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Quotes

There’s something about the ukulele that just makes you smile. It makes you let your guard down. It brings out the child in all of us. – Jake Shimabukuro

There’s something about guitars, they’re just so big, you know what I mean? You’re just like, ‘Ugh!’ It just seems so overwhelming. And the ukulele is, like, the opposite of overwhelming. – Zooey Deschanel

 

On the good days, my mother would haul out the ukulele and we’d sit around the kitchen table – it was a cardboard table with a linoleum top – and sing. – Carol Burnett

 

I bring my ukulele everywhere I go, play a little music in the park, always have it with me. – Max Schneider

 

There’s no ego when you’re a ukulele player. – Jake Shimabukuro

 

I think my first instrument was a ukulele that they gave me. I used to know how to play that pretty well. – Don Henley

Sometimes when you’re writing on a ukulele, you’re in a totally new land, rhythmically or melodically. – Tift Merritt

 

Now everybody’s got a crazy notion of their own. Some like to mix up with a crowd, some like to be alone. It’s no one elses’ business as far as I can see, but every time that I go out the people stare at me, with me little ukulele in me hand. – George Formby

 

I grew up in a musical family; the majority of my growing up was done in Hawaii. It’s what we do. You sing, you dance, you play ukulele and you drink.- Dwayne Johnson

 

Sometimes I can’t think of a better way to end my day than coming home and just strumming my ukulele for a few minutes. I mean, I joke around and tell people that it’s an entire yoga session in one strum, you know? – Jake Shimabukuro

Ukuleles will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through time with no ukulele – anonymous

 

I’m trying to be a better gangsta, so I’m learning how to play the ukulele. I’m also trying to figure out how to rap a romance novel, like The Notebook.” ― Jarod Kintz

 

“Everyone I know who is into ukulele is crackers, so get yourself a few and enjoy yourselves” – George Harrison

And finally

Uke can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find uke get what you need! – The Rolling stones (what? that is what they say honest)

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Someone started the Ukulele because of this site! I got an email today which said that the reader had just got their first ukulele and started playing because of this site. It made me smile to think that someone is now playing the ukulele because of this site and that makes it really worth the time and money it costs to run. I’d love to hear any stories you have how Uke University has helped you (or ways we could help you more). Just got to the contact page.

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This guy is doing parenting right on Father’s day. Photo Credit: pauldkeiser via Compfight cc

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Ever had someone tell you that the ukulele isn’t a real instrument. They have no idea what they’re talking about. Yes it is annoying when people say you aren’t a real musician because you play the ukulele but we all know the truth. Ukulele players are real musicians.

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Do you hear a new song and instantly start to wonder how it would sound as a Ukulele cover? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

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I thought he was being a bit pathetic but this ukulele hater touches upon a real perception, the Ukulele is a joke instrument and “non musicians” play it. This is a big pile of bull poop for a few good reasons.

Talented musicians play the Ukulele

It isn’t very difficult to find extremely talented musicians who play the ukulele. On the one hand you have virtuosos such as Jake Shimabukuro,and James hill to name two. On the other you have popular musicians like Eddie Vedder,Zooey Deschanel and Meghan Trainor, who all play the ukulele. They might not be the most technically skilled but they can create catchy music and that’s a different skill.
To write the ukulele off as only for poor musicians is stupid and ignores the facts, in the same way that calling all violists terrible because you have seen a load of beginner violists and they were terrible.

Every musician has been rubbish

At my high school, the music teacher deliberately placed beginner violin lessons next to the headteachers office when he would be working. He did this to pressure the headteacher into expanding the music facilities and it worked! If you’ve ever heard a beginner violinist it’s usually a horrific sound. It’s no surprising that playing an instrument like the ukulele can take a while to sound good but a beginner shouldn’t be judged harshly because they don’t sound great, otherwise no one would ever learn an instrument.

It’s a great thing to encourage people to play

The fact that many “non musical” (a term I hate, it’s always a judgement against people) are attracted to the ukulele is something to boast about! Sure many of these people may give up at some point or never really sound great but if they gain enjoyment from playing the instrument, then it’s a good thing. Imagine if someone told you never to draw again because your drawings were low quality and degrading art. Or someone told you to never take pictures of your family with your smartphone because they were “ruining photography”, it would be a joke, yet people say this about music.

Just as Apple and smartphone companies should be glad that their devices are used to capture those precious family moments, so should Ukulele players boast that people who perhaps never got to grips with another instrument choose to play the ukulele. They may not (ever) sound amazing but if they enjoy it, then it is a good thing.

Proudly strum your ukulele

If you are a skilled ukulele play, or you have just started then do the same thing, ignore the ignorant Ukulele haters, strum away and most importantly have fun.

Have you ever encountered hatred towards the ukulele?

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