The 4th Peg

Mike DaSilva makes terrific ukes. They are right up my alley with interesting sounds, choices of wood and grace to their design. Mike’s love of the ukulele runs deep and long. He’s also profoundly grateful for the luck he’s experienced (I’d call it “hard work with passion”). Mike’s first ukulele was a $100 Martin. Since, he’s found a few other incredible deals but mostly he loves making them.

Mike began running into others who had a passion for the uke, perhaps talented musicians who couldn’t afford a quality instrument or someone with such a passion to just learn to play the uke that they’d settle for anything.. anything at all. He had a simple idea. Just give them one. When Mike came across someone that he believed deserved a uke that didn’t have one, he give the person one of his. Just gave it. No strings. They were free to do with it whatever they wanted as it was theirs to use as they saw fit.

I know we all would love to be on the receiving end of such generosity. After all, Mike builds fabulous ukes. But would it be terrific if instead of receiving, we put giving into the forefront of our minds? I imagine that most who might read this pathetic ramblings of an old uke dude probably also have a passion for the ukulele. Heck, you might be like me and have a few here and there. Is there someway to pass along the joy it’s brought to you and me? Think about it. Maybe go buy someone a clip-on tuner. Or what about purchasing a music stand for someone? It doesn’t have to be a uke, just something to pass along what we’ve all been very lucky in receiving… the joy of uke. Please.

Got a yearning for something special? Check out Mike’s ukes. I promise that you won’t be sorry.

DaSilva Ukulele Co.
2547 8th Street, #28
Berkeley, CA 94710
510 649-1548
www.ukemaker.com

PBS had an excellent program on Pete Seeger as part of their American Masters series. If you aren’t in the know about Pete Seeger, please join in on the chorus… “To everything Turn, Turn, Turn. There is a season Turn, Turn, Turn.” Pete has been singing his way into our American spirit for more years than I (or him) would care to count. A Folk artist who introduced an entire nation to Folk music. An influential person who stood in support of Labor Movements, Civil Rights Movements and Environmental Movements with intelligence and conviction minus the hate.

In the American Masters series on Pete, a humorous comment was made regarding Pete, in his young days, would take a ukulele and sing 20’s songs for anyone and everyone. This, to me, epitomizes why I love the ukulele. It’s a joining instrument. It invites participation. It invites others to at least hum along. It encourages others to investigate and possibly get involved, to pick it up and strum it and to possibly get one of their own.

So, if you haven’t already, watch the program. Get inspired. Run out and start a sing-along of your own. Pete will be proud. Find out more at PBS.org’s site for the American Masters series and the episode on Pete Seeger.

You know about this right? No? You’ve got to be kidding me. Ok, then here’s the scoop on one primo ukulele event that you should not miss if you can help it. It’s the New York Uke Fest featuring musical events, workshops, vendors displaying more ukuleles than you’ve probably seen in your life and time galore for ukulele jamming with new friends and old.

The Festival features lots of activities to keep you more than occupied and perhaps a bit confused on what to do next. Excellent ukulele performers will be presenting concerts each day. You could choose to attend some of the many workshops featuring diverse topics including Jumpin’ Jim Beloff teaching you to play a ukulele or the fabulous Lil’ Rev brushing you up on your Old Time Style and Right-hand Techniques. In case you’d like to actually purchase a ukulele, the many vendors will be glad to show off their wares. Some great ukuleles will be available so bring your pocket book!

What? You need more, more, more!? Fine! How about an excellent time at Spats White’s show “God Loves Tiny Tim” that’s on Sunday, April 6th? Oh, and it’s FREE! During the festival, you can even enjoy Free Beer (while supplies last subject to availability minors should not drink nor should you do so if you intend to drive anywhere please do so responsibly, etc). Enough?

If you need a Spring Break, then beaches and warm weather isn’t where you should be heading. The tall buildings and excitement of New York beckons with the siren sound of ukuleles blending to bring you a very unique aloha experience. Not to be missed. Read about all the fun here and get your tickets while you can!

George Formby might be losing his home. Is there no love left in the world for Britain’s once highest paid star? Sure, those in the know will always think of George as a Wigan. But George’s parents moved the family to Stockton Heath before George got famous and it’s this house that’s currently on the chopping block.

There are plans to convert George’s house into a hotel and neighbors are in an uproar. For George’s sake? Not really. Mostly concern about commercial interests invading a residential neighborhood. Oh, where’s the love? Read the full story right here.

Jake Shimabukuro performs on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien on Feb. 19. It’s his 2nd visit with Conan but this time he’ll be playing solo. Jake is hitting the marketing circuit to promote his upcoming nine-city solo tour of Australia in March. We wish him many broken legs

You can do what your will allows. Eilidh MacAskill challenged herself to play a ukulele concert on every day of the year. That goal is now complete.
Eilidh MacAskill crossed the globe playing gigs and winning fans around the world while carrying out her quest. The 27-year-old, from Glasgow, played venues in New York, Nova Scotia and at the Edinburgh festival.

