Valentine’s Day at Resonator Music

February 6, 2022 | Comments Off | Blog

Local Ukulele Clubs strike a chord.

In what now seems a long time ago in a world far, far away, a group of senior citizens of Ballina took up the challenge to learn the ukulele. This small stringed instrument that was becoming popular with many people old and young, and a group of about 20 joined a class attempting to read a sheet of music, learn to co-ordinate the left and right hands to do different tasks, as well as, soulfully sing the words on the a piece of paper. Nearly all of the 20-odd (and we don’t mean their age!) ukulele players in “Paradise Pluckers” first picked up a ukulele in late 2020.

Beginner lessons through Ballina’s University of the Third Age (U3A) organisation were followed by more lessons, and practice, and eventually the formation of a group that has been playing and singing together for most of 2021.

Before long another 3 people joined the group and we were off and running, until Lockdown occurred. They took to the group practise sessions like a dog to water, splashing about everywhere, and then deciding that it was easier to relax and improve on the things they had learned in class. They call themselves the “LeneX MinstrelS” because of where they are from, and the fact that we can wander around like the minstrels of old.

Nearly everyone is 60 years and over and most have been playing for only about a year so it’s very exciting for them to be doing their first gig (and for some a little daunting!).

That was how “The Paradise Pluckers” (from Ballina), and “The LeneX MinstrelS” (from Lennox) started their Ukulele Clubs.

Resonator Music invites the community to the groups’ first public “performance”, to see and hear what fun they have had and how far they have come in learning what is for most their first musical instrument.