The New York Times on Ukuleles

Aloha, everyone.

This morning I came across this 2011 New York Times article about the growing community of ukulele players.  New York Times  You might find it interesting.  I did.

Portland, Maine Site of First Public Performance of Hawaiian Music in 1838

According to the award-winning book "The 'Ukulele, A History" published by the University of Hawai'i Press in 2012,  "As James Revell Carr points out, this [the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893] wasn't the first commercial or public performance of Hawaiian music on the mainland:  Four Native Hawaiian sailors gave a concert 'in the native Sandwich Island language' in Portland, Maine, in 1838." [pages 55-56].

I know, I know.  Who knew?

Heidi Swedberg on playing the ukulele

I have a uke hero, Heidi Swedberg.  She played the character of Susan Ross on Seinfeld as George Costanza’s doomed fiancé.  I didn’t know that; and, in fact, never heard of Heidi until I read about her in an interview in the Spring 2014 issue of Ukulele Magazine.  She’s an amazing person, but what most interested me in the interview was her views on playing the ukulele.  From that interview:

     “ ‘Here’s the thing, this is what I really believe in,’ she continues.  ‘I think it’s far more important to make music than to be good at making it.‘  [LDU: What a great philosophy.  And she teaches uke!] . . . “

     “. . . ‘What I want more than anything,’ she says, ‘is to encourage others to play, to sing, to make music, to have music in their own lives, as a vital part of their lives.  And you don’t have to be good for it to be vital.  I stand for making music no matter how bad you suck.’ 

     “She laughs again, then bangs on the table, emphasizing every other word with its own bang.

     “ ‘I think!’  Bang!  ‘You totally!’  Bang!  ‘Have to!’  Bang!  ‘Get over!’  Bang!  ‘Your fear!’  Bang!  ‘Of!’  Bang!  ‘Sucking!’ [LDU:  Well, that’s certainly dramatic; but you get the point.]”