Nella’s Journey
“Before taking the course, the ukulele did a fabulous job decorating the corner of my room!”
I bought my first ukulele 10 years ago, all fired up to learn a new skill in my 50th year. I took some lessons but failed to channel my inner 5yo instead wanting to “master and understand” rather than just strumming along any old how. I couldn’t “find” my strum so gave up.
Still dreaming, I took the ukulele with me on a volunteer assignment to South Africa intending to give it another go – and left it there, untouched! It was sold with proceeds to the NGO I was working for, so all was not lost.
I’ve regretted not persevering, so with my 60th around the corner, was keen to try and get my strum on. Enter Uko Ono (and a pandemic keeping everyone indoors and instantly up-to-speed with online learning) and my ukulele journey finally and truly began.
Stephanie and her encouraging, happy Uko Ono style poured out of the online pre-recorded lessons. The pace and style was easy to follow and our regular live on-line check ins, singalongs and jam sessions kept us all connected and comfortable that we all learn at different paces, and that the ukulele – above most instruments – is very forgiving!
I realised after the course, that the regular check-ins on the dedicated private Facebook Group were also keeping me accountable, and I was doing the homework and following the advice to “pick it up for just 10 mins a day”.
I’ve now joined the Orange Regional Conservatorium Ukulele for Adults classes – a fun, relaxing, social group that caters for beginners through to advanced. Accountability, inclusion and the pure joy of playing the ukulele are all coming together just in time to play myself Happy Birthday!
You’ve got nothing to lose by taking one of Uko Ono’s online courses – and seriously, so much to gain. The ukulele really is the instrument of joy.
Nella Powell, March 2021