The other day as I was practically drowning in assignments, I decided it was time to stop and chill out for a few minutes. I got in my bed, started scrolling through social media and quickly realized that more screen time wasn’t the kind of break my mind needed. Instead, I went to my closet and grabbed my ukulele. As soon as I began strumming my favorite tune, an immediate wave of calm washed over me and the stress disappeared within minutes. The feeling I get when I play is one-of-a-kind and this is what makes the ukulele so meaningful to me.
Out of the few instruments I’ve learned to play over the years, the ukulele is by far my favorite.
I originally started with the trumpet, but in middle school I really wanted to learn how to play a string instrument. Naturally, I picked the guitar. Mainly because it’s cooler than the violin, has a great sound and is perfect for any occasion that calls for a campfire. A few years of only knowing three chords and about a dozen private lessons later, I finally figured out that guitar wasn’t for me.
Let's face it: six strings plus short fingers equals bad, really bad, guitar playing.
So, instead, I gravitated towards the ukulele. Get this: the uke is just as cool (if not more cool) than the guitar, has a super awesome sound and is perfect for nights spent hangin’ with friends. It’s also smaller than a guitar and very easy to carry around, making it a summer road trip must-have!
From the start, my ukulele and I were meant to be. It ended up as kind of a surprise gift when my mom brought me to a music store in honor of my high grades about four years ago. I picked out my very own uke (“uku-baby” as I call it), and the rest is history.
To me, the uke is so much more than an instrument. It’s become a creative outlet and an opportunity to relieve whatever stress builds up over the course of a week. I see it as a symbol of relaxation, peace and my own personal form of “feel good meditation.” I've used my ukulele for school projects, fun parodies, original songs, talent shows and several open-mic nights. There’s even a national media award hanging on my wall for a video I played the ukulele in as proof of how special it is!
Whether I’m playing in front of a crowd, for my friends or just to take a break from life, the ukulele always allows me to express myself. So, for anyone looking to pick up a new instrument (or some peace of mind at the very least), I strongly suggest trying the uke and hope that it’ll mean as much to you as it does to me.
