I will be writing about some of the people who have made teaching Ukulele a joy and have changed my life for the better. These are the surprises with this strange career choice of mine.
I remember receiving an email from a mother, Charlotte, asking for lessons for her eldest child. They lived in a wonderful part of Bristol which is a big part of my personal history: it’s near where my Nan lived, my old school, and a nucleus of my teenage years.
It was about nine weeks till Christmas, so the weather was getting colder and the nights were drawing in. My first thoughts, not only for the festive break, was to teach Silent Night before the school holidays. I’ve done that before and since as a promise to other new students in the autumn/winter, which is really lovely; a special song for a beginner to play and show off to their friends and family.
Anyway, this first term lead to another term of lessons, which lead to their sibling wanting to play, which lead to Mum (ie Charlotte) having a quick ten minute lesson before her exercise class, which lead to their Dad learning, which lead to family lessons, which lead to friends wanting to learn, which lead to Ukulele Parties, which lead to a performance at a huge birthday party, and so on…
When my band, Ukulele Land, started she joined with so much enthusiasm. We wanted to be a different kind of ukulele band; she suggested the songs of Jackie Wilson, Queen, and Van Morrison. She really thought outside the box, which I love! She has is part of the our crazy Ukulele adventures.
We have made YouTube performance videos together (this one is our first). I had such a great time making that video. It was when I edited the video when created her stage name, Charlolele. I always like to give my YouTube performers stage names – Ukulucy, King David of Uketon, Jenny Uke, OcaClarerina, Anndolin are other examples. She loved ‘Charlolele’! It’s her performer persona and I believe she became more confident as a musician from it.
She has been quite open in how she wasn’t a musical person, instrument-wise, before she started lessons. Now, she is the most supportive ukulele players you can have in any band or jam. She is now a wonderful friend; so kind, generous, and caring,
We play music together often, almost five years since I started visiting for weekly lessons. We still have a lot of fun. She is overwhelming evidence that the ukulele is amazingly uplifting and life changing, from the songs you play and the wonderful people you meet.
For more Ukulele Things: https://ukulelewithben.com/
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