Ukulele bands are popular. Why would that be? They are considered one of the easiest instruments to learn. They are inexpensive and portable, and come in cute colours.
It is easy because it has only four strings, has frets so easier to play in tune, has soft nylon strings, and only a few chords can get you playing. The small size of the instrument reduces wrist tension making the notes reachable without stretching.
One advertisement says: Toss it in the back of your car. Take it to be beach. Bring it on a plane. Drummers and tuba players should be so lucky!
It is described as having a happy, joyful tone, so is also considered a social instrument.
Niagara-on-the-Lake's Ukesters have a Facebook page full of videos of members playing. That facebook page has 1,300 followers. They meet for a weekly jam.
Supposedly Canada had a wave of ukulele education in the 1960s with J.Chalmers Doane using ukuleles as a practical teaching instrument. At its peak, 50,000 school children learned the ukulele through the Doane Program. I don't remember this at all. Too bad.
I am sticking with the spring flower theme this winter.
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