ukulele to replace recorder

Subject: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:38 AM

Schools ditch unpopular recorders for trendy George Formby-style ukuleles

By David Wilkes
Last updated at 10:39 PM on 01st July 2009

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For generations their shrill sound has echoed through school corridors.

But now recorders are being replaced by an instrument that is easier on the ears - the ukulele.

Not only do they produce rather less dribble, but they have more 'street cred' with pupils and are simpler to play, according to teachers.

One of the first schools to make the switch is Rood End Primary in Oldbury, West Midlands, where ukuleles were introduced at the start of this academic year.
Pupils at Rood End Primary play their ukuleles beside binned recorders

There's a new instrument in town: Pupils at Rood End Primary in the West Midlands play their ukuleles beside binned recorders

Headmistress Barbara Carter said: 'There is an element of the children liking them because they look like a guitar so they think they're cooler.

'But the main benefit we're finding is that it's far easier to get a fairly instant, pleasing sound from a ukulele than a recorder, especially when they are playing together in a group or along with other instruments.

'The pitch of a standard recorder is incredibly high and if you don't blow it gently enough it can shriek.

'On top of that, you've got to move your fingers about a lot over the holes to pick out notes to play a tune, which can be quite difficult and make the children frustrated.
Banjolele at the ready, George Formby entertains British troops in Normandy in 1944

Inspiration: Banjolele at the ready, George Formby entertains British troops in Normandy in 1944

'With the ukulele, they can see where they have to put their fingers on the fretboard and strum the same chord for a few bars without having to change.

' It means everyone can get involved, and when the children do ukulele performances in assembly everyone can sing along. It's fun, inclusive and brings everyone together.'

The 300-pupil school has bought dozens of ukuleles, costing as little as £12 each. The idea was put forward by a member of staff who plays the ukulele as a hobby.

Fred Pearson, secretary of the Ukulele Society of Great Britain, welcomed the instrument's growing appeal among youngsters.

He said: 'A lot of people will find that it is relatively easy to play. With the recorder it's hard to get to the point where you can play anything impressive.
Enlarge   Stings versus wind, George Formby


'With the ukulele you can get going and get great songs played in just a day.'

The ukulele also has the advantage of allowing you to sing along as you strum.

Bob Whitmarsh, secretary of the Society of Recorder Players, said it would be a shame if the recorder disappeared from schools.

He said: 'There's a lot to be said for it as a first instrument to learn music on. There's a lot of skill and coordination involved in mastering it and it's a marvellous thing to take forward into later life.'

A study by the Institute of Education found the instrument most commonly used by children aged five to 16 at state schools in England and Wales is the violin, followed by the guitar, flute, clarinet, keyboards, trumpet, piano and drums.
what are mudcatters opinions?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:53 AM

Wonder how they'll be for Dancing Master tunes??

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:57 AM

But seriously, I agree that anything which will encourage children, or other learners, to play music, can only be to the good

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:08 AM

Hawaiian school kids can learn the ukulele; English the recorder/English flute and, thus, help keep our world nice and multicultural.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Acorn4
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:18 AM

I used to do a guitar class at the school I taught at, run as a club, with up to about 15, and the main problem was the tuning. If a teacher has to tune 28 ukeleles before he can start the lesson + the problem of broken strings, they won't get much teaching in. Some would be able to tune their own, but imagine them all trying to do it at the same time.

The advantage of the recorder is that it doesn't need tuning, and it doesn't normally take too long to teach them not to screech. It's also good for teaching sight reading. If a child makes progress you can then advise parents that it will be worth their while to go out and buy an expensive flute or clarinet.

No harm in the ukelele idea but I can see a few pitfalls in this idea.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:37 AM

You're right, Acorn4. There are quite a few practical problems involved when switching from recorders to ukeleles.




