learning a musical instrument

Oh I just found this thread! I play The Uke and now have UAE (ukulele aquisition syndrome!) I love my ukes so much I can't go a day without picking one up for a strum 'n' sing. I played guitar - not very well - for years but took up ukulele about 2 years ago and made quite good progress through youtube, practice-practice-practice and joining a small workshop group. It has helped me cope through some difficult times in my life because when I'm learning it makes me forget problems for a while.
Give it a go - but buy a good quality one - cheap ones don't stay in tune which makes everything you play sound awful! ???

I keep scouring eBay for a vintage ukulele (Martin ?) at a bargain price, I really need another uke I have never seen a uku on ebay that is worth buying yet

He didn't put it on ebay, did he, Greyduster? Was it by any chance red?

maggie when I was about eleven, my father bought a second hand car and found an old violin in the boot. He offered to return it to the previous owner who said he didn't want it. I got my hands on it and wouldn't put it down! I was brilliant! I could play this thing (not)! Then it suddenly disappeared! And no-one knew where it had gone [shock! And my father was walking around looking like the cat that got the cream! .

nope - sorry

ooops that link didn't copy- will try another of a little practice session by one of our local waterfalls- and then you can hear my weird accent too:

video-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hv...af&oe=55CF83EE

My DS taught himself guitar via free online tuition, and is really very good (says his proud mum).

Inspired by this, I bought myself a lovely red violin on ebay in the early hours of New Year's Day 2000 while very, very drunk and swore I would learn to play as my New Year resolution yes, extremely drunk.

Online tuition in the subsequent 16 years has taught me to screech through Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, very badly. Perhaps I'll invest in a ukulele - they look like a lot more fun

Pompa that looks like great fun! I'm also impressed! I will have to ask step-GS if he'll let me have a go!

NotTooOld, I don't blame you. I remember my father, when I was learning at school, saying that the recorder was a very difficult instrument to love!! I only bought mine to keep GS company while he was learning, but even he has given up on it now!

video-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hv...af&oe=55CF83EE

Daniel and friends were only here for 3 days - arriving at midnight on the Sunday, with 2 gigs organised on Monday, and another 2 on Tuesday- including the big one at the back of our house on Tuesday night, that went on to 4am - and they left on Wednesday morning to get to Amsterdam in time for their next gig. So had a bit of practice, but just not enough - I want my own now, but they are very hard to come by:

youtu.be/tXSIfmrHuHc

Wasn't one of your guests going to teach you, granjura? Or perhaps there was only enough time for a quick practise?

Can't read music either (had to learn but hated it)- my dream is to learn the hang.

They are a great bunch, we have such a laugh every Monday night.

Meant to add that DGC learn the uke in school. They like it too.

Ah Pompa there was a jolly chap in the film who had taken up the ukelele in retirement and was keen to share his enjoyment of his new found skill.

Looks great fun pompa, nice bunch of friends you have there.

Greyduster - thank you for the offer but the enthusiasm has already waned, I'm afraid! I'll never make a musician.

Pompa - I'm impressed!

I'm the good looking one !

Here is a clip from one of our early gigs (we are much improved now, glad to say )

vimeo.com/134992803

I've got a recorder you can have if you want it! Just don't take it to parties!

It is easy, you don't need any previous musical knowledge or read music. Yes, you do ideally need to sing, but by joining a group, you let them sing. Some songs we sing are just for the ladies, so us guys keep mum.

Oh, pompa and others, you make learning an instrument sound so easy. A couple of years ago I joined a uke (sorry, ook) group, bought the instrument and the music stand and everything, and joined a local group. As I think I mentioned upthread,, I didn't realise you only learned chords and the tune was produced by singing. I can't sing, never have been able to, so I found it all quite embarrassing. I can read music as I learned the violin when I was at school (that didn't go well, either) so now I'm wondering about teaching myself the descant recorder, as Luckygirl suggests, although it could end in divorce!

Sorry that went over my head, never seen or heard of that film, but I'm sure the answer is no.

pompa were you in that film "45 years"?

As far as how easy, I have been playing for 9 months and now enjoy playing regular public performances with my group (Maldon Ukulele Group)