STRUMMERS GUESTMAIL ARCHIVES PAGE ONE

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9-17-03,Jake Provonsha Age 66
Played the uke as a kid. Started playing guitar in the 60's (who didn't?) then quit for about 30 plus years and started again with only slack key. Of course the uke had to be part of that pastime, so I got a 6 string Mele while in the islands a couple years ago. I've been using the Peter Moon video but I have trouble figuring out most of his complicated runs etc. I've been considering some way of slowing down the sound track to get it. My wife and I live in Sun Valley, Idaho, we moved here from Hermosa Beach so we could ski more but Hawaii is a place we like to visit to get the beach fix.

9-16-03,Sandy Kuboyama Age 64
Hello
Retired American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and originally from Island of Kauai. Garden Island. Thanks for the help in learning beginning, Intermediate and advanced classes. Will start again some day and may even attend your Saturday class. How are you doing? I am still recuperating and therapy is getting better. My range of motion is getting there. How is your shoulder? It turned out ok. I hope. Take care.
Sandy

9-16-03,Clint
Hi Sandy
Good to hear you're doing better. Me too, but it is very slow. Therapy is painful but you know...gotta do it.
Keep on strummin'.
Hope to see you soon.

9-15-03,Panfilo D'Amore Age 51
I'm Italian. I live in Seattle and have been working at the Boeing Camp for the last 22 years. I'm married and have 2 kids boy (24) and a girl (22). I love Hawaiian music and am trying to learn how to play the Uke, very hard. Thank you for putting this page out...

9-14-03,Larry Chun Age 63
I'm from Hilo, Hawaii, have been in California since July, 1958. My favorite instrument is the ukulele, and I like to play golf. I visit the islands every 2 to 5 years to say hello to my relatives and friends. I'm retired and just enjoying life. Mahalo
Larry
Great website...very good link to French Polishing, thanks again.

9-7-03,Rick Flynn Age 58
Hello!
I was about to break into Hawaiian on you there, but the last couple of times I tried to use a non-native language...I got into trouble!
I just stumbled across your pages. I found a lot of interesting Ukulele stuff here! I've played violin for many years and for the past three years or so I've been investigating the (6) blugrass instruments. I'm probably one of the only people in the 48 states who never owned a ukulele (until yesterday). I just bought a cheapy "toy" uke (can you believe that's all I could find here?), but I think I'll be moving on to a nicer instrument soon.
I've been corresponding a bit with Leonard and Connie Young (Youngukuleles.com), and looking at ukulele sites until my eyes are about to bleed! Since Spokane Washington isn't exactly a hotbed of ukulele activity, I just can't run down the street to try ukes, so my search will probably be frustrating.
Until I find that special instrument, I'll use some of your songbook material to keep myself busy!
Thanks so much for the time and effort that was ( obviously ) required to share your ukulele stuff with "us"...Regards, Rick Flynn

9-3-03,Herb Ohta, Jr. Age ???
I am a 'Ukulele musician. I love to play music.

9-3-03,Clint
You're Awesome, Thanks!

9-2-03,Lind Bishop Age 77
Got my first uke in '38 for $3.00. I got it at a pawn shop in the Boston area. It was black with ivory binding and it was beautiful. I learned about 4 chords and played "Gold Mine in the Sky" about ten thousand times. Had it in high school, all during WW2, got married had 4 kids and then Egad, one of my sons thought it would make a nice chair. About 4 years ago that same son found a sorry looking uke somewhere and sent it to me. It was painted about six different colors, two tuning pegs missing and no strings. I almost tossed it into the fire place but a better thought hit me. I decided to see what that was under all that paint. After many hours and a lot of patience, stripped it down to the bare wood. It was a beautiful spruce wood and surprisingly, had no cracks. After applying a new finish and installing new pegs and strings, I strummed it for the first time, played the four chords I knew and immediately fell in love with this former outcast. Why anyone would treat a uke like that is beyond me. Now I have added a Fluke, a Bari, and my latest addition a gold plated Goldtone Banjolele. I've learned a few more chords and songs since then. I guess the uke bug has had a feast and there's no cure. You want stories??? One last thing, did you really have all those left handed uke players at your July 4th senior gig? Regards...

