken off then; instead, it was the banjo that came into its own, largely thanks to Pete Seeger.
But anyone who has carried a heavy banjo for any length of time will appreciate what a ukulele has to offer. It can go anywhere. You can make music anytime: campfire, party, sleepover, boat ride or wedding. Its easy to carry on the bus and unobtrusive enough to play in an airport lounge.
Ukulele provides an easy way into song for musical people who are intimidated by more difficult instruments. Perceived as an instrument on which a modicum of success seems readily attainable, it fulfills the need that many people have to make their own music; especially within groups of friends and acquaintances. These days it seems that ordinary folks are more willing than ever to get up and perform even though they know they'll never sound like Mariah, Shania, Manilow, or Willie.
Ukulele groups continue to spring up everywhere. Andy Andrews, another ex-hippy, or freak, as they were once known and founder of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz (California) says, 'There's a ukulele wind blowing across the land.... Here and there a vortex whips up; and where it touches down that's where a ukulele club begins.'
I think he has something there, and he wasn't on drugs or alcohol either!
Ukuleles are powerful in bringing communities and generations together.
My own Vancouver Ukulele Circle is one of the oldest of the modern clubs. Members include everyone from tiny toddlers to 20 year olds to old codgers nearly double my own age. Since the year 2000 I have seen hundreds of people go from shy beginner to grinning stage performer.
Chalmers Doane taught scores of Canadian teachers to play uke and as a result of his work generations of children have learned an instrument with which one can sing, and, is gentle enough on small hands. His work continues thanks to James Hill, himself a product of Doane's work, whose ukulele teacher certification program will ensure future crops of young ukulele enthusiasts. While this is going on, older generations are taking it upon themselves to meet up in community halls and retirement centers, learning uke and singing together.
Innovative are the ways that the internet can be used. For example; When a group of facebook friends want to meet and play music they may find themselves without a strong musical leader. The solution? Have everyone sit around a computer and play along with their favourite performances on Youtube. All it takes is some pre-work to find words and chords in the same keys as the Youtube songs. It should also be noted that advances in electronic tuner technology have made it far easier for beginners to keep in tune with each other.
A huge boon has been the access to good learning materials. It took me years to learn the tricks of my troubadour trade. After 12 years of self-learning, I brought out my 1st DVD: The Complete Ukulele Course. I held nothing back. I taught everything I could think of in the best way I knew how. Nearly 10 years on, it gives me a thrill to think that my DVDs have helped to teach 1000s of new ukuleleists, often in faraway places. These days you'll find books, dvds and teachers galore. You can learn to play uke in just about any style for about the cost of a haircut and sometimes for free (thanks to volunteers and online tutorials).
Ukulele is fast losing its status as a 'joke' instrument. It is poised to join mainstream instruments like the saxophone. The sax was once a musical device associated with clowns and vaudeville comedians until the persistent virtuosity of Coleman Hawkins brought it securely into the jazz fold.
There is no longer any need for ukuleles to sit on the musical fringes. The quality and numbers of musical converts plus inspired luthiery mean that the ukulele is about to find its rightful place alongside the list of 'approved' instruments which include violins, guitars, mandolins and harps.
Many years ago the Harmony company produced a ukulele on which was inscribed: Music self-played is happiness self-made. That is as true now as it was in the 1920s.
In predicting the present pervasiveness of ukulele it turns out I did pretty well; albeit for reasons I could never have foreseen. Therefore I now draw on my proven powers of premonition to offer the following statement:
Ha! you ain't seen nothing yet.
DVDs to help you learn ukulele:
1 The Complete Ukulele Course gets you started with tuning and strumming. Then teaches you left and right hand techniques such as rolls, triplets, ornament notes, the Formby split stroke, waltz and jig time, playing chords up the neck and the basics of melody chording.
2 Essential Strums for the Ukulele gives you specific strums and a song to go with each one. These include: samba, blues, clawhammer, bossa nova, bo-diddley, reggae, march, waltz, syncopation, and much more. People tell me they come back to this DVD again and again.
3 Ukulele Play Along has the chord changes up on the screen and you get to strum and sing along. A fun way to practice!
4 The Complete Ukulele Course for Kids Get this dvd for the child in your life and it could change their life. Ukulele is a joyful introduction to music education.
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