A View from the Front Line
Personal accounts by members of Uke-Troupe
THIS MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE!
Subject: Uke Troupe at Brampton Day Centre
Thank you all so very much indeed for such an amazing hour of ukulele music...we loved every minute. You all exude joy and happiness in your playing and singing which makes your performance all the more enjoyable.
You have wonderful musical talent and I can see that your leadership style promotes confidence and expertise in all your players.
I have never before seen our elderly ladies so animated...it delighted all our helpers to see their faces.
Please pass on our thanks to your members.
Pat from Brampton Day Centre
April 2016
ONE YEAR ON
A motley group of aspiring but mostly novice musicians joined the St Ives U3A Uke-Troupe in April 2015. The ukulele is a happy sounding instrument and simple to start playing. With guidance from our leader, Brian Barnes, we have learned to strum using different chords, to count up to four* and to sing along to a variety of songs. Brian shares his enthusiasm and knowledge with us very patiently and we are all feeling the progress.
One year on…who would believe it? We have performed in public and have even been invited back for return visits. Then there is the press coverage...well, a photograph in The Hunts Post.
In April we entertained a packed room of residents at Broad Leas Court, where we were treated to delicious tea and cake. We also performed at the Tuesday Club in Brampton much to the delight of our appreciative (and captive) audience.
In May we have been invited to play for the Over Day Care Group and in June we are performing at the Offord Darcy Village fete.
This is a friendly group to practise along with. Best of all though, is the fact that we are all having fun learning a new skill and sharing the joy with others. So prepare to be entertained if you see a group playing behind banners of a setting sun! That’s us!
Lesley Pullen
April 2016
- Note from Brian...To be fair, most of the group could count to four before joining Uke-Troupe!
“DON'T FRET! PLAY THE UKULELE!"
A report from a front line Uke-trouper
I was swapping stories with a friend recently about the things we get up to now we’re retired. I told him about the U3A and that one of the groups I’d signed up for was learning to play the ukulele. I’ve discovered that whenever you say this to someone, you’re immediately treated to a George Formby impression, either “Leaning on a lamp-post” or “When I’m cleaning windows”. What’s so reassuring is that our Ukulele-troupe leader, the most accomplished Brian Barnes, has not introduced either of those songs to our repertoire and let’s hope he never will!
“Repertoire!” you say. Indeed, we (well, quite a few but not all of us yet) have become pretty accomplished at playing a range of tunes after only one term. It must be so because Brian compliments us all on being able to play and sing simultaneously (but not necessarily in that order). There are some really good players, and singers; and then there’s me, still struggling with different chords, changing chords (no, I don’t mean the ukulele strings), getting the rhythm, singing and reading the “tabs” - a sort of non-music notation that means you don’t have to learn about quavers and crotchets. Some of us can get crotchety with ourselves but no-one has decided to go off and do crochet instead. That of course requires equally nimble fingers.
Ah, nimble fingers. How delightful it would be if we all had them; or indeed if any of the fingers we each have were nimble. If you want to play the “uke” you really have to find the most comfortable way to get your fingers pressing the strings down on the frets in order to play the chords (q.v.). This is called “contorshun”, a non-musical term defining the almost impossible angles to which one must bend the digits of one hand to hold down the strings whilst using the other hand to pluck or strum them and get rich, clear, harmonious twanging noises from the uke. Ah, it’s a bit out-of-tune. OK, switch on hi-tech digital tuner and start adjusting string tension (“No, you have to turn the key the other way to tighten the string – Doh!”) and remember: the top string is actually at the bottom and always tune to G-C-E-A where G is the bottom string at the top and A is the top string at the bottom on the fret board. Got that? Good! Isn’t this fun!
Well, actually, it really is; it’s great fun! Why? Well, for starters, Brian is a very entertaining tutor, combining whimsy and teaching skill in equal measure. The Uke-troupe is a group of mixed ability people; some already play other instruments and can read music. Others like me, are (were?) complete novices and there are others still who had been trying it out on a “teach-yourself” basis. Some have good singing voices whilst others are probably best heard in the shower (“Sounds like you’re drowning in there, are you OK?”). We spend the best part of two hours together once a fortnight and we’re getting the hang of it. We’re exercising our brains, upper limbs, lungs and vocal chords (“Will you please stop mentioning chords!”); and, most important of all, we have a good laugh.
So, if you don’t know one end of a ukulele from the other (it’s a bit like a boat: there’s a blunt end and a sort of long, narrow pointy end) but fancy having a go at playing one, come along and join us. It beats cleaning windows and leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street on a Friday morning.
Paul Faupel
July 2015
EIGHT YEARS ON ... AND STILL GOING STRONG!
We are a friendly group of Ukulele players who met every first and third Friday afternoon of the month from 2-4pm in The Methodist Church Hall in St Ives. Most of us have learned the Ukulele through u3a about 5 years ago and some players have been playing for longer. There are normally about 20 of us for each session and we also have a Zoom link.
We are very ably led by Mark, Joy does all the admin, Mary the bookings and Jackie the songs on the website. So, we are well organised! We have been getting about 15-20 bookings a year, mainly to Day Care Centres, Blind Society etc, all in the St Ives and surrounding areas. We have built up a repertoire of set lists that we play so that we don’t repeat ourselves! (We go to some groups several times a year.) It is not compulsory to go to the gigs – there are normally around 10-12 of us. Chris acts as our Compere and percussionist – we’re getting quite professional!
So to give a flavour of each session: Mark sends the songs (about 24) to Joy, who then emails them to everyone (you can print these from our u3a website). We arrive a few minutes early to set up and chat. Mark leads us and we might go over any parts where we are a bit dodgy, and then decide if the song suits us (right key/whether we like it/whether our audience will like it etc) – a group decision. We also suggest new songs and chat them through. We break at half time for a drink and another chat, and finish at 4pm sharp.
I have found joining the group very enjoyable – everyone is very friendly and welcoming. I think most of us struggle with some bits of songs but then realise that ‘Hey, I can do this!’ The gigs are great – you get a warm glow when you are appreciated so much that you are asked back time and again. We even took part in the Ukulele Festival in the Corn Exchange in October – another great event.
Christine Wickes
January 2023
ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE FRONTLINE - from Barry Reeves, December 2023
Since joining the u3a St Ives Uke-Troupe, I have had the delight of playing with some wonderful Uke players with amazing singing, especially from the ladies. Led by Mark Taylor, we play a mix of songs from the old to the new. Would you believe you can play ‘Breakfast in America’ (by Supertramp) on the Uke? It is always fun to try something new to add to the repertoire.
The group also play gigs, with the ever-growing set lists, to entertain the many venues which include care homes. This is always a pleasure to do, to see the smiling faces and foot tapping, and occasionally singalongs.
The group recently played at the St Ives Old Riverport Ukulele festival, now in its 3rd year. We played 5 songs, and within this set list, Joy played beautifully on her flute to California Dreaming (Mamas and Papas), and David with the excellent harmonica accompaniment to Dirty Old Town (The Pogues), and even my little banjolele came good with this great Irish tune.
So to sum up, the u3a family has a great mix of people always welcoming, smiling and enjoying the camaraderie with like-minded people.