Questions often carry subtle assumptions …

For example: I was thinking of leading this post with, “What would you like to learn most in your musical journey with the ukulele?” That question carries the implication that the one’s journey with the ukulele is a primarily a musical one. In my life, the music has always been important, but often times it has been the vehicle, rather than the destination …

For example: Historically, I used to have a really hard time making friends and just dealing with people in general; I had some trouble with bullies in my youth and it took me a long time to work through that (I’m probably still working through it). In high school I became pretty good at music though and the side bonus was that I was able to make a lot of friends despite my social limitations. That, in turn, shaped my feelings about the music itself.

For example: When I was younger, I dreamed about being a professional composer … a sort of ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ / loner / basement-dwelling maverick that wouldn’t have to deal people. Thankfully, that vision never really came true (though I have written and arranged boatloads of music over the years and that is still a big part of what I do). The world forced me to be more creative about how I used my talents and interacted with it to earn my daily bread. Now, I count among my most fulfilling musical experiences the times I’m collaborating, teaching and interacting with other musicians in common goals. It is a much more balanced life and brings me a lot of joy.

So, one of the reasons I spend so much time leading a community ukulele group is that it affords me the opportunity to meet people and work with them on common goals, forging friendships along the way. I’m so grateful for that. Without going into much more detail, it’s easy to see how musical goals can extend far beyond music. In the future, I hope to grow more friendships, do more collaborations, meet more people and yes, make more music.

Since this has gotten pretty long, I’ll pick up from there in a ‘part 2’ later on; there’s a lot to think about when it comes to how music can touch our lives. In the meantime: What are some of your goals related to the ukulele? What is your ukulele learning wish list? Please leave a comment below; I’d really be interested to know.

Post filed under All UkulelePlay! Blog Posts.