Ukulele Thursday morning articles
Ukulele Festival May 2023
Recording of a live performance
The D’Ukes of Hayling performing for the Wednesday Chit Chat Club at the Community Centre in August 2022...
Group report
The Ukulele Thursday group has continued to evolve both throughout covid and during the relaxations since. The number of players increased during lockdown so that when we were allowed to meet and play live again, we needed a larger venue. The Barley Mow provided their conservatory while the weather was good, as shown, but we now sing and play inside. The picture is captured from Facebook where there is also a live video clip.
We try to accommodate the wide range of song choices we enjoy with varying degrees of success but enjoy the challenges that arise. Fun and a relaxed approach are key, we do have laughter and more recently breakfast together before we start!
We are grateful to Steve Jones who helps us along on bass and very recently Trevor Brash who has taken up the cajon. We are delighted to be asked by the Barley Mow management to play for the Seniors Festive Lunch Event on December 9th as well as somehow having our own group Christmas Lunch!
I guess in the true spirit of the u3a nationally we are most definitely Learning Laughing and Living.
Peter Haskell
Group report
Now a familiar scene for many groups, some members from the Thursday and Friday Ukulele Groups have continued to meet. Throughout last summer we played in the garden to occasional applause from the neighbours (thankfully no vegetables) followed by a brief spell indoors when the ‘Rule of Six’ applied. Throughout the winter we continued using Zoom each week but look forward to meeting and playing live again. As backgrounds show we play in varied locations. We can only imagine what we might sound like live together once again when nobody is muted and timing is everything!
We play a range of songs from as early as the fifties to comparatively recent numbers and are always prepared to experiment with new suggestions. The aim is to have fun and we do have laughter.
Whenever Hayling Island u3a has its open day (currently scheduled for September) we hope to be in action, perhaps with a spare Ukulele or two for someone to give it a try.
Photo with kind permission from members of the group.
Peter Haskell
This is an article published in the Spring 2021 edition of the Hayling Island u3a newsletter
Group report
Ukulele Thursday and Ukulele Friday are two groups that meet fortnightly to enjoy playing Ukuleles informally in small groups for fun. Our standards are variable but nobody worries about that, only about gradually getting that little bit better as time goes by. Some are new starters or have started only recently, perhaps after a few lessons, while others have been playing longer and just like to play in a small relaxed environment where we can try out new or different songs or playing styles without worrying about going wrong – we do that quite often! Sometimes though we amaze ourselves by sounding quite good. Songs range from those we enjoyed as teenagers to the more contemporary.
Most of us sing as well as play and gradually build enough confidence to play with other groups in the area. Some but not all of us do this.
If you have a Ukulele lying about or it was an unused gift why not give it an airing – it is a very therapeutic activity. At the time of writing we are welcoming new members on Ukulele Friday although Ukulele Thursday is almost full.
Our meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings of the month or the 1st and 3rd Friday afternoons and we break for tea and coffee – see the last biscuit in the photo that everybody was too polite to take!
Contact details are on the Hayling Island U3A website and in the Newsletter.
Come along and give us a try.
Peter Haskell
This is an article published in the Spring 2020 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter .
Group report
We have had a number of gigs since the beginning of the year. Some have been for the groups themselves ie Memory Clubs and some we have received donations for playing enabling us to send £230 to Naomi House/Jack's Place.
We will be having quite a long summer break before rehearsing Carols for our Christmas gigs already booked.
Avril Keyes
Ukulele Thursday and Ukulele Friday
For those relatively new to the Ukulele or wish to gain confidence and enjoy playing in a small relaxed group for fun.
When? - from first week of September on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 10am and/or the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 4pm.
If you would like to know more please contact Peter Haskell.
This is an article published in the Summer 2019 edition of the Hayling Island U3A newsletter