This summer I picked up the ukulele my sister got around 2015, when this was quite the trend. It ended up to be such a nice way to spend the time and get a new hobby, simply for enjoyment.
What makes it different from any other skill, is that it engages part of my brain, of my body, that I haven’t been attention to. Motor coordination for strumming, changing chords, following the rhythm and speed are quite difficult to master, as I do not have any musical training whatsoever. My singing voice sucks so I will not talk about coordinating the instrument play and voice) In the beginning, it was difficult to even follow the tutorial while the teacher was singing in the showcase part of the video, because I could not focus on the strumming correctly.
All of that to say, with deliberate practice, it all become easier to master. I am not a level at which I’d consider myself confident singing, but I feel I’ve progressed nicely. Now it’s easier to learn some new chords and strumming too. The neuroplasticity of the brain huh.
My first song was “Would you be so kind” by Dodie using the simple chords, I’m not touching the OG barre chords that she uses (yet). I like playing some parts in “I love her” by The Beatles. “Kiss me” by Sixpence None The Richer is also a lot of fun to play. I was also pleasantly surprised seeing covers of “Toxicty” by System of a Down on a ukulele, so I dabbled in that a little too. There is also this that I started to learn.
Sadly, once university started in the fall, I did not prioritize singing on the ukulele at all, and that’s where I am right now.