The ukes have street cred? Are they preparing the kids for life in the streets, then?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:37 AM

In the primary sector in England, I'd be surprised if the recorder is still not the most taught instrumen, but it seems to me that there is hardly any attempt in the English schools' system for carrying on with recorder playing when kids move to secondary school.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:42 AM

Ukuleles were pretty popular when I was a kid in New Zealand in the Sixties, but I never met anybody who could play a tune on one. I remember the girl next door telling me in a tone of great self-satisfaction that she'd just learned to play some well-known song of the time, and proceeded to demonstrate - I couldn't recognize it. She'd just learned a chordal strum. (It would have helped if she'd managed to sing in the same key she was strumming in, but she was a Florence Foster Jenkins awaiting discovery).

Obviously there are tunings and techniques that let you play tunes on them, but are there educational methods that get you there, and which teachers can use? Not everybody has the Ukulele Orchestra of GB in residence.

Bad arguments for the recorder:
There's a lot of skill and coordination involved in mastering it

Which is true, but it suggests the cello, sarod, french horn and freebass chromatic accordion would be even better.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:05 AM

then there is the Tin Whistle,a wonderful little instrument,and also ausful pea shooter.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:09 AM

ausful?

Awful, awesome?? 8-)

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: meself
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:49 AM

"trendy George Formby-style ukuleles"? "street cred"? Ah, the children of England, so charming and innocent - I can just see the little darlings gathered on streetcorners, strumming their ukeleles, their sweet voices joined in the latest George Formby hit, to the indulgent smiles of passersby ...

Seriously though, folks, there was a trend to move from recorders to ukeleles in Canadian schools starting, I believe, in the late '60s. I don't imagine most of the uke programs survived the neo-con budget-slashing frenzy of the '90s. The main proponent of the ukes-in-the-schools idea was probably the Nova Scotian musician and educator Chalmers Doane, a first rate jazz ukelele player. He produced a body of pertinent educational resources.

The main advantage of recorders is that they are so small and simple - nothing to be replaced or broken, can easily be slipped into a backpack, etc. On the other hand, ukelele probably provides a better preparation for guitar, which - at least, in Canada, but I suspect it's the same throughout the West - seems the first choice instrument of most kids.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:59 AM

a useful pea shooter.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Darowyn
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 11:05 AM

George Formby Ukeleles have very little in common sonically with a Hawaiian Uke.
One is a guitar and the other is a banjo- but not in that order.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 12:59 PM

"The ukes have street cred? Are they preparing the kids for life in the streets, then?"...this relates, I feel, to a broader problem in England nowadays whereby people, young and old, are led to believe that the height of culture is being good at some aspect of another culture - a problem which has grown under New (Scottish) Labour, and via the BBC, and suchlike, trying to keep Kingdom plus Commonwealth together, and English nationalism/republicanism down.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:07 PM

so what has happenened in mainstream celebrity media culture
that has sparked of this dramatic new teen fad for ukes !!??

.. my 17 year nephew suddenly announed he'd bought one a few months ago;
and now in the last couple weeks while i'm trawling my favourite ebay guitar gear sellers,
I'm seeing a huge wave increase in buyer feedback for ukes
and specialist uke accessories..!!???


..i bought a uke so long ago it was still considered a novelty
to play Clash & Damned songs on it..

now everyones doin it !!!!

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:07 PM

So, what other culture was Formby imitating?

What other culture has got anything like the UOoGB?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:12 PM

Formby could have been playing the English cittern - with a feather plectrum, perhaps.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:23 PM

I expect[under those circumstances] Formby,would have sung the pheasant pluckers song.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 01:50 PM

Of course, CB,...not sure what bird he'd have had to pluck for his plectrum though..?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:06 PM

What Formby actually chose was something that gave him the tone quality of a banjo (well established in jazz and dance bands by the time he started out) but volume and range better suited to his voice and material.

There never has been a distinctively English kind of cittern, and no form of it has ever been popular in Britain except in the drawing rooms of the elite.

If you think you can do a convincing performance of a Formby song on anything now sold as a "cittern", let's hear it.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Artful Codger
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:34 PM

Do they teach them "Fanlight Fanny" and "With My Little Ukulele Under My Arm"? Now that's a school recital I might want to attend.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:36 PM

What Formby actually chose was something that gave him the tone quality of a banjo (well established in jazz and dance bands by the time he started out) but volume and range better suited to his voice and material.

