The ukulele is perfect for self-teaching and parent/child
learning, says Catskills resident Barbara Mansfield. “That’s why it’s the
'People’s Instrument.' It’s so easy.”
Want to try out a ukulele and see if your child likes it?
Public libraries are no longer just book depositories but have expanded into
all kinds of services, including the lending out of many kinds of items to
cardholders, ukuleles being one of them.
As Ukulele magazine reports, Mansfield talked the
library in the Ulster County town of Phoenicia into starting a ukulele lending
program, and there are now such programs at libraries around the country. Mansfield's
son, Killian, was 15 and in hospice care when he started the Catskill Ukulele
Group. Since his passing at age 16 in 2009, his parents have started ukulele
collections in several libraries in the Hudson Valley to honor Killian. He
loved the instrument and said, “The world would be less pissed off if everyone
played ukulele.”
In addition to Phoenicia, Mid-Hudson Library System
libraries in Olive, Ulster, Marlboro, Beacon, East Fishkill, and Chatham have
in the past offered ukuleles for checkout. As local libraries gradually
re-open, some allow checkout of ukuleles and some do not, but rules are
changing daily. Check with your nearest library to see what's available at the
moment.
Many libraries also offer lessons and have collections of
chord books, tuners, and CDs for instruction and listening, all available for
checkout. If a library in your area doesn't have ukes on loan, they can be
purchased online for as little as $30 each. Online tutorials are listed on the
Catskill Ukulele Group website at https://www.catskillukulelegroup.com/resources.
The joy of playing ukulele lies not just in the ability to
make music without a whole lot of pressure to do it perfectly. Being able to
play with other people brings a sense of unity and camaraderie. Basic ukulele
skills are easy to master, and groups tend to be informal and supportive,
although ukulele virtuosos like Jake Shimabukuro have been wowing audiences for
years.
Ukulele jams can bring together young children with their
parents, singles, couples, and elderly people, all strumming and singing in
unison. Mansfield participates in two groups that are currently playing
together over Zoom and Google Meet. See http://ukulelecatskill.com/
for online jams that anyone can join.