Learning to Play the Ukulele (at 60)
I have always wanted to play an instrument. When I was six, my Mom tried to teach me the piano, but having a teacher parent (who is not a music teacher) didn’t work for me. We both ended up feeling frustrated and mad. Through the years I would find myself at the family piano plinking and clinking trying to teach myself some songs. Between work and more work, learning the piano was not a priority, and I ended up selling my piano.
The pandemic hit while I was in retirement. I had heard from people that learning the ukulele is not that difficult, because it only has four strings. Plus it’s easy to carry around the house, yard - wherever - to practice. My cousin gave me a very inexpensive ukulele and a beginner’s “How to Learn to Play the Ukulele” book. I set a goal of practicing 30 minutes a day, using YouTube and the book. Within three weeks I was lost. I started thinking to myself, “Rosalie, maybe you just don’t have musical ability.”
One of the good things about my personality is I love to meet people and when someone asks, “What are you doing these days,” I don’t give a short, perfunctory answer. Like it or not, if someone is going to ask me what I am up to, I give them an answer. So I was telling people I was trying to learn how to play the ukulele because it only has four strings and should be easy, but YouTube and a book isn’t working for me. I have learned if you tell enough people what you are thinking about, goals, whatever is on your mind, sooner or later you will run into someone who is a connector. Connectors are people who love to know lots of people with different talents, in a multitude of professions, and enjoy putting people together. (Hairdressers are great connectors.)
One of the connectors in my life, Sibila, had read about a ukulele club forming in La Jolla. She texted me the link to the club. Attached to the club was a link to the La Jolla Music with five ukulele teachers available. Voila! I chose the kindest-looking teacher out of the group. That was in June 2020.
I bought a new ukulele online through Sweetwater Music (Another connector (an attorney friend) recommended Sweetwater. He was buying guitars from them and liked their professionalism and service.)
I will admit getting out of the car with my ukulele for my first lesson was a little scary. All kinds of scenarios went through my head: “Wonder if I am too old to learn in instrument, and I fail after the first week? Wonder if I am not coordinated enough to strum and play chords at the same time? Wonder if the teacher thinks I am not going to succeed? He’s used to little kids.” But then I told myself to follow my own advice that I give to young people, “Don’t let fear stop you from doing something you want to do. Everyone is scared. Do it anyway.”
So I walked up the stairs, met my kind teacher, Daniel, and it’s been super wonderful ever since. I can play songs. Playing the ukulele makes me laugh out loud, literally, because it is so fun. Because I talk about what I am up to with anyone who asks, I have found a couple of other people to “jam” with.
After six months my teacher said I was ready to learn the guitar. He leant me an old guitar he got in New Zealand. After two months of playing I ordered an excellent Yamaha Red Label Guitar from Sweetwater. It just came last week. I love, love, love, love, love it.
Bottom line, being a little older might be the best time to learn how to play an instrument. An older person has more time; it’s so fun to learn something new, especially if what you are learning allows you to play with the Eagles “Hotel California” or Frank Sinatra’s, “That’s Life,” or John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
If you are going to learn how to play an instrument, I highly recommend hiring a real music teacher. Having a place to go every week, someone who is watching your progress and teaching the intricacies of your instrument is worth every penny.
My life is full of even more joy now!