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| Ukulele Small in Size, Big in Popularity It weighs less than two pounds and is smaller than a violin. But what the ukulele lacks in size, it more than makes up for in popularity. Ukulele strummers by the thousands - all over the world - happily play jazz, pop, country, rock, Latin, and even classical music, says Gerry Long, who has written three music books for ukulele players. "You can learn your first two chords on a uke and accompany yourself on a song in just a couple of hours. And a decent ukulele costs less than $100, " says Long, who also publishes a monthly e-magazine called UKE-TIPS. Long notes how the uke, as it's known to aficionados, is an extraordinary social instrument too, with enthusiasts making new friends and acquaintances through many uke clubs that are springing up worldwide. With many retirees, ukulele activities have greatly expanded their social circle. Uke classes at community centers, social clubs and senior centers are packed - and Ukulele festivals are drawing thousands of attendees. Some 3, 000 attended a recent festival in New York, while over 2, 000 were on hand for one in Southern California. As with other instruments, the ukulele world has its celebrities. Names like Jake Shimabukuro (several million have viewed his performances on YouTube), Abe Lagrimas, and Canadian performer James Hill have astounded the music world with their technical skills. One of the ukulele world's greatest stars, Bill Tapia, just turned 100 on Jan 1, and still continues his 90-year regimen of performing, traveling and teaching. A professional musician since age 14, (he was a vaudeville performer), he is believed to be the world's oldest active performing musician. "Maybe you played the violin, clarinet, piano through high school, and gave it up because of professional commitments, " Long says. "Apply your skills to the ukulele, and experience the joy of playing music again. You'll feel as though you haven't skipped a beat." write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |