I’ve been playing music since the mid-1960s. I was inspired by the young Beatles to save all my allowance and buy a guitar. Then I had to figure out how to play it.

I started with electric guitar (a Kent), then switched to bass, but went back to the guitar after a couple of years. I travelled around Canada with an acoustic guitar strapped to my back through the late 60s and early 70s. Since then I’ve played, or tried to learn, many other instruments, including harmonica, autoharp, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo, sitar, Strumstick, charango, N.Am. Indian flute, flute, shakuhachi, oboe, upright bass, keyboards, and a few others I’ve probably forgotten. Most of the time my passion for making music has far outpaced my talent for doing so. Still like it, though. Playing music fulfills some primal need in me.

In 2008, I got my first ukulele. And in getting it, I rediscovered the fun in playing music. For a while, I had forgotten how much fun making music is, how much joy there can be in just strumming a tune. I was trying too hard, getting frustrated and it was too much like work. The uke was fun, easier to play and sounded great. Not to mention being small, easy to carry, and lightweight.

Since then I’ve had a couple of dozen ukes, of all sizes, trying and testing as many as I could afford, learning about design and style. I’ve sold most, of course, and have just a few choice instruments left: some baritones, tenors and a single banjo uke. I am not as comfortable playing soprano and concert size as I am the larger scales.

Along the way I put together two websites, one with an introduction to the uke, with reviews of all the various ukuleles I’ve owned: www.ianchadwick.com/ukuleles/. You will also learn about the history, design and cultural importance of ukuleles. A good place to start if you’re interested in getting into ukes or want some buying tips.

The other site I have is about the many vintage sheet music and song books of ukulele arrangements I’ve collected and scanned since I started playing. These are mostly from the 1920s and 1930s: www.vintageukemusic.com. If you’re looking for any old songsheets, check the site then contact me. If you have any I can borrow to scan, I’d really appreciate it. I make them available to other ukulele players to help keep this old music alive for everyone to enjoy today.

I also have a Facebook page for the vintage music site and collection. I’ve really grown to appreciate this old music, and want to keep it alive. Take a look and if you enjoy it, or wish to contribute, click the “like” button.

This spring I want to get a local ukulele club going. Have regular meetings, lessons and jams – at Rick Garner’s Silvertone Music Academy space (on Huron St., above Casbah, entrance at the back). Contact me if you’re interested in joining us.

Meantime, I’m also working on re-learning the bass, with an Epiphone viola bass bought locally at Blue Mountain Music, and an Ergo 5-string electric upright bass picked up used through Kijiji. I also play a little harmonica and have several harmonica reviews here. Plus I recently got a tenor guitar.

Contact me if you want to get together to jam, to talk about the collection of song sheets, or discuss ukuleles in general.

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