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Original Post By:
Geoffrey Davis
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Date: 8/9/2016 8:47:27 PM |
Way back in 1999 I began teaching at Indianapolis� most progressive school, the Key Learning Community. My favorite part of the program was �Pods� � an opportunity for teachers to design an enrichment class focused on one of their passions.
My Pod Class was to be jazz band. I�d been playing with Indianapolis Dixieland bands and wanted to give kids an opportunity to learn to improvise and play traditional jazz. When my students appeared at the door I knew that the plan had to change. My students were all 10 yrs old and younger and had almost no experience playing an instrument.
It didn�t take long for me to change the plan. My first instrument had been the ukulele. I knew that, with the uke, I could teach these kids the basics of rhythm and chord changes.
We had no budget and no ukuleles. I went to the � very young � internet for start-up resources. There was no Donors Choose � no Facebook or Instagram. I went to the, then, center of the ukulele universe - fleamarketusic.com.
We began by passing one ukulele � my first uke � around a circle while each student played a chord or two. Soon ukes trickled in. Two came from California and a pari from Hawaii. By Thanksgiving we had an instrument for every student. We played �Five Foot Two� for a school program and the Key Strummers were born.
The rest of the story is the makings of ukulele legend. We became the Governor�s favorite band. We opened the State Fair � for years � playing the National Anthem on ukulele. We travelled to San Antonio and Louisville and all over Indiana. There was no audience we didn�t play for � including a spot on A Prairie Home Companion. It was a great ride! We even hosted the (Original) MidWest UkeFest and headlined James Hill, Jake Shimabukuro, Lyle Ritz, Bryan Tolentino and many others.
Times changed, schools changed, education policy changed and the Key Strummers became unsustainable. Teaching, at all, became very difficult. Last June the Key Learning Community shut its doors for good.
This year I joined the staff of Francis W. Parker Montessori School 56 � a loving school with a long name. When I was hired there was on stipulation � organize and develop a program like the Key Strummers. I had found a school that recognized teacher passion and sought to use it to enrich children�s learning. After eight years of struggling to survive as an educator I�ve, again, found a school family.
Tomorrow the �Uke Club� � the first step in a new ukulele program � will meet for the first time. I expect twelve students. We have 4 ukuleles. We will begin as the Key Strummers did � passing ukes around the circle.
I am making the plea that I made 16 years ago. If yo have an unplayed ukulele in the closet, under the bed or the attic. There are a bunch of inner city kids that are eager to become strummers. |
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Posted By:
Tom B.
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Date: 8/9/2016 10:43:07 PM
(Updated: 8/9/2016 10:46:40 PM)
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| Hi Geoffrey! Great story, great cause. I still listen to your Key Strummers' version of "Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird" from the Ukulele Jukebox CDs (back before YouTube & Soundcloud sharing were possible.) How do you feel about plastic ukes? There's an Outdoor polycarbonate uke on the marketplace that I'd be happy to send your way ... Unless you'd rather stick with wooden instruments.
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Posted By:
Geoffrey Davis
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Date: 8/10/2016 11:15:05 AM |
Tom- I've telling folks that we started befor Facebook and our sharing was via CD. I'm so glad that we're remembered. We would love a plastic uke. Anyone interested in sending anything our way the address is.
Francis W. Parker School 56
2353 N. Columbia Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Thank you!
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Posted By:
Geoffrey Davis
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Date: 9/20/2016 2:20:20 PM |
| The uke arrived today! Thank you so much. It's a great player and the kids were excited to see a plastic instrument that played so well. All the best!
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