So why the uke

Over the last five years I've been fortunate enough to attend the Port Fairy Folk Festival. if you have never been, you are missing out on four days of great music, camping among like minded people and a wonderful safe environment. It's not all folk music, over the years I've seen Kasey Chambers, the Topp Twins, the Waifs and many many more great musicians.
You can't help but to be inspired by so much talent.
When you take time out and head to your camp for a rest,you often find yourself still surrounded by amateur musicians fortunate enough to be able to jam with folkie participants camped next door.
After every year I wou
I'd come home inspired, and pick up my guitar determined to be good enough to join in the following year.
Each year my enthusiasm would begin to waiver as it was all too hard. Try as I did I struggled to master holding chords. There is books and you tube videos but still it just didn't seem to be enough.
One year on our way to the festival we were listening to Radio National, quite often prior to the festival they showcase a visiting artist. On this night the artist was Jake Shimabukuro, a Hawaiian born Japanese lad who's chosen instrument was the ukulele. Boy can this boy play! He was discovered on YouTube and went viral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

Suddenly a light went on! Maybe I need to try a different angle.
I bought a bright orange Mahalo soprano ukulele. However without a clue of tuning that little uke hardly saw the daylight. Another year passed and again at the folkie my creative juices ignited and there is was.......a tenor Mahalo uke. Sitting there, out of tune and strummed by all. Within 10 minutes he was mine and at the same time a clip on tuner and a small chord chart.







From then on I was hooked on that little instrument. With the help of YouTube I managed to teach myself a few songs and step by step improved.
After a year with my Mahalo Sue surprised me with the wonderful Lanakai tenor that I now play. You don't realise how much a better quality instrument plays till you have one.
Mahalo hasn't been forgotten and is currently in D tuning for a song I'm working at.
After the festival this year I contacted a teacher and haven't looked back. My teacher, Helen's blog is linked to mine and I encourage you to look at it and listen to some of her music.
When I go to Hawaii in August I will be collecting a hand made kamaka to take around the US with me. They such a little instrument you can't help but love them.