A banjolele, in other words - a uke with a banjo drumhead, or a four-string banjo tuned like a uke. Or so I've heard (I don't play anything with strings myself, so I may be burbling).

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Darowyn
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:45 PM

That's what it was, Pip. There are also eight string versions, which are Mandolin/Banjo hybrids, and six string Guitar Banjos.
I would have thought that there were very few performers who were more English than George Formby and Gracie Fields. They were far folksier than any mead-drinking, cittern playing revivalist playing part-composed Cecil Sharp-ised rural ditties.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 03:14 PM

Formby played both banjolele and ukulele. I friend of mine who owns a music shop says that the uke has been the cheap instrument of choice for kids for some years now.

And WAV - Formby could have been playing the English cittern - with a feather plectrum, perhaps. - we've all been here before, haven't we? Please don't hijack a perfectly straightforward thread for the usual pseudo-nationalistic gabble.

Anyway, no-one's mentioned Tessie O'Shea yet...

And my favourite Formby songs are "In A Little Wigan Garden" and "Sitting On The Ice In The Ice Rink".

Sitting on the ice in the ice rink,
Sitting on the skates with me skates on.
It's the finest fun I've ever had -
Put it on the ice, it'll never go bad...

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Aeola
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 03:15 PM

Well, I live in Formby and you don't see many young ukes on the streets!!

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 03:33 PM

"ukelele to replace recorder"

I think it's wonderful!

"
Hawaiian school kids can learn the ukulele; English the recorder/English flute and, thus, help keep our world nice and multicultural"

by introducing the the uke to English children worldwide multiculturalism is ensured, and we don't need xenophobia interfering with the proceedings.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:14 PM

Formby is on YouTube playing both a Hawaiian-type uke (large size) and his banjolele.

I suppose his musical idiom is a sort of English ragtime - is there a better word for it?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:18 PM

I think Formby was really music-hall - for want of a better word. His first stage act was based on that of his father, George Formby Senior, who was a music-hall star in his own right. He died at a relatively young age, and George Junior took it over - until he found his own voice, as it were.

When you listen to late recordings of George Senior and early recordings of George Junior, the vocal resemblance is amazing.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Acorn4
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:24 PM

The ukeleles are too fiddly.

What about replacing the recorders with MELODEONS?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Acorn4
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:25 PM

...oh, and I've heard that Ozzie Osbourne is learning the uke -and he's going to finish each set with a Child Ballad!

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:30 PM

Darowyn/Dave has hit the nail on the head concerning George Formby, Gracie Fields, and their respective ukuleles--your C# revivalists have my respect, but they have always had my heart.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:32 PM

Acorn4: why not have German kids learn the melodeon and English the English flute and/or concertina - thereby keeping our world nice and multicultural?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:44 PM

presumably, not the anglo german concertina,[unless they are German WAV],but whats wrong with the duet concertina is that not an English invention too?.
Sadly most concertinas cost more than 12 sterling,so are beyond the financial budget of schools

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:45 PM

"thereby keeping our world nice and multicultural? ?"

*sigh* the world IS multicultural.....

I mean look at me, a North American aboriginal (and yes that is the correct term, we are NOT Indians)playing The English Tradition, on guitar (electric and acoustic) mandolin (ditto), piano and I'm in the process of learning the melodeon. Doesn't get much more multicultural and it's all happening in England doncha know!

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:48 PM

oops that was me, cookies disappearing left, right and centre. here....

by the way the world doesn't have to conform the English way...The Empire died along time ago, thank goodness.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:34 PM

Why not let people play the music they like, on the instruments they like?

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Rowan
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:49 PM

At the National (Folk Festival, in Oz) a couple of years ago, Mike Jackson (not to be confused with the late Michael Jackson) arrived with a couple of cartons of ukeleles of various colours; all had a set of four coloured stickers to mark finger positions for three basic chords. Just before his workshop on ukeleles he started selling them for $25 and had a reasonably brisk trade.

