Family Week

Family time is a precious commodity, and it’s hard to find something the whole family can do together. For music lovers both young and old, traveling to music camp often means leaving loved ones behind. Wouldn’t it be great to, instead, bring them along for the adventure?

The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) offers Family Weeks at three different camps — Pinewoods near Plymouth, Massachusetts; Timber Ridge in West Virginia; and Ogontz in New Hampshire’s White Mountains — that provide a folk music vacation for the entire family.
“Family Week tends to draw people with a high level of interest in dancing or music making or both,” says Mitzie Collins, 66, of Rochester, New York, who has attended Family Week for many years both as an instructor and as a participant.

It was thanks to Collins and other like-minded musicians that Family Week began. A hammered and mountain dulcimer teacher, Collins frequented adult camps organized by CDSS, and she and other musical parents found themselves saying, “Gosh, we’re having such a good time. Wouldn’t it be great if our kids could do this?”

They approached CDSS management, which was initially concerned about how kids could be integrated into a camp. But it was the 1970s and change was in the air. CDSS, and some interested campers, came up with a structure and Family Week was born.
Back then, Collins only wanted to share her love for music with her family. She had no idea how quickly Family Week would blossom into something truly extraordinary.

Sweetness and Loveliness

“At an adult camp you are a little bit self-focused, and at Family Week it’s not just about you,” says Nawal Motawi, 43, a tile artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “There’s a sweetness and a loveliness to the people.”

Motawi has attended Family Week for about five years, starting when her son, Kitson Dong, was three. “At Family Week we spend a lot of time together and I find I enjoy his company in another way,” she says.

Kappy Laning, 51, serves as camp director at Timber Ridge and attends Family Week with a large blended family that includes her husband, Sam Droege, 49; her son, Stuart Hean, 16; two step-daughters, Anna, 14, and Wren, 15; their mom, Romey Pitman, 42; Pitman’s husband, Brad Seay, 41; and Pitman and Seay’s four-year-old daughter, Bizzy.

Laning, a pediatric nurse from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, first attended a CDSS camp at the suggestion of a friend. “My first camp I was pregnant with my son and I’ve been coming ever since,” she recalls. “My son has grown up in this environment. He’s an avid dancer and learning to play guitar.”

Romey Pitman went to camp for the first time when Bizzy was two. “It was amazing how much fun I had,” she says.

“I love dancing, the music that goes with it, and playing that music,” says Pitman. “CDSS camp is a way to share my love of those things with my kids.” Pitman’s teenage daughters are both involved in music year round. Wren plays tuba and flute and Anna plays clarinet and harmonica.

A Yearly Ritual

Those who have tried CDSS Family Week tend to come back year after year, as they watch their children grow and mature. Families are encouraged to bring whatever instruments they play and everything is organized around making each family member feel like they are part of the group.

Families eat together in a dining hall, often accompanied by live music. Each person is assigned a daily chore and they are requested to attend at least two daily gatherings.

Freelance radio producer Marika Partridge, 52, of Takoma Park, Maryland, says she has attended so many camps with her husband, portrait painter Larry Ravitz, 56; son Chaney, 17; and daughters Sally, 14; and Irene, 13; that she’s lost count.

“My son is high functioning autistic with special needs, and when we went to our first camp I didn’t know how he would fit in,” Partridge recalls. “It’s been really great for him and anytime that something is great for him, it’s usually great for the rest of us.”

Not only has Family Camp become a relaxing time for the whole family, it’s helped Chaney discover his sense of rhythm. “Now, everyone in my family is a dancer,” says Partridge. “My son plays piano and would like to learn drums. He has a pretty good sense of pitch and he’s learning harmony, and the dancing reinforces that.” Additionally, Partridge plays piano, tin whistle, and ukulele and her husband plays sax and flute. “My daughter Sally is really blossoming as a guitar player, and plays fiddle and accordion, and Irene is a piano player.” The family packs a number of instruments for family week.

