Strumming up record success

You don't need to pluck up a whole lot of courage. You don't even have to know how to strum a single note.
Absolutely anyone who wants to take part in Saturday's lunchtime attempt at the world record for the most ukuleles played together is welcome to learn the chords beforehand and try to gain a spot in history.
More than 851 players need to be there to claim the Guinness Book of World Records title down at the Hawke's Bay Opera House. It's all part of the Hawke's Bay Ukulele Festival on Friday and Saturday.
The three simple songs chosen - Hoki Mai, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Ten Guitars had minimal chords that could be learned in less than half an hour, said one of the organisers, Ngaire Shand.
"We taught students at Heretaunga Intermediate and they could play four chords within half an hour," she said.
"This is for the whole community. If they can't play a ukulele, that's not a problem because we can teach them one chord in half a minute."
The record attempt rules required everyone to register their name and be an active part of the recital. "We can't just all gather and muck around," Mrs Shand said.
New Zealand ukelele "guru" Mike Dickison will hold a free workshop for absolute beginners and, at 1pm, will teach some "fancy strums" to intermediate players, also free of charge.
The public is asked to bring along their own ukulele but can buy one there also for about $40 from Kingdom Music.
Even if the record isn't broken this time around, it will certainly be a local record and plans are already in the pipeline to try again next year.
The Hawke's Bay Ukulele Festival also features a performance by the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra on Saturday, October 17, from 7.30pm, $30 for adults, $25 for children and seniors. Members of the orchestra will partner up with the Hawke's Bay Schools Ukulele Orchestra for a performance on Friday, October 16, at the plaza between 6.30pm and 8pm, gold coin donation entry.
Mrs Shand is the secretary of the Hawke's Bay Society for Music in Education, which has launched a plan to loan a set of 30 ukuleles to regional schools, alongside Kingdom Music.
* The world record attempt for the most ukuleles played together, Saturday, October 17, noon, beginners' tutorial at 11am, Hawke's Bay Opera House plaza.