Ukelele team founder Louie Wabol who teaches at Hopwood Junior High School said they started the Ukelele jam last year.
“This is the second year for ukulele players to get together, spend time playing and teaching each other and just hang around,” Wabol said.
He added that the ukulele players include not only students but other members of the community, too.
“Anybody who wants to play ukelele can come and join us in events like this. There is no pressure on anybody, you can just come and have fun with other people who share your interest,” Wabol said.
U.S. Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner, a staunch supporter of the ukelele jam event said playing ukulele or developing a passion for this musical instrument is a rewarding experience.
“We started this last year where ukelele enthusiasts and hobbyists meet and mingle for over a couple of hours,” she said.
She added that last year, there was one adult who brought a ukelele she just bought that morning to the ukulele jam.
“When she came, a 12-year old ukelele player volunteered to teach her how to play it,” Kelchner said.
“This event is one avenue where ukulele enthusiasts can gather, teach each other fingering techniques and other skills and relax without the pressure they will go through if they go to a formal school,” she added.
Kelchner said they will look into holding more frequent ukelele jams in the future to encourage the community to develop this musical pastime.
“We may look toward holding it for twice a year or something like that. Nothing is definite yet but we will look into it,” Kelchner said.
Last Saturday’s ukulele jam drew in a number of female enthusiasts.
“Last year, majority of our ukelele jammers were boys. Now its girls but we are going to encourage practically anybody who has a ukulele, wants to learn ukulele and those who know how to play it to join us and teach others their skills,” Kelchner said.
