Ukulele - Not Just for Hawaii Any More!

The Mark:

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ('Iz' from here-on out) is by no means the only person who has ever played the ukulele at a professional level. HOWEVER, I'd be willing to be that you've heard his rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at at least two weddings and/or funerals in your lifetime. Furthermore, I'd also bet he was the first person to pop into your head when you read the word 'ukulele' in the title.

Go ahead, sing along with him for a bit then continue on down below.

My Connection:

I *love* the ukulele. I didn't really grow up with it, but I feel like the ukulele has been undergoing a renaissance of sorts the past decade as more artists are branching out and bringing 'alternative' instruments into the mainstream pop consciousness - I assign part of the blame to Jason Mraz for 2008's "I'm Yours."

The portrait of a man who is in *love* with his hat.

About 2-3 years ago (while I was still teaching music full-time), I started having numerous parents ask if I knew how to play ukulele/if I could teach it. After saying, 'no' to enough new lessons and wondering what this uke business was all about, I decided that 'yes, yes I do play ukulele and teach it.'

Then I had to learn how to play ukulele.


Style Notes/Structure:

As I taught myself how to play the ukulele, I learned that it is the *ideal* starter instrument for anyone looking to pick up a stringed instrument:

1) It's *smaller* - you don't have to stretch your hands as much to play chords
2) It's *simpler* - most chords only take 1 or 2 fingers to play. The one's that take more have finger patterns that are easy to replicate
3) It's... more twee?

What I really learned to appreciate about the uke is that any number of songs sound different/cooler when played on a ukulele. Whether you're playing a pretty straightforward cover of an existing song...

playing an ironic/odd cover of an existing song...

or trying to write your own music in a simple way....

the ukulele makes accessing music easier than most other instruments I've played besides the kazoo and the congas.


My Take:

Rather than try to do my take on Iz (which wouldn't for a number of reasons, namely 'talent relative to Iz'), I thought I'd do today's song on the uke and do it in the style of "Death Cab for Cutie." I think it'll make sense once you hear the song. In case you were wondering, I was thinking about how Ben Gibbard intones his singing when paired with a solo instrument, such as it does in the song "I Will Follow You Into the Dark."

I actually wrote part of this song last night laying in bed. In the past few weeks, I've told Abby about some of the dreams I've had recently about growing up - the old house, doomed-from-the-start relationships etc...long story short, I sat there thinking about my dreams and thought I ought to write a song about thinking about my dreams in bed.

Re-read that last sentence, then click on the button in this link for full effect.

With that in mind, I came up with today's song - "I Don't Mind"

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Bonus reading!
'Any More' vs 'Anymore'
http://www.grammarly.com/handbook/grammar/adjectives-and-adverbs/13/anymore-vs-any-more/