9-2-03,Clint
Lind
Many people think the better looking the uke, the better they will play. Obviously this is not true. Looks aren't everything. Glad you found a treasure.
About the July 4th gig, pictures never lie, yeah?
=)

8-31-03,Lisa Reitinger Age 32
I live in Torrance and am a teacher in Lawndale. I started playing the ukulele a couple of years ago by taking classes with Clint at the Torrance Adult School. Now I play every Saturday with the So. Bay Strummers and it's a blast. The jokes are often bad, but the people are the BEST! It's a great way to start my weekend because I know I'll always leave smiling.

8-31-03,Clint
The jokes are often bad???
I must've missed the Saturday they were good...
=)

8-30-03,Diana Peterson Age 58
I live in Northern California (Vacaville) between Sacramento and San Francisco. I have two Kamakas (soprano and concert) and have been playing/learning about a year. Went to the Beamer Aloha Music Camp in 2002 and the George Kahumoku Jr.'s Workshop in Maui this year. I've got alot of practicing to do!! but really enjoy strumming and singing along.

8-30-03,Clint
Excellent Diana, just keep listening and watching top quality Hawaiian players and it will really help you learn some awesome technique.

8-28-03,Andy Wang Age 31
Auntie Maria told us (www.taropatch.net) about your site. I really like all the info and 'ukulele spirit here. I'll be sure to return and will add your site to my links page.
Aloha and keep up the great work! Keep strummin' brah.
Andy

8-28-03,Clint
Aloha Nui Loa, Andy

8-26-03,Bud Krause Age 63
I love Hawaii and the culture and visit at least once a year. I am partial to Napili Bay on Maui. My family has a condo there. I am an amateur actor and chorus singer and I do at least one Musical a year with the Aerospace Players.
(http://www.aeaclubs.com/theater).
I have always been partial to Hawaiian music, especially the old stuff, and although I don't listen to it much on the mainland, I always listen when my vacation (3 weeks) is near. My nephew, Brian Krause took your class last semester and talked me into taking it with him this year. See you in a week or two.

8-24-03,Ed Batka Age -
This is ED from Torrance. I belong to the South Bay Strummers Ukulele group. I enjoy playing the uke in your class very much. Thank you Clint.

8-20-03,Mike Pontrelli Age 77
I've had a love affair with this little instrument for many years and lately it has been enriched by the addition of a banjo uke. I find myself playing it more and more. I've been attending and enjoying being with all of you talented and happy strummers for several months now. Each session has been not only enjoyable but a tremendous learning experience as well. Lately, I've been noticing an increase in the number of new players jamming in our little group. May we continue to thrive. Thank you Clint and thank all you strummers.

8-19-03,Jean Dahlberg Age 68
Enjoyed your classes and your enthusiasm for the ukulele. You put a lot of work into this site. It is great!! Everything I wanted to know and more. Trying to digest it a little at a time. Going to Honolulu on Wed. for my 50th class reunion. Hope your shoulder is getting better. See you at the Bartlett when I get back from vacation.

8-19-03,Clint
Thank you Jean.

8-17-03,Cowboy Doug Age 44
Howdy
Cowboy Doug here from Las Vegas, Nevada and St. George, Utah. I have been diggin' your site and have been reading it alot. Most of it makes little sense to me since I am just starting to play the Ukulele. I have wanted to play for well over 20 years but didn't think I could since I had a terrible experience with learning to play guitars when I was young. Your page has been quite helpful...I wish there was some video on your site showing the different ways to strum...this seems to be a big hurdle for me at this point. Should I be using a felt pick, should I be using my thumb, fingers or what? I would appreciate hearing from anyone on this issue and can be reached at
cowboydoug@msn.com
again...thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Happy Trails
Cowboy Doug

8-14-03,Susan Holdeman Age 50
I have been playing the uke since last December. I got my uke for Christmas. I am self taught so I really appreciate your website. Mahalo.

8-13-03,Jayne Sakurada Age 55
I'm a beginner on Ukulele, but long time music lover. I just took my uke (Lanikai concert) to a family reunion in Lake Tahoe where I played my uke with my brother and niece (from Colo. and Wisc.) and also got to introduce the instrument to other family members. Suddenly we have ten potential instrumentalists who have dreams of playing for the rest of the family at our next reunion in 2006. I am shopping for ukes and desperately seeking methods of helping all of us learn a few songs. Any advice? Thanks for the site. It's great. We're each compiling our own songbooks and I have taken some of yours.