Ms MacAskill’s quest began as an aspiration to do something creative every day in 2007, and began to gather steam following an impromptu ceilidh in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park in the early hours of January 1st.

“I just wanted to do something that could be light hearted and could be accessible for people. The idea is that I can go anywhere and almost ask people if they want to see a performance or get them involved in something. Quite often people are quite wary of that sort of thing, so I wanted something that would be a bit of a joke and people wouldn’t be too scared of it.” -Eilidh MacAskill

Visit the BBC here to read the full story.

Here’s to 2008! May your goals be attainable and your ukulele playing lead you to unexpected and pleasant surprises.

Getting everything you could ever wish for this year? What!? Money’s tight.. things aren’t looking so bright? Well, Debra, New York Ukulele Fest, has some news for you!

Debra writes:

It doesn’t seem possible, but once again that season is arriving…that season when you buy everyone you know the perfect gift and in return, when you open your presents…not so perfect.

We know what you want. Why, it’s so obvious — how could anybody miss it? What you really, really want is an all day, every day, all access pass to the New York Ukulele Festival 2008! And we want you to have that pass — FREE!

We can’t give that to everyone, though — that would make it less special. But one lucky 4th Peg member will be able to claim that pass as their own. Will it be you?

To enter, all you have to do is send in a picture postcard with your name on it, and then sit back and wait for the drawing. That’s it! Win or lose, the picture side of your postcard will be displayed at the Fest to celebrate all the hometowns of the people who participated.

The deadline for all entries is Midnight, December 31st, 2007. The winner will be announced in January 2008 (exact date to be determined). A committee from the Fest will hold a drawing, and a video will be posted so everyone can share the monumental excitement of finding out who the lucky winner is.

All those who enter must have been a registered member of this website **before** 11/30/2007.

The prize, by the way, is non-transferable.

All further announcements concerning the date of the drawing and the location of the video will be posted here, so be sure to return to here to keep up to date!

Good luck!

So get those post cards in right now before you get swamped with other cards and gifts. Send the entries to:

Uke Jackson
P0 Box 492
Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327-0492

What’s that new Page here? Tabs? Huh? Yes, it’s the start of a collection of ukulele tabs and songs with chord diagrams. The list currently has the 2006 4th Peg Holiday Songbook (soon to be updated for 2007) and a tablature version of Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Time Is Here. Either click the Tabs link for the page or click here.
As the list grows, I hope to get better and better at writing tabs and also help add to the wealth of Ukulele tabs currently available. There are fantastic folks adding to our knowledge. I’d like to take this time to acknowledge some of them out there who have helped me.

So, in no particular order, many thanks to:

• Dominic’s “Dominator” Ukulele Tabs
• Mark Occhionero
• “Jumpin’” Jim Beloff
• Craig Robertson
• John King
• Patsy Monteleone
• Uke Jackson
• Curt Sheller
• Geoff Davis and The Blue Stone Folk School (for teaching me how to build a uke!)

And, of course, everyone posting at The 4th Peg! You’ve all helped me grow this year and I’m ever grateful for that.

Shin Kimura, 14, will represent Saipan in the upcoming Ukulele Contest Japan to be held at the Millennium Hall in Asakusa Taito-Ku in Tokyo.

Kimura was selected among hundreds of aspirants from all over Japan. He said he was completely surprised when he found out that he made it to the Top 16 contestants that would be competing on Nov. 23.

The competition is held every two years and has been regarded to be the most renowned within the ukulele enthusiasts and musical organizations in Japan. He said he is excited and at the same anxious to be among the best ukulele players in Japan.

Kimura began playing the ukulele when he was 10 years old while enrolled at Saipan Community School, where ukulele instructor and local artist Debbie Winkfield gave inspiration to the young lad. Now Kimura is a seventh grader at Grace Christian Academy but continues to practice with Winkfield at SCS every night.

Winkfield has been working with Kimura on his contest piece, a Star Spangled Banner and the Stars and Stripes medley, every after-school hours. She praises Kimura on his dedication and hard work.

Kimura said he regards Jake Shimabukuro, who held a concert and a series of school presentations here in the CNMI in 2005, as his inspiration. He said he can’t think of anything more about what’s at stake for him in the competition.

He is set to leave on Nov. 21, two days before the competition date. He will be back on Saipan on Nov. 24.

Complete story can be found at the Saipan Tribune here.

Gerald Ross, renown ukulele and steel guitar player, brings us a new CD called Moonlight and Shadows. 16 wonderful tracks of ukulele and steel guitar music to feed your soul with selections such as “If I Fell”, “Besame Mucho”, “Sweet Georgia Brown” and the title track “Moonlight and Shadows”. Gerald plays his beautiful Talsma Tenor Uke as well as his vintage Rickenbacker lap-steel guitar and delivers us into such a serene state that you’d think he’s playing just for you.

Moonlight and Shadows is expected to be released on October 5th on Gerald’s very own UkeTone Records label. In addition, if you pre-order before October, Gerald will throw in one of his previous CD releases for free! What a deal! But act now as time is limited.

Mosey on over to Gerald’s home on the web to order or find more info.