Uke better believe it!
This is a story about a musical instrument.
For years, I have been wondering which instrument was the one for me. When I was a child, I was attracted to the guitar, but my fingers always hurt from the metal strings. When it came time to choose an instrument for my middle school band club, I wanted the trombone to be like my grandfather, but my arms weren’t long enough, so I ended up with the flute.
In my music lessons, my teacher always said that I was very gifted, but needed to put in more time practicing to really excel (which I wasn’t inspired to do for the flute). I tried being in the chorus for a half semester, but found it uninspiring and boring so I reverted to singing to the trees on my walks to school instead.
Into my teens, I tried teaching myself the piano. I learned a few simple things on an electric keyboard that I got for Christmas, but the self-exploration didn’t stick. I didn’t have time or energy to practice.
I always felt connected to music and for a while, my relationship with it existed exclusively in long car rides and on the dance floor. Oh! And I continued singing to the trees, but the rocks and the river started listening as well.
In 2022, I visited an island in Nicaragua and this island was dripping with musicians. They noticed me and invited me to take up space. One guy invited me to a jam and then his friend invited me to sing solo for the entire group. I was mortified, but actually, my voice was warm and malleable. In that solo session, I hit notes I had never been able to reach before.
And so began the hunt for an instrument to support my voice.
My first thought was a djembe. These are quite popular among travelers. One drummer showed me some basics and I picked up other rhythms intuitively. Maybe instead of a djembe, a hand drum would suffice. The hand drum is simple, but at least it was something. But did I invest?
No.
Why?
Traveling with it.
So I left Nicaragua empty handed and carried on in my journey. Somewhere along my travels, I picked up a mini drum and a shaker that could fit snuggly in my backpack. Occasionally, I’d tap on the drum, but its face was so small it could only fit my fingers.
When I traveled to Thailand for the first time in 2024, I was, again, met by a bunch of traveling musicians. I’d bring my shaker to singing circles and impromptu jams. One guy encouraged me to drum more and take up more space singing. It was encouraging, and the question of "which instrument do I commit to?" returned. There was a guitar at the house I was renting and I practiced often, but my fingers grew sore and my soul was growing weary. I didn’t have the energy for such a commitment. I wanted and needed something simple.
After Thailand, I’d date a Belgian man who, for some reason, invested in a very high quality handpan. Since he lacked the musical ability to play the instrument, I ended up making use of it daily. I’d get lost in different patterns and pair my voice with it. The metallic sound was regulating and the learning process simple, had I found my instrument?
Not exactly.
The handpan was huge and expensive. Plus it didn't work out with me and the Belgian guy. Unfortunately for me, that was the last time I had permission to play such a well-tuned and well-kept handpan. Sad face for me.
Zoom through another season in Thailand playing out of tune handpans, forgotten drums, and borrowed guitars… I mostly gravitated to the cajon for its simplicity and easy access (quite a few venues had them). Still, I wasn’t going to carry a cajon around the world with me, so at the end of the season, I left empty handed per usual.
My next destination was a trip back to the States. It was difficult not having access to musicians and travelers. The closest thing I’d get to that was during my visit in Oregon where I could swim topless by the river and the park was filled with jugglers and flow artists. After Oregon, I worked a temporary job in California on a Christian campus in Orange County.
The job was intense, disorganized, and included a handful of 15 hour days. By the 4th week, I was struggling to keep my balance and looking for something to help manage the stress. In my last week, a ukulele appeared in the common area.
Locked. In.
Small. Travel friendly. Simple. Easy to use–
Uke better believe it! I finally found my instrument!
Now, I play the ukulele on an almost daily basis. It is fun, simple, and something I love doing when my mind or hands want something to do. The other day, I even performed a few songs at open mic night. It inspires me in so many ways.
Alright reader, ss always, thank you for reading and if you feel like you’re getting value from my content, please consider offering a small donation at Buy Me a Coffee or consider subscribing for more content! I also invested in some shakers. Thank you for your love and support!
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