8-13-03,Clint
Hi Jayne
understand that all music (chords) are the same. Guitar songs, piano songs and any other songs that give you chords, all work beautifully on the uke. (Just finger the chord given). Start with the chords you already know and find songs that use those chords. By using the progression ( C - F and G7 ), you can literally play hundreds of songs. Chords don't have to be difficult for the songs to be great.
As you get better at fingering the chords, find new songs that add only one or two new chords to the ones you already know. (Don't bury yourself into a song containing too many new or difficult chords, that takes the fun out of playing the song). Use the chord charts on this site and play alot. You don't need to buy any method books, you just need to play and have fun. You'll improve quickly if you enjoy what you're doing, I promise. If there are any specific questions you have, contact me through the website email on the homepage. Good luck and have fun.

8-13-03,Rodney Rupe Age 44
Aloha Clint,
This is one great website! The Aloha Spirit radiates from it! I never would have imagined such a group. And the songs you have tabbed, seem as though someone read my mind for what I would like to be able to play. I'm a beginner from the Big Island of Long Beach, village of Los Altos. My musical journey has taken me from harmonicas now to the Ukulele. Right now watching a Teresa Bright video and strummin' on a Mele Pineapple. A while back, I spent about 12 years in the Navy (2 tours out of Pearl Harbor), mostly traveling the South and West Pacific. I guess my heart is still somewhere in the islands. I'd love to come visit the South Bay Strummers to listen, learn, enjoy, and just suck up that Aloha Spirit that's goin' on over there!

8-13-03,Clint
Mahalo Nui Loa for your kind words Rodney. Whenever you are ready, you're always to come join us at the Strummers group.

8-7-03,Cowboy Doug Age 44
I'm new to playing. Currently I have and am playing 2 Risa Uke Sticks..a tenor and a standard, both are tuned GCEA and I dig them. I really appreciate your site.. it provided me with a lot of information that I have been looking for on the web for a while. I think after I read it a few times it might even start making sense, so far it is all gibberish...but so was my first PC in '94..old dog..new tricks.. it's possible ;)
I have driven myself nuts for weeks trying to understand more about the neck wanting to understand how it is arranged and set up...thanks to your site I at least have a better chance of understanding it. Thanks for your info. and hard work.
One thing I didn't see on your site...was your name?
Until we meet again..happy trails, Cowboy Doug

7-30-03,Cliff Arquette Age 65
Spent most of my life on Maui in radio, haole w/local kine heart, now financially trapped in San Jose. Auwe! I stay plunkin' since '55, now I get one Kamaka bari. Hawaii is an ohana state of mind, culture all huli, plenty kolohe and aloha. Ahui ho, ca

7-29-03,Kevin Dixon Age 38
Boring IT Manager that needs a musical outlet. Played Baritone (think little tuba- treble clef) in High School and College. Tried Keyboards -okay- but not much fun to take on hikes in the woods. I just called you for Ukulele information. Thanks for the great advice.

7-28-03,Surflink Age 47
Beginner, taking once a week class in San Fernando Valley. Love the sound of chords you can make with the Uke. Won an "Islander Fluke" at the Summer Solstice Festival. Thanks for the great site with Lots of info. Mahalo.

7-25-03,Charles McNatt Age 53
Pastor of United Methodist Church in small town in Ohio. Probably no other uke players around for many miles (although I could be surprised). Married, one daughter living temporarily in Hawaii. She sent me a "toy" ukulele for Christmas. I liked and bought an inexpensive "real" uke and have been enjoying it, been getting hooked on it, ever since. I've been playing guitar for three years and since I got the ukulele, I alternate playing. I lead music for singing at church, nursing homes and senior center. The uke has such a wonderful sound, although I bought a baritone on ebay that I don't care for much (the sound, but it is also hard to play as the neck is slightly bowed - a bad buy). Thanks for your great website. Blessings, Chuck McNatt

7-25-03,Kei T. Age 41
Emailed you before. Thanks again. 25% Hawaiian living in SF Bay area. Started playing 2 to 3 years ago. Bought a Kamaka concert 2.5 years ago. Recently got a Kawika tenor that I love and have been playing A LOT!!

7-23-03,Ginny Stone Age Old
Learned to play a few chords on a Banjo Uke many years ago. Played off and on. Went to the guitar. Found a Uke club. Back to the uke, of which I have 8 now, plus an ancient banjo mandolin I tuned GCEA. Belong to two uke clubs. Play in a group at conv. homes, private parties, etc. Love it, love it. Learning the Hawaiian style. Music from the teens and 20s are my favorites. Love to harmonize. Also play novelty instruments. Dabbling in autoharp and one row button accordian (melodian).

