Mama Diaries

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Ukulele Club

When I got my teenaged daughter a ukulele for Christmas, I didn't think it was going to become a new trend. My daughter really took to the thing, and started going on YouTube to learn how to play all kinds of songs. Whenever her friends come over, she plays. And so do they. In fact, all of her friends now have ukuleles.


Now they have a new thing:  The Ukulele Club. A group of girls bring their instruments and strum tunes during lunch. I guess it's rather entertaining for everyone.


The trend seems to have caught on. The other day, as I drove my daughter to school, we saw another young lady walking, holding her ukulele. "Do you know her?" I asked.


"No, but now everyone wants to play the ukulele."


I guess so. I will say one thing. When my daughter and her friends are in my car, and I'm driving them some place, I never have to put on the radio. They bring their ukuleles and provide the music.


In case you want to hear some good playing, here's a video by IZ, which kind of inspired me to get the ukulele in the first place:


 

50 comments:

  1. That's what the winner of this year's America's Got Talent played. Will be a trend for sure now. Every girl will want to play like Grace.

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  2. It's good to hear about teenagers starting a fun trend. You should share a vid of your daughter and her friends playing.

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  3. What a great way for teenagers to spend their free time, and your gift to your daughter started it. Brava!

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Much better than all the trouble they could get into.

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  4. You guys started a trend indeed. Maybe they'll catch back on again. I remember they used to have a club of them when I was in junior high.

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  5. I love his version of Rainbow. That is so cool that the girls are learning an instrument and having fun playing together. Just makes me smile to think of it. :)

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  6. I love ukeleles. They became a trend when my sister was in 4th grade. She brought one home and her whole class was learning to play one. I thought it was lame since all I got to learn was a tone flute. The world could do with a few more ukeleles players!

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    1. Ukeleles are so transportable. I think they're awesome!

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  7. Interesting. A few years ago, we had a ukelele trend around these parts. I think there was a class. Students would carry theirs around, and during passing periods, you could catch snippets of tunes and students played while they walked.

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  8. How enterprising of your daughter learning to play through the Internet.
    Loved the video and good luck to your daughter and her friends.
    Yvonne.

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  9. Wow, she'll be a star. So exciting to have musical talent like her mom.

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  10. I think Grace on America's Got Talent must have something to do with the new trend. And it's a great trend. Glad your daughter gets to entertain you too, Sherry. Beautiful video. ❤️

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    1. Before this post, I was unaware of the contestant everyone has been mentioning. I'll have to see if I can find a video of it.

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  11. Interesting how the ukulele caught on like that. Seems like a fun hobby, so that's great how it's become so worthwhile for your daughter!

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  12. A trend that has obviously made its way across the pond. We spent all of last Christmas tuning our niece's newly bought ukelele.

    On a slightly different though connected note we saw the British Ukelele Orchestra a few years back. Not expecting to enjoy it, I was surprised to discover I loved it.

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    1. Now that's interesting. A Ukelele orchestra. Cool!

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  13. And I bet she plays beautifully too.

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  14. Ukuleles are fun! Everyone I ever knew who played one was warmhearted, it's a common trait among ukulele players it seems:)

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  15. Hi, Sherry!

    What's the world coming to? How did the younger generation go so far astray? Why aren't they hanging out on street corners and stealing hubcaps like I did? :)

    Seriously, I think it's great that the uke is catching on with young people. Your daughter, her friends and other teenagers who have joined the craze have found something educational and uplifting to do with their time instead of hanging on electronic devices or getting into trouble. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of watching The Arthur Godfrey Show on television. Godfrey sang and played the ukulele on the program.

    Thanks for sharing what your daughter is up to, dear friend Sherry!

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    1. I'm glad she has found ukulele playing to be a fun way to pass the time.

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  16. Who knew ukeleles were making a comeback?
    Perhaps there's hope for my grandfather's mandolin. When he passed away, my mother offered the mandolin to any grandchild who was willing to learn how to play it. No one took her up on the offer, but I do hope one of them will become inspired.

    Or maybe my brother's baby (due at Christmas) will be the mandolin player. :)

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    1. Mandolin is a nice instrument. I have one of those.

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  17. I don't think I know a single ukulele person who's a jerk. Not that I know many ukulele players, but there's got to be something to that. Cheers to your daughter for inspiring something great!

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    1. Playing the ukulele just puts in a good mood. It's hard to be a jerk when you're in a good mood. ;)

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  18. next Christmas banjo here we come!

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  19. That's pretty awesome! I've always kind of wanted to learn to play a Uke but haven't done so.

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    1. It's a pretty easy instrument to learn. Top make it worthwhile, though, you need to sing along. Otherwise you're just playing a bunch of chords.

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  20. How awesome! I think music brings everyone together. :)

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  21. A trend that doesn't involve cell phones. Alleluia!

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  22. Now that is a cool trend! I love the sound of the ukulele and I think it is awesome that there are so many kids in your town learning to play one! :)
    ~Jess

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    1. It's cool to hear them all singing and strumming together.

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  23. I love your stories! I've just been sat here listening to that song. It's one I've loved for years since I first heard it on 50 First Dates years ago. It's such a shame he passed away. I've always wanted to play a ukulele so that's great your daughter can and has started a trend.

    Raindrops of Sapphire

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    1. IZ does a great job with it! I think it's sad he died, too. Way too young!

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  24. It sounds as if she has started a trend :)

    I love that musical clip. I hope you have a great Halloween :)

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  25. Grace Vanderwaal, the 12-yr old who won America's Got Talent sure had an effect on ukulele sales! The kid became a superstar over night.

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    1. I'll have to find the video of her playing. I haven't seen it.

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  26. Her real artistic strength is her songwriting. Her vocal delivery is "unique" and, while oddly compelling to listen to, it does tend to render the lyrics a bit difficult to understand clearly. But the lyrics have been published online and kids are resonating with her message. Here's a link to her audition in which she received the "Golden Buzzer". https://youtu.be/eNxO9MpQ2vA

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