For children and adults alike, Family Week is a chance to perform in a friendly environment. “Kids have a chance to join the dance band,” says Mitzie Collins. “That’s often a real eureka moment because people dance along with their playing and they get to be functioning musicians in the community.”

“It’s great watching the kids bring their fiddle that they may have started at school and they try it out at camp and become part of the camper band,” says Laning. “The next year they come back and they are even better on the instrument, or maybe another instrument.”

A Sacred Retreat

Just as campers are encouraged to bring musical instruments they are discouraged from bringing electronic gadgets and video games. And there’s no TV and Internet access in the cabins. “CDSS Family Camp is a kind of sacred retreat,” explains Collins.

“We’re modeling a much healthier way of living,” says Partridge. And, although live music from jam sessions and dances can be heard all day long, there are plenty of other activities to keep families busy, such as swimming, canoeing, organized hikes, crafts, and even some built-in time to just read or relax.

“Some of the best times I’ve ever had were at camp,” says Nawal Motawi. “The whole package is fun: being outdoors more than we ever are in our urban life and sharing music with other people.”

Learning for Young and Old

Family Week is an educational experience for the entire family and daily classes, divided by age group, are held both in the morning and afternoon.

“All children are required to go to the classes and the teachers are top-notch and experienced,” says Laning. “In all my years at the camp I’ve never had a child refuse to go. We always find a way for it to work out and everyone ends up having a great time.”

For younger children classes begin at age two and focus on singing, movement, dancing, and crafts. From age eight and nine children begin to learn clogging, body rhythm, social dances, and longsword.

“It’s brain gym; all the dances and movement patterns they are getting out of this are vital for the development of the brain,” says Partridge. “The teachers watch the children and they know who needs extra help.”

Ten to 12-year-olds sing, dance, and clash sticks together, while learning about music around the world. Adult classes, for age 13 and older, include contra, clog, and swing dance, longsword, family band for ages 10 and up, mummers, and harmony.

“It’s great for grown-ups, as well as children,” says Partridge, whose husband has early onset Parkinson’s. “He’s in good shape, but the dancing is great for him. It’s healthy for all of us and uses all our faculties.”

“A lot of times we send our kids off to do wonderful things, all the while they are thinking, ‘If it’s so wonderful, why aren’t the grownups doing it?’ says Collins. “The kids see that this is important enough for grownups to do too. It also provides a wonderful model for doing things with their own families.”

The camp is a particularly great experience for teenagers, who are treated as adults and learn social skills, alongside musical skills, which carry over into their home life. Collins stresses that this is especially useful as the teenage years are often the time when we “lose” our children.

“Kids don’t get to talk to adults that much,” she explains. “At camp they get an appreciation for other capable adults who are not critical of them and see them as separate people. That’s particularly important for teens.”

“My teenage daughter told me that it’s the only place where she feels she can just completely be herself,” says Romey Pitman. “They don’t have to act cool and tough the way they do at school; they are full participants in the adult community. They play music and dance with the grownups, but they also play with the little kids and look out for them. All the ages are engaged in such a healthy way.”

Total Immersion in Music

Each evening at 8:30 p.m. a guitarist leads all those children under age 10 to their cabins for bedtime. Once they are safely tucked in bed, parents are free to return to the dancing and live music, while roving babysitters monitor the children.

“It’s a great vacation for a mom,” says Partridge. “Live music, dancing, wholesome activities, really nice people, and the community is fantastic.”

CDSS’s staff of professional musicians and music teachers interact with camping families in every aspect of the camp, including bringing their own families along to camp.

“Music is integral to everything we do at camp,” says Laning. “We are spoiled by the live music at camp. We appreciate the musicians who are performing and we are also inspired by them.”

“You can join the band or just sit around and play,” says Partridge. “If you are a younger player who wants to learn something new, the musicians always, always take time to do that.”

