WANNA LEARN TO PLAY THE UKULELE?

If you are a senior, and have never taken music lessons before or learned to play a musical instrument, and would like to start now, a good choice would be the ukulele. It is a humble little instrument that can provide hours of entertainment and joy for those playing it and those listening to it.

Here's how learning to play a musical instrument can benefit older folks like us:

• It stimulates brain activity, and helps in reducing the risks of depression and dementia. 
• It is a great stress-reliever. Playing the ukulele and singing along makes you feel happy.
• It improves coordination of your finger movement, and helps with exercising the muscles of your fingers and wrists.

A popular ukulele class for seniors at the University of the Third Age (U3A), Malaysia with instructor Kelly Teh.

And here's why the ukulele is our preferred choice:

• The ukulele is simple to learn. Only four strings, and a small number of chords to learn.
• It is versatile. After a few lessons and constant practice,  you can play hundreds of tunes from Old MacDonald's Farm (to sing along with your grandchildren) to evergreens like Somewhere Over The Rainbow (to sing along with your friends), and all the genres in between (e.g. hymns, classics and chart-toppers).
• It is light and small, and therefore portable. You can travel with it anywhere you want.
• Finally, and what is music to our ears - the price. It is easily affordable.

If you enjoyed this simple tune played by Adam Sandler on the ukulele, click here for a tutorial on how to play it.

SeniorsAloud was at The Cathay Ukulele Party yesterday evening (Sat 8 Nov, 2014). The highlight of the evening's program was when well-known ukulele virtuoso from Hawaii, Kalei Gamiao, took the stage. He was totally awesome, and his playing was literally electrifying. Check out his many videos on Youtube, and you will see why the crowd loved him.

Kalei Gamiao mesmerized the crowd with his incredible jaw-dropping ukulele skills. With his eyes closed and a smile on his face, he truly seemed to be in bliss while playing. No wonder he says the ukulele is an instrument to spread peace and joy. He was also in Kuala Lumpur in June to give some concerts.

Tom Low, 75, and his group Uke Jammers had fun playing a cover of Cliff Richard's 'The Young Ones'. Note his special ukulele. "Only 100 such ukuleles in the world," he tells SeniorsAloud. (Below) The crowd at the event jamming and singing along.

There is a huge revival of the ukulele as more and more people from 8-year olds to 80-year olds take to the instrument. Ukulele sales have soared, and music studios are now offering ukulele classes aside from the usual piano and guitar classes. Did you know that Warren Buffett plays the ukulele too? He started playing it during his college days. 

For the beginner, there are plenty of ukulele tutorials you can view on Youtube. Here's one that we have subscribed to. You can search for others that suit your particular music taste.

 

If you prefer to learn from an experienced and certified instructor, you can check out the following:

For Singapore, contact The Ukulele Movement at 178 Race Course Road, Singapore 218608 (nearest MRT Farrer Park, Exit F).

For Malaysia, contact Persatuan Pencinta Muzik Ukulele Malaysia.

Or just email us and we will put you in touch with the right folks. Our email: seniorsaloud@gmail.com

Here are some articles that might interest you:

• Those Four Irresistible Strings 
• Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You've Taken Music Lessons 
• Playing a musical instrument can sharpen your thoughts - and help ward off depression and dementia 

(Updated on 13 March 2021)

FINDING JOY, SOLACE AND THERAPY IN MUSIC

If laughter is the best medicine, music is a close second. In fact, it's number one on my personal list of most effective antidote for depression, stress and illness. Music lifts our spirits and puts a smile on our face. It makes us want to snap our fingers and move our feet. Or just close our eyes and relax.

These senior buskers deserve a listen. You can catch them in Bukit Bintang near Starhill, KL.

Music stirs up beautiful memories of our life experiences, our first dance, our coming of age years listening to Top of the Pops and Hit Parade. No celebration is complete without music.

Best of all, anyone can enjoy music regardless of age. There is such a broad spectrum of music genres we can always find something that appeals to us. My 10-week old grandson falls asleep to soothing baby tunes, and my 87-year old mom, who has Alzheimer's, gets all excited when she recognizes old songs from the pre-War era.

This delightful video above showing the Cowans playing an impromptu duet on the piano at Mayo Clinic went viral when it was first posted on YouTube in 2008. It has garnered almost 10 million views, proof that music resonates with a lot of people, especially when it comes from happy people who enjoy playing music. Well, the couple that makes beautiful music together will stay happy together.

Music can also be a therapy for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. Which brings me to this question - Why are most homes for the elderly so devoid of music? Many of the nursing homes and retirement homes I have visited in Malaysia and Singapore do not give much importance to music as an integral part of their wellness program or incorporate it into their daily activities. Fortunately, the home where my mom is staying encourages music as a fun activity and as therapy.

Members of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra entertains at the Dementia Homecare Centre as part of their Outreach program.

My mom at the centre's daily karaoke sessions attempting to sing oldies in English with the aid of her magnifying glass.

(Above) Don't let their solemn faces fool you. These senior citizens are members of U3A's (Malaysia) gamelan orchestra. U3A stands for University of the Third Age. They enjoy entertaining the audience and are concentrating on making sure they get every note correct.

Learning to play a musical instrument reduces our risks of having dementia when we age. A growing number of studies show that "music lessons in childhood can ... provide benefits for the long run, as we age, in the form of an added defense against memory loss and cognitive decline" (National Geographic article "Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You've Taken Music Lessons")

That's comforting news for me. I am currently taking ukulele lessons so I can sing and play my favorite songs, and maybe shuffle my feet while I am at it. It may take me ages to be a competent ukulele player, but I'll get there one day...and in the meantime, hopefully I am keeping Alzheimer's at bay.