Rob

I have lived in Vancouver since 1977 (I'm originally from Spokane). I'm married almost 53 years (Sally) with 2 daughters, who both live in the metro area.

I retired from the High Purity Water Industry. After retirement, I was looking for an additional hobby, and my sister-in-law suggested that I re-take up the guitar. I had played the guitar as a teen, but I stopped playing after... leaving for college, getting married, raising kids, etc. Never seemed to have the time.

In 2017, I took my sister-in-law's advice and began playing the guitar again. I was enjoying playing, but then in May of 2018, as we were getting ready for our annual trip to Hawaii, I was in Beacock’s complaining that I had just started relearning the guitar chords and getting my fingers callused and was now going to have to be away from it for a month. They recommended I pick up a ukulele in Hawaii to keep up my playing momentum. I did so the first week we were there, fell in love with it, and have played my ukulele daily since. The guitar has gone back to the closet.

My favorite song to play is "Little Grass Shack” (1933). In May 2018, in Honolulu, after having just started playing the ukulele, I was at the Kamaka Ukulele Factory for a tour. A guy waiting for the tour with me, also happened to be there to pick up a ukulele he had ordered. After they handed him his new Kamaka uke, he took it out of the case and played a rendition of “Little Grass Shack.” He was a professional musician living in Hawaii and said this was the first song he had learned to play. I was amazed and fell in love with this little song. “Little Grass Shack” became the first song I learned to play by heart.

My advice to new ukulele players…Play daily, even just for a few minutes. Also, find some fun ukulele play-along videos for whatever your skill level…YouTube has hundreds of them.  That is still my favorite thing to do. I love playing and singing along with the original artists. Makes me feel like I am part of the band!

Vancouver Ukulele Club WA has helped broaden my musical interests and stretch my comfort level to learn more difficult pieces. I have also met some wonderful people and made some good friends.

**Rob volunteers as a song sheet manager