She has fond memories of jamming poolside with Family Camp teacher David Cantieni, a flutist from the group Wild Asparagus. “I play the ukulele and he tells me what I could be doing to accompany him,” says Partridge. “He’s teaching me tunes and strums and I’m really coming along because of this informal work.”

“There could be a craft project going on and nearby people are jamming,” explains Collins. “So the kids are hearing music while they are doing other things. That’s so valuable. There are lots of ways to teach music. You can teach it in a classroom, but people all over the world learn music more from just being around it. This is a more organic way.”

“My favorite part is the multisensory nature of it,” she adds. “You are in a pine woods, away from the world and yet you are immersed in music and dance. I go to a lot of different music festivals, but rarely am I so immersed.”

Musical Legacy

Many of the adults who bring their children to Family Camp see it as a way of passing down the tradition of folk music and dancing. “This folk world is such a healthy world,” says Laning. “At camp the children learn that it’s a wonderful community and they have a tendency to either stick with it or stick close to it as they grow up.”

“We were not thinking generationally back when Family Camp started, but we are definitely thinking generationally now,” says Collins. “There are a lot of gray hairs in any cultural activity today. You tend to get a lot of people in their 40s and 50s, which is wonderful for them but doesn’t address the next generation.”

And Family Week’s generational thinking seems to be working. “Any number of kids who went to the early camps are now back on staff, running camps, and having their own children attend,” says Collins.

Collins and her husband do their part to pass the tradition of folk music to the next generation, they are now bringing their grandchildren to camp each summer. “We come with a slightly changing cast each year,” says Collins. “We may have two or three generations.”

“What’s really neat for us, where our grandchildren are concerned, is that we get to be around them and learn a lot about them outside of ceremonial occasions,” she says. “But yet they are not with us all the time.”

“We have the best, silliest whole week,” says Partridge. “We get to enjoy music, dancing, singing, and we even have a parade. We come home with songs stuck in our heads … It’s pure joy!”

For more information visit the country dance and song society website at www.cdss.org or view Making music’s calendar of Music camps at makingmusicmag.com/calendar/camps.html.

Free Guitar Software

When you are learning guitar the use of software often makes the learning curve less steep. The good news is that much of the guitar software available on the net is free. There are many musicians developing their own guitar software and sharing it with others. Software for learning chords and scales, guitar effects, and free guitar tuners are all available for download. Because the internet is changing all the time, websites go up and websites go down, I will just give you the names of the software I have found and leave you to do a search for the latest version.

KD’s Guitar Utilities developed by Kent Dalton, this package is a group of utilities that help you in guitar fretboard learning. They began life as a basic set of chord and scale diagram generators and is offered as copyrighted freeware at the moment. These utilities generate scale diagrams, generate chord diagrams, give you chord names based on fingering, generate arpeggio diagrams, determine chords that fit into a given key or scale, and determine scales that fit into a given chord progression. The programs support a range of custom tunings. If a scale or tuning is not known to the tools, you can input custom scale patterns and tunings.

GuitarScales v1.0 is a scale visualization program which can see scales visualized on a fretboard using plain dots, dots with special markings for the root notes, note names and degree numbers. The user can add guitars and scales using a simple interface.

Audio Tuner v0.9 will tune your guitar, ukulele, violin or other musical instrument. The program lets you tune your instruments to pitch perfect. Tunings are included for Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, Piano, Bass Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Autoharp and Cello.

Denzo Guitar Software III is a unique guitar related application that can manage concepts such as chord/scale relationship, inversions, subscales, similar chord, tonality, harmonization, fourth harmony, analysis of a chord from its notes, plus other harmony tools. Denzo Guitar Software III offers a wide range of functionalities to map notes on the fretboard with different rules, so you can think C, E, G as a chord and you can find all possible positions or inversions of this chord. Alternatively you can think C, E, G as an arpeggio and ask the program which are the best positions to play it in.

