Ukulele - Now with video

Perhaps five years ago, I went out to San Diego to visit my father.  While I was there, I took the opportunity to visit my uncle Paul and his girls Ellen and Annika.  We played a rousing game of chutes and ladders (or the like).  I got a short piano recital from the girls as well as a short classical guitar recital from Paul.  I mentioned to Paul that I missed having the opportunity to be musical.  I played trombone for twelve-ish years, but stopped about ten years before.  Besides, the trombone isn't exactly the greatest solo instrument.  I also said that guitar would be fun, but that everybody plays guitar so if I were to pick up a new instrument, it would probably be a ukulele.  Besides, it has two fewer strings than the guitar, so it must be easier.

I had been thinking about that for a couple years, but when a ukulele arrived on my door step about three weeks later, I didn't have to think about it any longer.  The ukulele that Paul surprised me with is a beautiful Hawaiian made instrument.  This is clearly not a dime-store toy.  So I didn't have any excuse to not be musical... except teaching... and then Jamesing... and a hundred other things.  I could play a few chords, but that was about it.  Then this last school year, I had a perfect opportunity to start practicing again.  The last period of the day at the school I was working at was a "skills" class, where students could learn guitar or make music in our computer lab.  So out came the ukulele, and I played on and off through the rest of the school year and almost daily this summer.

One of the main times I've been practicing is when we go to a park or open gym where James can run around and play and Thomas can either have some tummy time on a blanket, or sit in his stroller.  It is hardly uninterrupted practice, but it is regular.  The thing is that I've never played a strummed instrument before and there is a lot to figure out.  I can play chords, but I am sure my technique is mediocre at best.  There is a strumming pattern or two I can do, but I couldn't tell you much about them and I fall apart when the rhythm of the lyrics to a song don't match easily with that strumming pattern.  I've also kind of been doing the lazy-man's version of learning the instrument.  I have a lesson book that I've mostly worked through, but I rely pretty heavily on tab sheets.  I am not particularly comfortable with the treble clef, so tabs it is.

I have a stelf-study music theory book that I opened a couple years ago, but I haven't spent much time with it past counting eighth notes.  Back in high school, I took an independent study music theory class that I enjoyed.  It seems to me that I got as far as constructing different types of chords and chord progressions.  I'd like to at least get that far again here, but it is just a matter of spending time with that book and a keyboard.

Anyway, so I have a pile of tab sheets printed out for different music, and I am more or less competent at about half a dozen of them.  I have spent the most time with Rainbow Connection, and can mostly play it without mistakes without having to look at music.  So without further ado, here is a short video of me playing Rainbow Connection (no Kermit the Frog voice, sorry).  It isn't without mistakes, but it is good enough.

Hmmm... stay tuned while I figure out how to post a video.