The Spark That Ignited a Musical Passion
It began with an invitation to a ladies salon house-warming party, where guests were asked to bring an offering. I arrived with a baked cake, unaware that the expectation was a poem, song, or performance. Actor and national treasure Justine Clarke, however, came prepared with her ukulele and photocopied handouts of the song Tonight You Belong To Me, made famous by Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in The Jerk.
A Moment of Pure Connection
Justine led ten of us in singing harmonies and rounds, with the ukulele's cheerful tones guiding the melody. This experience was one of the happiest and most connected few minutes I have ever known, akin to stepping into a warm, sun-drenched car on a chilly day. If measured medically, my oxytocin and serotonin levels would have soared through the roof.
Rediscovering a Lost Love for Music
As a teenager, music was my everything. I spent lunchtimes in music rooms, afternoons at the piano playing Carpenters classics or Les Misérables scores, and evenings singing in choirs and bands. I performed at weddings, funerals, and local clubs, carting a Roland EP7 keyboard through share houses in Sydney and London. Yet, somehow, I stopped. Perhaps due to doubts about talent or embarrassment over my musical tastes, I sold the keyboard and only remembered this passion in fleeting moments like showers or reunions.
The Turning Point
Singing with that group of women to Justine's ukulele strumming revived the whole-hearted nourishment that only making music with like-minded people can provide. Realizing I couldn't rely on occasional party encounters, I decided to learn the instrument myself. With fingers aching, I mastered basic chords through an online course, Ukulele For Absolute Beginners, practicing diligently day and night until it became an irresistible daily ritual.
The Joyful Impact of a New Hobby
This tiny instrument has brought a level of happiness comparable to having a new puppy, falling in love, or rediscovering bike riding as an adult. The strumming, fingerpicking, and playing 12-bar blues evoke a grin-from-ear-to-ear feeling. Among friends, I have become an evangelist for the ukulele, akin to 1990s Oprah with diets, inviting them to join my monthly group and sharing links to affordable starter instruments.
A Call to Embrace Music
I urge others to give it a try, confident that the happy tone of a ukulele string can light up your heart. As avowed ukulele lover George Harrison once noted, everyone into the ukulele is 'crackers' because you can't play and not laugh. This instrument is sparkly, fun, wholesome, and welcoming to all, proving that music can reignite joy and connection at any stage of life.