PitchWorks DX 1.2 is a plug-in which lets you adjust a music sample’s pitch or tempo, or change both pitch AND tempo. According to the specs input parameters are: Pitch in semitones (cents) in range ± 4 octaves, Tempo in percents (in range 15..999 %), BPM or sample time in seconds, Speed in percents or semitones. For precise Tempo change and avoid artifacts an accuracy parameter is available. All parameters have two tweak modes: draft, where you able tweak parameters fast using GUI wheels and precise (calculator) mode, where you input precise values into edit boxes.

Advanced FretPro is a fretboard training program that also has a massive chord and scale library showing exactly how to play chords and scales on a real guitar neck instead of from a chord or scale diagram.

There are many more free guitar software programs out there, some have not had any updates for some years but others are recently developed programs for the latest technology.

Listen to Music From Hawaii

Copyright (c) 2008 Kentaro Konika

Whether you are a music fan or not, nobody can deny that the music from Hawaii is a beautiful mix of flowing lyrics and rhythms that truly capture the feeling of the islands. Listen to Hawaiian music whether you are into reggae, steel guitar, Jawaiian or slack-key – there is something for everyone!

Anyone who has ever traveled to Hawaii will know that their music is truly mesmerizing. This local scene itself was originally influenced by a number of different sources, including many countries around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Immigrants brought with them a large variety of different musical instruments, with which the Hawaiians soon developed their own distinctive style.

Most famous in Hawaiian music is the ukulele, with a distinctive sound that almost everyone can recognize. Many of the beautiful rhythms are played by this instrument, and the great thing is that they are all inspired by the beauty of the islands and as such really capture their spirit. There is no doubt that the ukulele is uplifting yet melodical when it needs to be.

In Hawaii’s history, it was King David Kalakua who supported a musical resurgence. He inspired many of the locals to create music based on their sense of pride in the islands, and as a result music started to become more and more popular and expressive of local culture.

The sounds of Hawaii, though completely unique, have a number of distinct influences. When you listen to music of the islands you will hear a combination of the styles of jazz, swing, pop, ragtime, gospel and all other kinds of western music. The music is designed for both locals and visitors to either dance to or to simply enjoy the graceful lines and beautiful lyrics. Jawaain music is growing in popularity on the islands as a distinct blend of reggae from Jamaica and more traditional Hawaiian sounds. This is perhaps one of the most popular types of music to dance to on the island, due to the fact that it incorporates many catchy melodies. However, these melodies run a little deeper and are actually written in order to spread the positive spirit of Hawaii and celebrate Hawaiian life.

If you want to listen to music of Hawaii then you can either get your hands on some records, or visit the islands for an authentic musical experience. If you tune your radio in Hawaii you will find that there are many local stations dedicated to playing strictly Hawaiian music. You may also be able to catch a live performance. There are several music festivals held in Hawaii every year, including the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the Molokai Music Festival and Oahu’s Steel Guitar Association. When you come to stay in Hawaii this is definitely an experience not to be missed. You could even look for some hotels that put on live music performances for their guests. Whatever you do, find some way to experience this unique culture and listen to the music of the island!

All About String Musical Instruments – Things You Should Know as a Pianist

Since stringed musical instruments like viola, bass, cello and violin create music with strings vibrating to a certain pitch; they are known as the cousins of piano. What makes them distinct from each other is that the violinist or other string players pluck the strings with their fingers (which is instructed as pizzicato in music) while the strings of the piano are hit by the hammers to produce sound. Bass, viola cello and violin are not entirely instruments in the orchestra. Country, jazz, bluegrass and other types of music can also be created with the use of these wonderful and flexible instruments.

Piano in a way can be compared similarly to that of hammered dulcimer since the strings of the piano are being hit with the hammers for the tones to be created. Every single string of the hammered dulcimer is easily accessed by the musicians since they are exposed not like the piano. In creating chords, around four strings can be struck all at the same instance. Playing the strings in combination to create chords and melodies, the player makes use of two and at times four shaped hammers made of wood. Popular for its distinct sound, a hammered dulcimer is found widely in folk music.

