While most instruments require a lot of study and practice to play well, there is a musical instrument that is a lot less demanding. In fact, you can learn to play it in an hour.
The ukulele has spent many years underappreciated as a Hawaiian novelty, but in recent years it has begun to get the respect it deserves as a versatile instrument that?s easy to learn and inexpensive to own.
?The interest in the ukulele is huge,? said Mike Upton, owner of Petaluma-based Kala Ukulele. ?There?s a global market for them, and particularly here in the U.S., demand for the ukulele is growing like wildfire. I think the top reason for that is that the ukulele is easy to play. Many people dabble with instruments like the guitar or violin, which take a lot of effort and work to play. With the ukulele, you can have people playing a tune in five minutes.?
Upton plays bass, guitar and several other instruments, but became interested in the ukulele after moving to Hawaii in 1989.
Upon returning to the mainland, Upton became the Hawaii sales representative for the Santa Rosa-based Hohner Company.
?I found out very quickly that there were very few quality, affordable ukulele available in the islands, so with that in mind, I developed Hohner?s ukulele line,? he said.
In 2005, Upton decided it was time to set out on his own and started Kala.
?I had a lot of other ideas to carry forward and just thought I should be doing this myself,? he said. ?All we do is ukuleles. People find it hard to imagine that there?s enough interest in them, but the interest is huge.?
In an effort to introduce more people to the ukulele and show just how easy they are to learn, Kala Ukulele is hosting a free workshop at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Phoenix Theater, followed by a concert by the folk group the Ukalaliens and the Petaluma Ukulele Club.
Admission to the concert is a suggested donation of $10, which will benefit the Phoenix Theater.
The workshop is being taught by Ukalalien band members Kate Power and Steve Einhorn. The duo has shared the stage with folk performers such as Pete Seeger, and has performed on Garrison Keillor?s ?A Prairie Home Companion.?
The Ukalaliens play guitars, banjo and ukulele. They also enjoy teaching and encouraging others to pick up an instrument.
?In one hour they can teach people to play the ukulele,? said Upton. ?In fact, in five minutes they can have people playing. It?s hard to do that with any other kind of instrument. If after the workshop folks want to pursue playing the ukulele, there?s much more they can learn, but everyone can do the basics right away.?
Workshop participants may bring their own ukulele, but Kala will also be providing a limited number of loaner instruments for the evening.
?It?s going to be a fun night,? said Upton. ?This is something we?ve never done before, but an event I?d been thinking about as a way of giving back to the community. It?s also about getting people excited about playing music and spreading the word about the ukulele.?
For more information about the workshop and tickets to the concert, visit www.thephoenixtheater.com or www.kalaukulele.com.
(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)
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