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I have been trying to figure out a way to raise funds so my students could have art and music classes next year, especially ukulele which many of them already play. For me the sound of a ukulele is the soundtrack of teaching and learning in Hawaii. While researching various ideas for fund raising I stumbled across the fact that the world ukulele ensemble record according to the Guinness Book of World Records is held by the "London Ukulele Festival" with 851 ukuleles playing one song together. The record is a few years old, and while people have attempted to break that record, no has done it.
Does anyone other than me find this just wrong? The one place ukulele never went out of fashion is Hawaii, and the English hold the world record?
My question is this, do people think we could pull off 1000 ukulele player ensemble here on the Big Island? Would people of all ages come play together, maybe as part of a bigger Big Island Arts event? If you play, would you join in?
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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Doing that would be a challenge, but it is a challenge worth pursuing. It is generally hard to assemble a thousand people to do anything on the Big Island, but the dream always comes first.
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Maybe ask the organizers of Ho'olaulea to add it to the party (early afternoon)? Rent a space where players can securely store their ukes after the record attempt, that way they can go party & not worry about destroying/babysitting their ukes. That's the biggest gathering of folks I've seen east side [
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Go for it, Carol. I suspect you'd stand a better chance if you could organize this on Oahu but hell, why not give it a go?
I'm English by the way. And I can't play the ukulele. And I don't know anyone in England who can play one either let alone knows what a ukulele is!
Tom
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I have a uke, and if someone will teach me the song, we'd only need 999 others.
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I'm also a Brit, and remember as a kid there was an english comedian by the name of George Formby who played a uke. Here's a clip of his most famous number.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmAeijj5cM
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I recently joined the attempt to break the record at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Officials from Guinness were there to officiate the count, but, unfortunately, we only numbered 500 ukulele players. Nevertheless, it was world-class fun!
They also showed "The Mighty Uke" that afternoon. Also fun.
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try the slack key festival organizers - I dont know who is is anymore but used to be Gay Tolar, and Amy Markham and others...
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A number of the area schools offer uke classes. I would assume that the teachers of those classes would be happy to become involved.
I would contact these folks too:
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
[url][/url]http://www.gohawaii.com/
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Try it! I was part of the crowd at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco when we tried to break the record. It was great fun! Hearing over 500 'ukulele players playing together was absolutely awesome, and you folks have the advantage of trying it for a good cause in the home of the 'ukulele.
Organization, I think, is the key. Carpools and maybe even buses to take people to the venue from all over the island and really good publicity and I think it could be done.
Do it during Merrie Monarch week and I'll be there!