Daughter #2, who is a bit of an eisteddfod champion on the recorder, wanted me to buy her one so I did. We went to Mike's workshop and, although I've known (and sung and played with) him for much of the last three decades and was well aware of his abilities with kids' music workshops, I was a bit gobsmacked. Within 10 minutes, he had got around 30 instruments and checked they were all in tune to A440 and, as well had the entire audience strumming chords while singing a song. Over the next half hour they all sang more and more complicated songs requiring up to four chords.

Daughter #2 (now 15) is still a heavyweight on her recorders and daughter #1 (now 18, a bit of an eisteddfod champion on piano and doing her HSC with music as an Extension subject) intends taking the ukelele with her when (if?) she travels during her gap year. She reckons its size (read "portability") and cheapness lend itself to such use, allowing her to keep music and its sociability close at hand with ease.

Radio National has a series "Into the music" which, last week, dealt with the history and current resurgence of ukeleles, and Mike was one of the featured interviewees; the announcer commented (at the end of the program) that the broadcast was dedicated to Mike and Di (his partner) Jackson for their efforts at raising awareness of, and teaching how to play, ukeleles in schools. Unfortunately, the program is not available on podcast.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:08 PM

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is performing in a Prom concert at the Albert Hall next month, on 18th August.

One of my work colleagues is married to a music teacher who spent the last Christmas holidays tuning brightly coloured ukuleles for her primary school classes.

Kitty

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Tangledwood
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:23 PM

During my primary school years in England (almost 50years ago) recorders were it. I used to be kept in during morning and afternoon breaks to work on my handwriting. That's another story, caused by changing schools where different styles were taught. During those breaks the room was used for recorder practice. The sound of that out of time screeching still haunts me and I cringe whenever somebody produces a recorder at the folk club.

Recently I was chatting with a teacher from a secondary school here in Brisbane which apparently has a well regarded music curriculum. He has a large class learning ukelele but as well as that the students are building their own instruments first, of the "flying V" design.

Traditional or not, some changes in music are welcome!

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 10:36 PM

QUOTE
Bad arguments for the recorder:
There's a lot of skill and coordination involved in mastering it
UNQUOTE

... There's a lot of skill and coordination involved in mastering ANY instrument...

"The Violin, easy to get a sound out of, but difficult to play well"


and so on...


sigh...

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:16 AM

"I mean look at me, a North American aboriginal (and yes that is the correct term, we are NOT Indians)playing The English Tradition, on guitar (electric and acoustic) mandolin (ditto), piano and I'm in the process of learning the melodeon. Doesn't get much more multicultural and it's all happening in England doncha know!" (Rifleman)...others are chanting and drumming in traditional ways - check my myspace Top Friends for a start.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:18 AM

I started off on the recorder and the ukulele....and look what trouble that's caused :0)

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: M.Ted
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 09:52 AM

Some of those "friends" are dead, WAV--

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: meself
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 11:30 AM

Yikes! I'd better stop drumming and chanting while I still have a chance ...

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: meself
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 11:31 AM

(I have been feeling a little under the weather lately ... )

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 11:54 AM

I think it is wonderful! My kids all had recorder and it didn't stick. We've always had ukes in my family and now, my 5.6 year old grandson has one and loves it, esp. because it seems like a kid-sized guitar to him. He can do a couple of chords, but I think I'll add some tape/markers for him to make it easier. I didn't used to believe in using them because of ear training but I think at his age he'd get more enjoyment out of it and he has a good ear already.

If you search youtube, you'll find plenty of young'uns who could grow up to be another Jake Shimabukuro.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 12:04 PM

M. Ted - I accept that myspace Top Friends, as above, are really just web-links.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: M.Ted
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:03 PM

That's a bit confusing.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 03:59 PM

Ukes are great, but there's a lot of crap with poor intonation on the market. I would hope any school that's thinking about buying a bunch of them has someone who knows what to look for and reserves the right to reject any that are unsatisfactory. A uke whose strings go noticeably sharp or flat when fretted is not anything to learn music on. It's firewood.

Subject: RE: ukelele to replace recorder
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:21 PM

"others are chanting and drumming in traditional ways

sorry to wreck your stereotyped image (I lied, I'm not sorry at all)

"- check my myspace Top Friends for a start."

no thanks I want to keep my dinner inside me