The harpsichord, having the keyboard and notes produced by plucking (hitting) the strings is even more alike to the piano. Although the sound as well as the style is entirely dissimilar for both instruments, a good deal of music written for the piano can be played on the harpsichord and vice versa.

Harp, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and guitar are also classified as stringed instruments. In similar way and the same key, all of these instruments are tuned just like the piano. Unlike other instruments like the saxophone and trumpet, the pianist needs no transposition at all when using these instruments. Since the range of the piano is over eight octaves, all the notes created by these instruments can be found on it. Just like the guitar, since it only has four and a half octaves, the notes it makes can still be found on the piano’s range.

Loosening or tightening the tension of the particular string is the method of tuning all stringed instruments and piano is included in the group. The string vibrates faster and at a higher frequency as it is tightened and made shorter. The pitch will be higher as the string gets thinner. The brass, bronze and other metals wrapped tightly around the piano core are the components of the lower sounding strings whereas piano wire alone is the component of higher pitched strings. The strings of piano cannot be used as guitar strings and guitar strings cannot also be used on banjo, ukulele and mandolin even though they are created of similar materials.

The strings themselves are not the only ones creating the sound of the stringed instruments, but they also are responsible for making vibrations on other parts of the instrument. A good example is the guitar. More than its back and sides, the guitar’s top makes a lot of contribution to the entire sound. This also proves to be true to mandolin and other stringed instruments. Creating the beautiful melody of the piano is made possible by the important parts which are the soundboard, harp and its basic framework. The tone of the instrument will be of good quality if the components are also great. The biggest contributor to the quality of sound of the instruments is the age and type of wood being used.

A Childrens Entertainer Prepares

When I’m going to one of the kids parties that I do, I usually start to get ready the night before. I go into my office where I store my gear for the party – a big pink suitcase with spots, my ukulele (for singing happy birthday), a huge ghetto blaster/boom box and an amp. I check all the stuff in my suitcase – that the magic tricks are in place and the bags of balloons have a good mixture of colours. If I’m doing a princess birthday party, I have to make sure I’ve lots of pink and purple balloons. I like the neon ones best as the colours are really bright and other worldly. Also, if it’s one of the princess parties, I’ve to make sure that the balloons are in the purple velvet bag with the balloon pump ready to sling around my waist where I keep the balloons to hand so that I’m ready for action at the party. There’s usually not a moment to waste at children’s birthday parties. You can lose the kids’ attention easily, so all the props have to work smoothly and be in place ready to go.
Then I tune my ukulele, I pick out age and gender appropriate pass the parcel prizes and wrap them up several times in wrapping paper, I wash and disinfect my face painting brushes and sponges, load up my squirty camera with water and pack everything in the boot of my car.
Sometimes I’m doing a couple of birthday parties for kids on a Saturday or Sunday. I do princess parties, pirate parties, themed disco type parties and also clown parties. So I have to change my clothes in my car while going from one party to another. I usually feel like wonder woman or whoever it was who used to change in the telephone box. Not that I think I’m a super hero! Far from it! It’s more the changing in cramped spaces similarity I’m referring to. I can change myself from a childrens clown to a princess or a pirate in about 10 minutes.
If I’m not available for a party I can pass it on to one of the children’s party entertainers who work with me. We are all actors and have lots of experience being kids party entertainers.
I call myself Silly Sally as it was a name a friend of mine called the first kids clown I used to do on the streets over 10 years ago. And the name just stuck. I like it because it gives me leave to be very very silly and ridiculous.
To contact Silly Sally please call Brid at 087 4117843 to find out about weekday party reductions, recent price cuts, special offers and to book a party. You can check out detailed breakdowns of each party on my website www.sillysally.ie.

What brand of underwear is best?

