Ukes being tuned

I’ve not long been back from Ovingdean where we’ve had a fantastic Flutewise course. We did something a bit different on this one.

A few weeks ago I had inspiration for two reasons. The first was a telephone chat with Jonathan Myall of Just Flutes. We aften talk. On this occasion he was telling me about a rather nice instrument he was stocking. The second was at an Ian Anderson gig when Fancy Toys were also performing. I urge you to check out Fancy Toys, they are great fun, I think you’d enjoy them. These two things got me so excited that I bought myself a present the next time I went to Just Flutes. My present? A pink ukulele.

I brought it home, took it out of it’s pretty pink case and worked out how to tune it. It was love! Then I had this idea – wouldn’t it be great to do on a course!?! So I phoned Jonathan and discussed instruments and a teacher and a plan was put in place. I ordere the ukuleles, but they didn’t arrive. Each day I waited anxiously, concerned that I was going on holiday and Cornelius, who was coming to teach us, had told me they all needed to be tuned a couple of times. By Thursday Jonathan decided it might be easier for me to drive to the distributor in Reigate. Which I did and took charge of a box of 24 mixed coloured ukuleles.

I got them home and started the mass tuning. Singing My Dog Has Fleas over and over again did become a little boring. I was also dismayed that as soon as I did one round of tuning they were flat again. Six times they needed doing – my poor fingers and ears.

I’ll tell you what happened on the course soon. I’d order your uke soon for Christmas!