A Ukulele Workshop with TRAVIS HARRELSON

Saturday , July 22, 2006
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
workshop ($35.00)

Having known that Travis Harrelson is "arguably one of the world's best ukulele players" and having recently read that he is "virtually the world's best uke player," we at Elderly feel fortunate to have snagged this talented player and teacher for a uke workshop while he's in town to record a CD.

And for those who enjoy listening to excellent ukulele music but don't (yet) play the "instrument of the 21st century," Elderly is also sponsoring a Travis Harrelson Concert on Thursday evening, July 20, at The Creole Gallery in Old Town.

Travis' ukulele workshop is intended for intermediate-level players, those who--in Travis' words--are "familiar enough with the uke to play and know the names of the more basic chords," those who can comfortably hold and tune their instruments. The workshop will stress techniques that are almost unique to the ukulele, i.e., strokes, strumming, harmonics, picking, etc.

The class will also stress "how much fun it is," just how easy it is to play advanced jazz chords, and the "enjoyable nuances of their sounds when employed on an otherwise average chord run."
Here's where Travis added one of his standard workshop statements: "'Tis no harder to play a 'drop dead, knockout' jazz chord, that it is to play the old dull one!"

Travis will also address "that 'magical' and sometimes fearful word in 'chordology'...the INVERSION chords." He always advises students to master these and thereby "open the doors to chord melody and the inter-picking that will naturally follow...and to the pleasure derived in those different 'voicings'."

Here's an accomplished artist/instructor who--from his letter alone--clearly enjoys teaching people to play (and love) this lovable instument. Reading his workshop description, coming upon the information that he will also stress "how much fun it is," we smiled--and then realized, first, that his description is filled with words like "fun," "easy," "enjoyable," "magical," "pleasure," and, second, that "fun" seems to be what the ukulele, more than any other instrument, is all about.

Travis Harrelson has been around uke and guitar players since his early youth. His mother was involved with Hawaiian/Polynesian musicians and jazz players, and Travis would occasionally sit in on jams and try to emulate the good players. Then came years of school, college, the Navy, raising a family, Travis writes, explaining that he was "never really serious about it" and that he played "only on rare occasions." In 1984, after reading about a ukulele group playing at a senior citizen center in Corona del Mar, California, he decided to "free the lonesome little box from its years of imprisonment." Since then, he plays a variety of venues and offers workshops in and around California.

Referring to Harrelson as a "notable strummer," 'Jumpin'' Jim Beloff offers background on the artist in The Ukulele: A Visual History (Backbeat Books, 1997): "Travis Harrelson is a fixture of the Southern California uke world.... Over many years he developed his style of playing as well as a deep love of classic Tin Pan Alley and hapa-haole [part Hawaiian/part Caucasian] songs. He also built up an enviable collection of rare vintage ukes. He performs regularly at Hawaiian music and dance festivals in Southern California and along with this author conducts workshops at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica." Beloff's book also includes a photo of a handsome young uniformed Travis Harrelson aboard the U.S.S. Princeton aircraft carrier in 1952, playing a ukulele.

Travis Harrelson, Pat Boone, Arthur Godfrey, Tiny Tim, George Harrison...the uke's always "fun." Here's what Beatle Harrison wrote in Beloff's book 60s Uke-In on February 2, 1999: "Everybody should have and play a 'UKE' its so simple to carry with you and it is one instrument you can't play and not laugh! It is so sweet and also very old.... I love them--the more the merrier.... get yourself a few and enjoy yourselves--Love from George (Keoki) Harrison."

Space in Travis Harrelson's uke workshop is limited, so call the store or stop in and sign up soon.

Check out recordings we carry featuring Travis Harrelson