Over the summer, Chronicle journalists have been trying something new under the supervision of experts.
Erin Smith tries her hand at the ukelele.
Music has never been my forte.
Growing up, I had always been interested in art, and absolutely loved listening to music, but creating it wasn’t ever in my wheelhouse.
There were some failed attempts at wind instruments during my school years – as each student was required to complete a term of obligatory band.
Undeterred in adulthood, I took up guitar with the encouragement of some musical friends about two years ago.
They were patient enough to struggle through teaching me to play some basic chords and how to strum.
I have since achieved the title of beginner, with a few three- to four-chord songs under my belt and an unconventional singing voice to accompany them.
Something which still alludes me, but has remained on my bucket list, is learning how to play an instrument with others – so in stepped an unusual musical group to show me how.
The Whanganui Ukulele Orchestra is a charitable organisation which raises money for various causes through their ukulele, voice and percussion performances – all while dressed in steampunk or rockabilly attire.
They perform covers of popular oldies ranging from 50s pop hits to 80s rock.
They have been operating in Whanganui for more than 15 years.
Long-time member Dianne Blair, along with fellow members Delia Jarrett and Jamie Daniels, agreed to show me the ropes.
We met at Blair’s home in Westmere.
I was promptly handed a spare ukulele and walked through some of the basics.
To my relief, there felt like significantly less finger gymnastics than on a guitar, with two fewer strings to worry about.
Though I quickly realised all of the chords I had painstakingly learned on the guitar were in completely different locations and configurations on the ukulele.
Regardless, the three women patiently walked me through the new ones.
We started with a 50s pop song about love. I was shown a D chord, a C chord and a G chord, then the simple strumming pattern.
With a bit of encouragement, we dove into the song with Blair singing lead vocals, then myself, Jarrett and Daniels on backup vocals.
I stumbled through the first couple of verses, doing my best to follow Blair’s lead, learning to tap my foot in time with them.
Eventually, by the fifth verse, I began to find my way, more or less timidly blending in with their playing.
We blew through a few more 50s hits, including a Chuck Berry song, before finishing with Silent Night, and after some defeated protest, the Happy Birthday song, where I was asked to lead the vocals.
Each member had a different reason for joining the group.
Blair joined about 14 years ago. She picked up the ukulele through classes in town, and subsequently looked for a way to continue playing.
She auditioned for the group and, after three painstaking weeks of waiting, she was notified she had been accepted.
“I enjoy the company of playing the music together,” Blair said.
The group continues to be by invitation only, through shared social spheres, with about seven to nine members during a typical year. Following recent turnover, they are actively looking for new members this coming year.
Jarrett joined the group at a similar time to Blair and picked up the ukulele as she went. She now owns several – one of which she handcrafted herself.
Daniels comes from an already-musical background and first became part of the group several years ago, learning to play the ukulele after joining. She took a break for a few years and then returned a couple of months ago.
They both say what has continued to draw them back to the group is the sense of camaraderie and joy that they not only feel themselves, but that they spread to others through performing.
When asked why they play, Blair said, “... it’s just a really nice way of making those people feel happy.”
The choice to perform in costume, formerly steampunk, and now rockabilly (as of this year), is a mix of having a bit of fun themselves and making others smile.
Blair is a member of the Whanganui Steampunk group Victorious Steam. She has a dressing room in her home dedicated to her handcrafted costumes, with shoes and other decor spilling out into the nearby hallway space.
They are open to almost any song with the only prerequisite being “something that’s got a bit of a beat … [and] we feel happy singing it”, Blair said.
At the end of our practice, each member hugged goodbye as I thanked them for the lesson.
They said I did a great job picking it up – though I fear this may have been a potential continuation of their kindness.
I have some more practice to do, but I definitely had fun.
When I asked Blair what she would say to someone thinking about joining a group like theirs, she said, “it’s all about making people happy and smile”.
“It’s pretty special.”