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If Father Xmas isn’t real . . . I’m curious

<p>Remember when you first found out Father Xmas wasn’t real?</p>

<p>I vividly remember for two memorable reasons, which interestingly enough had nothing to do with the point of its fabrication. I still think anticipating Father Xmas makes childhood Xmas fun and so I have never considered it in the light that I had been lied to.</p>

<p>Father Xmas’s demise began a few days before Xmas when the slightly ajar door of my parent’s bedroom beckoned my 5 year old adventurer to explore its forbidden territory. I remember silently creeping in, so compelled was I to look inside the wardrobe I threw normal caution to the wind. My bravery reaped its rewards. Inside was a huge box, full of brand new toys. On the top in glorious fire engine red, lay a ukulele slightly propped on top of a lunch box of similar red with a brown leather strap or so my memory begs to recall. My Mothers voice caused me to scurry out and hide away but not before she caught me escaping down the hallway. “Were you in my bedroom?” My denial clearly stated the rules “No Mummy, I’m not allowed in their” I was hoping the ukulele and the lunch box were for me.</p>

<p>Finally it was Xmas morning and I could see Father Xmas had indeed found me at my Nana and Granddads house. The light from the street lamp illuminated the end of my bed and the pillow case full of Fathers Xmas’s gifts. I couldn’t believe it, poking out from the top of the pillow case was what looked like the very same red ukulele and lunch box. I was face to face with my first major life dilemma.</p>

<p>I could never admit to this new piece of information without getting myself into trouble and if I did say hey I know who Father Xmas really is would that mean I was eliminated from receiving future presents. On hindsight my 5 year old narcissistic concerns and consequent decision to not say a word was developmentally normal, their was no way I was going to deliberately get myself into trouble or miss out on anything good because of what – the truth. Hell No! </p>

<p>What I began to question years later was my unquestioning belief in certain aspects of life which in the end didn’t stand up to questioning. If we believe it is ok to create a delusion around a jolly chubby bearded man in a red suit bringing us gifts, even with good intent the same could apply to many things. I soon learnt however there were rules to challenging underlying family or social assumptions. </p>

<p>There were some that are acceptable and some, well lets just say it seems as if you had done nothing less than spit in the face of society and all human kind right back through the centuries. To dare challenge the unsubstantiated status quo can require a bravery that cannot wilt under the force of disapproving or threatening glares if you dare to ask “so I’m curious, what’s the evidence” The venturing to the left can upset the people on the right.</p>

<p>Listen to people for the next week and listen for their beliefs. More importantly listen to yourself over the next week and hear your own beliefs. Really seriously, listen! If listening is not something you have thought to purposely pursue before, you are in for an interesting week. I actively encourage my coaching clients to practice this often enough to become an automatic habit. If nothing else you can hear yourself come out with some spectacularly unhelpful BS beliefs that are so automatic we no longer notice them. Awareness is one of your most powerful self development tools. </p>

<p>Critical thinking or challenging the underlying assumption is the way of personal excellence and social progress – so get curious and ask questions and even if no satisfactory answer is forthcoming, stop and notice the reaction, sorry I meant response.</p>

Luau Party Planning-Fun Times Hawaiian Style

A Hawaiian luau is an excellent idea for a party. This is the type of party that will be remembered by all who attend for a very long time to come. It is more than just your basic outdoor feast. It is a fun time filled with unusual entertainment, music, food, beverages, decorations and dress. It is a great way to share the tropical island paradise with your friends and family without having to spend a fortune in bringing them there. If you are interested in bringing the Hawaiian islands home I will give you some insight on how to make this possible.

Aloha! Play another song on the ukulele will you? If you have ever been to Hawaii or at least familiar with some of the traditions then you will have heard of the ukulele. This is one of the most popular and traditional instruments on the island. The name ukulele translates as jumping flea. Over one hundred years ago Portuguese sailors introduced the instrument to the native Hawaiians and soon after the ukulele became known as an Hawaiian instrument. Some other popular instruments you will hear being played on the islands are the slack key guitar and the steel guitar. The slack key guitar was first made popular by Elvis Presley in his Blue Hawaii album. These instruments are the sound of Hawaii and you should definitely add them to your luau party planning checklist. A band would be ideal, but expensive, so if your budget is tight go to your local music shop and pick out a variety of Hawaiian tunes.