7-9-03,Diane Barrie Age 66
I love the guitar and the uke.

7-7-03,Thomas Age 34
Nice site! I live in Kansas and have been playing for about a year. There is so much for me to see and learn on this site. Thanks so much for putting in the time, it's awesome!

7-2-03,Cyril Nierva Age 23
This is probably the best site I have visited!...and trust me, I searched the web many times and this was the most useful and helpful! I was raised in sunny San Diego and moved out to the valley for school. In about a year I should be getting my teaching credential. I'm in an all-girl wannabe band with my roommates and I keep the rhythm and time for the group...so I have to say my favorite instrument are the drums. I really want to integrate the ukulele sound into our band so that's why I'm really interested with this instrument. I used to play the piano and guitar, but didn't practice enough so I forgot. Playing the ukulele reminds me of Hawaii, which I really love! Hawaii is so beautiful and the people are very warm-hearted, personable, genuine and mellow, and that's what keeps me going back. A few of my cousins and friends play the ukulele and I want to be as cool as them so that's how I picked it up (about a year ago). They are all in San Diego and I wanted desperately find a close group to jam with out here and that's when I found the South Bay Strummers. I really had fun and enjoyed my first session 2 weeks ago. All of them were very welcoming and I felt very comfortable from the start. Clint is an awesome instructor, even though he initially thought I was this big, fat, hawaiian dude =) !! He is very enthusiastic about the group and is pretty funny. Even though it's such a long way from Northridge to Torrance, it's worth the drive because I get to play beautiful island music, surrounded by a bunch of very talented and friendly people. Thank you very much, Clint!! =)

7-1-03,Dale Curtis Age 59
I am in your Intermediate class. Hope to join the strummers on Sat. with my fiance' soon. Learned on the uke when I was 10 (50 short years ago). Tried the trombone, guitar and ended up back at the uke by mistake (fiance' bought me one for Christmas). See you Wednesday. This site is big. Very cool. Looking forward to seeing more of it when I have time. Thanks. Dale.

7-1-03,Aika Ooka Age 24
I'm enjoying your Monday night classes. Still working on those chords and trying to "become one with my strum". I must admit, it's pretty darn hard. Was a little frustrated until you played some songs for us last night. IT WAS AWESOME AND INSPIRING! Please do it again! Hope to be able to play like you one day! YOU DA MAN!

6-30-03,Louise Farant Age This side of 40
Thank you very much for your site! What a huge amount of work.
I live in Canada, near Kingston, Ontario, which is not far from the American border with upstate New York. Right now, I am returning to playing the uke after not playing for 25 years. What do I love about the Islands? No snow...

6-27-03,Linda Wilson Pushin' the big 5-0
My big Island is located in beautiful Torrance by the Sea, proud home of the South Bay Strummers. Ukulele rules! Never been to the Islands, but the part where you don't have to wear too much clothes would be my favorite part! The love and the adventure of the Aloha keeps me going!
It's an awesome site-you do good work!
Later, Linda

6-27-03,Ho'oulu Tawa Age 47
I was informed of this website by my boss, a wonderful haole man! He is correct... this is a great website! I will definitely share this with my other friends that are interested in playing the ukulele. Thank you for putting this together...for those of us who have always wanted to further their ukulele playing skills. It's a great source of reference!!
I am also very interested in your ukulele classes held in Torrance. Due to schedule conflicts, I'm not able to participate. Do you teach other classes?

6-27-03,Clint
Thank you for your kind words. Besides the regularly scheduled classes at Torrance, I do not teach Ukulele at any other night schools. I do have quite a few private students, so if you're interested in taking that route you may contact me through the Ukulelestrummers Homepage Email.

6-26-03,Pineapple Princess Age 18
A-L-O-H-A! Not only do you have all that awesome uke info on your site, but you have those jiggy hunk photos of yourself too! Love those rad whiskers. Ukes kick!

6-26-03,Clint
I must say, so far that's my favorite entry! Mahalo Nui Loa Princess.

6-25-03,Carolyn Graves Age 63
My family and I really enjoyed your beginners ukulele class. we are looking forward to the next class in the fall. We also enjoy the strummer's on Saturdays. We love Hawaiian music. Have not been to the Islands yet but looking forward to going. You really make the Strummers fun and it has done a world of good for my Father since our Mother passed away last October. Thanks from the Davis Clan.

