Community

I had another very busy week full of uke related activities. What I discovered was that Hawaiian music is not just about playing beautiful songs, it' about community. On Saturday I spent the morning with all of Saichi's past, present, and future students at his home assembling the Kapalakiko Newsletter which goes out to 5,000 families worldwide. Prior to the event I had no idea what to expect. I thought there would be about 10 of us sitting around trying to come up with newsletter ideas to write about. When I showed up 30 minutes early, there were already 30 people sorting paper, stapling packets, and preparing mailing labels all in an assembly type fashion. What a great surprise! As I took my place in the staple station I met several other uke lovers who exceptionally positive and spirited about the whole 'Aloha' spirit. This was my first real experience of Hawaiian love. For the next 5 hours we worked away while learning about each others' life (uke) stories and how we ended up learning from Saichi. It was heartwarming.

Monday night I had class again and we worked on Waikaloa. It's still really hard for me to sing and play at the same time. Mostly because I really don't know the words that well yet and it tends to throw me off as I try to spit/slur/mumble them out. I should really sit down and learn some basic Hawaiian language pronunciation. I'm sure learning the meaning of some key words would also help familiarize myself to the language.

Tuesday was my 3rd band rehearsal. We struggled through some songs in the beginning but after some warm-up we were sounding a lot better. I definitely could not sing along with some of the Hawaiian songs the first go around. The most challenging but beautiful are Manu Mele and Te Tiare which has some French in it too. My all-time favorite at this point is I Miss My Hawaii. I have the link of my first 'performance' of it. I hope you love it as much as I do. (Keep in mind I need to work on my voice).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mg2tlvXzo

Today (Wednesday, April 29, 2010) I got together with some coworkers to start planning a talent show at work! I plan to play the 'I Miss My Hawaii' song with my guitar teacher along with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' (although it's incredibly hard for me to sing this one since I have such a limited vocal range). BUT I did manage to convince a coworker who grew up in Hawaii to teach some people the hula to go with the songs I'll play. I can't wait. It will be on June 10th so I'll be sure to post the video.

One of my favorite coworkers is relocating to Chicago. I'm going to miss her a ton...she even thought about picking up the uke after she played some chords at our backpacking trip in Big Sur. I plan to get her a uke as a going away gift. One day when we meet again we would have to play together.

So...this week has been about community. The ukulele started as a fun activity for me to do. Now it's become my life and has opened the doors to an entirely new, loving, and passionate community of Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart. I'm just as excited about this new part of my life as I was the first time I heard Jake Shimabukuro on the uke.

Here's another song I have been learning 'White Sandy Beach.' It's Bobby's favorite so far of the 'English' songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjhvuUbbiq4

Learning about Jake, then meeting him...all in two week's time

March 12, 2010 - Jake Shimabukuro was featured in on www.CNN.com

(http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/showbiz/2010/03/11/jake.shimabukuro.ted2010.cnn). His video, created for Ted.com, was one of the most popular videos to watch...and being an avid news junkie, I clicked on it and was instantly dazzled by Jake's passion for the Ukulele. He likened the instrument to a little child's voice - high pitched, happy, and one that just puts you in a good mood. The next thing I did was go to www.YouTube.com to watch him perform some songs. At once, I sent an email to my guitar teacher with the link.

He wrote back:

"We shall be focusing on playing like Bruce Lee from now on. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k
Thanks Ellen"

That was all I needed before I knew that the Uke would be the next big thing in my life.

March 15, 2010 - I made a list of things that I would really like to have in my life and sent it to my husband, Bobby.

It read:

Subject Line: Expensive Gifts for Ellen's milestones

"Just keeping a list in case I forget:

• Waterproof digital camcorder (small and easy to hold and use)
• Food dehydrator (mini one please)
• Ukulele (I'd like to learn the instrument and I'm willing to sell a guitar if that's what it takes)
• Puppy (always the number one choice from the list of gifts)"

March 19, 2010 - after doing some shopping to prepare for a party the next day, Bobby pulled over at the Guitar Center on Vanness Street by our home. He said, "we're here to buy you a ukulele." Jumping out of the car with big smile, I found myself strumming the ukulele for the first time.

'Wait a second...the chords are completely different from the guitar! Ok...only four strings. This is going to be harder than I thought.' It usually is. So with some help, I ended up with the Ukulele Chordbook and the Cordoba acoustic-electric ukulele. I'm on my way to playing like Jake.

March 20, 2010 - after a birthday party I threw for one of my best friends ended, I got on the uke while Bobby cleaned up. I started playing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz with four new chords I learned. Towards the end of the song there was knocking on the door so I head to open it and find three party people back for more. Actually, they left a jacket. They heard me singing through the door and demanded a performance. Obligingly, I played the uke for my first audience ever...finishing to cheers and applause.

March 21, 2010 - I went online to find some local uke teachers...and emailed two of them. One email bounced back and the other enclosed an entire class syllabus in his response back to me. Classes were forming and the first class took place the following day, March 22. I immediately responded and asked if I could join the class. With friendly Hawaiian swagger, I got a note that read, "Aloha mai e Ellen, Please come and join us." Yay! My first big step (after purchasing a Ukulele) to learning the uke.

After learning some basic chords for my favorite song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/It's a Wonderful World," I fell asleep with the uke at my bedside.

March 22, 2010 - After work, I headed to THE KAPALAKIKO BASIC UKULELE CLASS. I was the first one to arrive and was immediately put to work setting up chairs and stands for 6 people. I met Saichi Kawahara, the teacher and leader of the Kapalakiko Hawaiian (18 person) Band. He's an interesting teacher who has a passion for spreading his love of Hawaii, its music, and its culture. Our class time was spent on the origin of the ukulele, Hawaiian music, and how the greatest uke players of today have varying styles based on their childhood turfs (neighborhoods). There were five students total, one of which I will be forever thankful to: Mark.

Mark came about 15 minutes late to class because he was in the East Bay purchasing a uke for Jake Shimabukuro to sign at his concert that night. I said, "Jake's in town?!? Is the concert sold out?" Turns out he had an extra ticket! I rushed home to tell my husband about everything that transpired that night. Mark arrived to the event at Yoshi's Jazz Club early and found an additional ticket. Serendipitously, Bobby and I headed over and got our own table for the show. I even got to take my very own picture with my new Idol, Jake Shimabukuro. Is this destiny or what?

The show was amazing. He played some new songs to come out in his next album (143) in the fall and some old favorites that I've already become familiar with (Blue Roses, Trapped, Me and Shirley T, $5 unleaded, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Crazy G, Let's Dance). My favorites were 143 and Blue Roses. I'll have to say watching him perform is just tantalizing. It shows how possible it is to learn anything and everything there is to an instrument and to make it do what you feel, think, and dream.

That night I made a promise to myself - that I would learn everything about the Ukulele there is to know. This includes all the notes on the fret board, the notes that form a chord (not just how to play the chord, but what's in the chords), and the best chord progressions. Although I've played the guitar for 2 years now, I still don't know where the notes are and what makes up a chord. I just memorize the chords to a song and play them without any understanding to why it sounds right. I believe the basic understanding of chords will be the key ingredient for me to learn to play uke solo pieces like Jake someday. It will be a long and challenging journey, but maybe one day, I can play alongside Jake. That would be one sweet day.

So, today, March 26, 2010...I've decided to start blogging about my path with the ukulele. I hope you'll find inspiration, joy, peace, and laughter as you read about this journey.