Uke Crazy!

We are all a bit tipsy over our ukuleles! My oldest daughter and I got our ukes just before going to the beach a few weeks ago.  Ever since, we seem to be attached at the waist to them.  Well, especially her!  We remind her to clean her room, brush her teeth, get ready to go to work, etc…and she nods her head with a glazed look on her face as she figures out the latest tune she’s working on.  She’s such a natural with it!  So free to explore, to try anything, to skip any kind of “steps” to learning to play, free to play her ukulele A LOT!  I, on the other hand, have too much adult in me: thinking I need to follow some sort of “steps” to learning, tied to the chords on a piece of music, less apt to freestyle, tending to make it a “discipline” rather than a “hobby”, and less time to sit down and actually play.

But it is SO COOL to be inspired by her!  I’m reminded that I don’t have to wait until I can play scales or basic chords before I tackle fingerpicking or note bending, or crazy strumming, etc.  JUST PLAY, JEN!

And now, my 8 year old wants one!  I tried to get her a cheapy uke today at our local music store, but they are all out.  I’m gonna keep looking…two inspiring uke players in our home will be heavenly!

0 thoughts on “Uke Crazy!

  1. Christie says:

    I didn’t know there were so many ukulele’s to be had in your part of the country! They are fun, no? Do you happen to know what the name means? (Uku=flea, Lele=Jumping.) That’s the end of my trivia session – don’t know why I was compelled to point that out, just thought it might be a fun fact?

    • jenpedwards says:

      Love the trivia! Even though “flea jumping” is a little odd, it’s still cool to know! Thanks for visiting Christie!

  2. donna noble says:

    The joy your daughter feels shines through in these paintings. A painting can’t get any better in my opinion. You are counting these as two more portraits, right?

    • jenpedwards says:

      No, actually, I’m not counting these in the 100 portraits project. My goal there is to 1) use watercolor and 2) no lines. Of course, the portraits are drawn first in pencil lines, then watercolored, but the lines do not play a part in the final piece other than guidelines for me to follow. Crazy maybe, but there it is. Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement!

  3. Dan says:

    I love the first painting! The feel of relaxation – I can almost hear the music. I used to have a ukulele. It has a soft happy sound. I moved on to guitar and banjo, but it is always fun to pick a ukulele it up.

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