6-24-03,Margie Sweetland Age 51
Hi Clint, did not get this far when the viewed the site before. I'll tell you a little about myself. Got interested in Ukuleles when my family all started to play. I Love it! I will continue. I live in Keene Ca. It is located off HWY 58 in Kern County about 30 miles from Bakersfield. I live on a 5 Acre horse ranch. We have trail and cutting horses. We take lessons 2-3 days a week and do show 1-2 times a month. I am an RN and I work for an internist (more county DR) type in Tehachapi. My husband is retired but consults for Northrop 1-2 days a week. I only work 1 day a week but it is a really long one. If you do not know what cutting horses are. It is a type of cattle work. We pull one cow out of a herd of cattle and play cat and mouse with it and prevent it from returning to the herd until we want it to. These are actual skills used to round up cattle, but it was refined and made into a sport. If you have never seen it, you will never forget it first time you see it. The horses look like they are dancing. One picture by a painter named Cox says it all. It is called Cow Horse Boogie. That is just what it is. It is alot of work and it keeps us pretty busy and dead tired, but we feel pretty good about it all at the end of the day, then I play the Ukulele. (smile) Not as advanced as my family yet but I'm gonna get there. We have been to Hawaii probably 4 times and love it. Hope to do it again sometime. We enjoyed Kauai the best, loved the flowers, love the music, love the food, love it all. Well thats my story and Im sticken to it. HA. Sorry I didn't fill this out the First time. This is a really great site and you did a really great job of it. Take Care ALOHA-Margie

6-24-03,Ikuko Age 32
I've just started to learn at Griffith. I really enjoyed your class yesterday. I bought my Ukulele when I visited Hawaii about 4 years ago. I try to play everyday. See you next Monday.

6-24-03,Brian Krause Age 34
I just got married on May 3, 2003 to my girlfriend of 9 years. She has battled a rare form of Cancer (OsteoSarcoma - Bone Cancer) for over 7 years. She has been in remission for over 3 years. I work at El Camino College in their Special Resource Center. I run a computer lab for students with Disabilities. I also train the students on Adaptive Computer Technologies. I myself have a Learning Disability. I love to play Golf. I also LOVE the islands. Maui No Ka Oi! I have been going to Maui since I was 8 or 9 years old. It is my spiritual place. My wife and I went there on our Honeymoon for 2 weeks. My favorite spot is Napili Bay. There is nothing like the Aloha Spirit. I try to take it with me everyday and everywhere.

6-24-03,Patricia Dobbins Age 58
I am an X-guitar player whose search for a smaller and more user-friendly strummed instrument led me to the ukulele by way of Clint's evening classes in Torrance. I love to sing and the uke is a perfect, cute and portable "karoake" accompaniment to my caterwauling! The uke has been a wonderful hobby for me - easy to start on, yet providing endless challenge for musical advancement. The Saturday Strumfests are especially important to me - I always have something nice to look forward to every week.

6-23-03,Richard Chapin Age 38
I bought my "camp" tenor Fluke about a year ago after I went to the Paul McCartney show at the Staples Ctr. He told the story of how George really loved the Ukulele. Right before George passed away, Paul told him that he had learned a little song and played "Something" for him. I've been a Parrot head (Jimmy Buffet) fan since I was fourteen so I figured that the two elements kind of went hand in hand. I started your Uke class tonight at Torrance Adult school. I really enjoyed it. Sorry for laughing all the way through it. It's a habit of mine. I'll try to watch it but I don't make any promises. If you want, I can move to a row in the back. LOL I really want to learn how to play better cause I'm really not that musically inclined. Keep up the good work, your new student, Richard (aka Ricster).

6-23-03,Will Reyes Age 67
Am one of your students in Griffith. Enjoy the class. Super teacher!

6-23-03,Steve De Baets Age 53
I just started your night class at Griffith Ctr. I'm going out first thing tomorrow and buying Tenor strings for my Ukulele. I enjoyed your class and your enthusiasm. Looking forward to practicing and next weeks class.

6-23-03, Nani Carroll Age 27
Love your website. Very friendly and inviting for a beginner like myself. I live in Tampa Bay and the majority of my Uke information comes from the internet. Thank you for the Chords.