Although the music for your luau party planning would not be the first item on your party to-do list, it is still a critical item that must be checked off if you are truly interested in delighting your guests with the look and feel of the tropics. The music helps create the atmosphere and this is crucial to your success.

If you are fortunate enough to have a large backyard, then your location for the party is a snap. If you are not so lucky then you will either want to have your party at a friend or relatives house. Luau parties are best if there is ample outdoor space. They are normally large parties, but you could certainly get away with a smaller venue if  your guest list is under 25. Along with your music selections, the decorations will help pull everything together. Whether large or small, if the atmosphere is set properly your luau should be a grand affair.

The reason most luau parties are outdoors is because of the menu and the entertainment. Often times people love to have a pig roast when opting for this type of party. To go with it they may have a band or a DJ, and play many outdoor games. The menu would also include a variety of tropical fruits and beverages. Some popular games to include in your luau party planning might be crab football and body art. Crab football is much like soccer and would require a large area to play in. If you don’t have the yard space then body art would be a fun choice for the kids. You can create prizes for the best work.

Some other things to consider purchasing for your luau are; tiki torches, tropical flower arrangements, candles, rum and mix, luau themed invitations, a limbo pole (for your hula dancer), grass skirts and leis (flowered necklace). By using a combination of the things listed above you will have the means to have a great Hawaiian party. All you must do now is create a workable plan to put everything in order to ensure your parties success.

Famous Hawaiian Musicians

There are three distinctly types of Hawaiian guitar: ukulele, slack key guitar, and steel guitar. The most famous and most notable Hawaiian guitarists did not only play guitar (ukulele, slack key, or steel guitar) par excellence. They also either revolutionized the way a type of guitar is played, or brought Hawaiian music to a wider audience through use of their instrument. They made Hawaiian music transcend from Hawaii to US mainland and beyond.

Hawaii has produced many renowned guitarists, but these are some of the most famous.

Tau Moe Family

Tau Moe was a Samoan who moved with his family to Hawaii when he was 11. He learned to play steel guitar from M.K. Moke, and later married another steel guitar player named Rose. The couple joined a traveling show, performing Hawaiian music to international audience. The couple had two children, Lani and Dorian. When they grew up, Lani and Dorian joined Tau Moe and Rose. The family was dubbed the” Aloha Four.” Tau and Rose lived as far as Germany, Japan, India, and Lebanon. It is even said that they performed for Adolf Hitler during Nazi Germany. Tau Moe and his family helped spread Hawaiian folk music and hapa haole music worldwide.

Gabby Pahinui

Born in Honolulu in 1921, Charles Philip “Gabby” Pahinui was a key in bringing slack key guitar from the “back porch” of Hawaiian homes into a bigger audience. He is also dubbed the “folk hero of the Hawaiian music” for he was a force behind its resurgence.

A musical wiz, Gabby had no formal music education. He played in cafes, restaurants, and night clubs for more than 40 years, and spent 10 years producing albums and holding concerts.

Gabby’s early interest was American jazz. He would later meld jazz with traditional Hawaiian music and slack key guitar, a musical ingenuity he was particularly famous for.

Gabby recorded his first song in his early 40s. Entitled Hi’ilawe, the song became a hit.

The Sons of Hawaii

The Sons of Hawaii consisted of four famous Hawaiian guitar players. Founded by Gabby Pahinui and Eddie Kamae (ukulele), the group also included David Rogers (steel guitar) and Joe Marshall (bass). They released their first album in 1962. In 1960, The Sons of Hawaii was the highest paid Hawaiian group in the state.

Eddie Kamae

Also born in Honolulu, Eddie Kamae was a ukulele virtuoso. He was famous, foremost, for promoting “Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance.” Before founding The Sons of Hawaii with Gabby Pahinui, he played with Ukulele Rascals and Ray Kinney’s Orchestra. Eddie’s unique plucking methods revolutionized the way ukulele is played. This multi-awarded guitarist has also produced films promoting Hawaiian music and culture.

Don Ho

Who could forget Tiny Bubbles and Pearly Shell? Both were as famous as its singer and slack key guitarist, Don Ho. A former member of the United States Air Force, Don Ho had also made appearances in many television shows such as I Dream of Jeannie and The Brady Bunch, and later had his own television show, The Don Ho Show.

Sol Ho’opi

Sol Ho’opi was the most famous steel guitarist of the 20th century. He has also appeared in a number of movies including Waikiki Wedding and some Charlie Chan films.

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I love my new ukulele Makale! You sound so beautiful and stays in tune really well. I am a very active amateur musician, and it seems that this is a fabulous tool, and a reasonable price. I learned quickly (and he plays non-stop until 03:00 on the first night) and played with the YouTube clips of the late night (morning average), almost independent of his new ukulele Makale. It’s fun to play! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to buy a ukulele.

 

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Great little instrument

Ships with the white Aquila strings. Great little uke! I am having too much fun with it. Stays in tune well and has a nice tone.

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Great for a beginner!

I received my ukulele just two days ago and began playing it yesterday. The instrument, so far, stays in tune pretty well, and has more rich and beautiful tone than I expected! A great buy for the price.

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A decent starter ukulele

Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele w/binding 

The Kala KA-S Ukulele (with binding, as shown here), is a decent starter ukulele for the young and young at heart. It is a decent starter ukulele if you want to learn and don’t want to break the piggy bank. This is a standard (soprano) size ukulele with little frills. However, it does not have the toy ukulele look or sound, and the binding around the body adds a bit of class to its appearance. It has geared tuners, not friction pegs. This makes tuning the ukulele a tad easier. 

There is also a version without the binding, but for the same price Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele with No Binding. 

Though the name implies it is made of mahogany, it is actually made of laminate nato, which is referred to as “eastern mahogany” and is often used in inexpensive guitars and ukuleles. However, don’t let the make fool you… this baby sounds impressive. I still play with a KA-S every now and then, and I use it as my beater uke. It’s not solid wood, and therefore does not have the solid wood sound. But it is still an impressive little instrument. I generally do not like to purchase music instruments online, but I would make an exception with these. 

Kala production models tend to already have decent action (not too high or low), though some might complain the action is a bit high. It is easy enough to sand the saddle down to your preference. The nut is glued, but can come off with a bit of effort. Make sure you get the ones with Nylgut strings (Aquilla) and not the GHS, because it will make the ukulele sound so much better. If it comes with other strings, you can always change the strings (it’s quite easy). Also, keep in mind that the strings are usually nylon, and are prone to stretching, so don’t be surprised if it seems that it is off tune by a half step (or a whole step even) a few hours after tuning. Give it a week or two of having to retune every day (or in between every song, if you play a lot). After the strings are stretched out, it will generally stay in tune.

Comparing qualities and build, it is comparable to the Lanikai LU-21. There is little difference between the two, and for the price, the Lanikai is cheaper by ~$6 and eligible for Amazon Prime (free shipping!).

CheapestKala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele W/binding

Good starter uke

I’m a professional musician who loves to learn new instruments. I won’t say that this has the feel and quality of an expensive instrument, but I’m having fun playing with it and learning uke, which is all I really wanted  

One beef, at least at this point I’m having trouble keeping it in tune. Maybe when the strings stretch out a little more? I’m guessing it will always have intonation problems due to how cheap it is, but the tone is good and I’m not trying to cut a hit record with this one anyway

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Outstanding for the Price

I had a cheap ukulele. I purchased some books to start playing. The cheap one would not tune to the proper notes. I purchased the Kala Mahogany Sorprano Ukulele with hopes it would be better than the one I had. To my surprise the Kala far exceeded my expectations. The quality is outstanding for the price. I tuned it in less than 5 minutes and now I am on my way.Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele w/binding

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