Thanks for this piece! I know a lot of people now think of ukeleles as obnoxious and hipsterey, but learning to play has been such a great experience for me. It is the first instrument I have ever tried to play, and it is simple enough that I learned a few songs right off the bat. I've never been musical at all, so this felt like a big accomplishment! Practicing and playing has been so fun and such a great stress reliever. I doubt I'll ever be great, but I am enjoying just plodding along.

Thanks for the nice piece on `ukulele. The afore-mentioned "Seattle club" is the Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA), which was founded in 2003. (Search Seattle & ukulele & you'll find our website.)

We don't really have "members" per se; there's no dues or signup or anything like that. There are over 300 people who subscribe to our Yahoo discussion group, but not all of them are folks who come and play with us (or even live in the area). Our monthly gatherings draw about 50-60 players.

But more are always welcome, no matter your playing style or skill level.

= "Uncle" Gregg, VP of SUPA =

Thanks for the nice piece on `ukulele. The afore-mentioned "Seattle club" is the Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA), which was founded in 2003. (Search Seattle & ukulele & you'll find our website.)

We don't really have "members" per se; there's no dues or signup or anything like that. There are over 300 people who subscribe to our Yahoo discussion group, but not all of them are folks who come and play with us (or even live in the area). Our monthly gatherings draw about 50-60 players.

But more are always welcome, no matter your playing style or skill level.

= "Uncle" Gregg, VP of SUPA =

Surprised Tune-Yards didn't make it into this article. That lady is revolutionizing what the uke can do.

And Amanda Palmer, who is a GIANT uke advocate. She even wrote the Ukelele Anthem: http://music.amandapalmer.net/track/ukul…

I moved to Maui and one of the most unexpected delights is that the children here learn ukelele in school and practice everywhere.. Just as I wrote that, a kid on a skateboard went whizzing past my house, strumming away! What a wonderful world, indeed.

I moved to Maui and one of the unexpected delights is how naturally and easily the kids here play this instrument. Just as I wrote that, a boy went whizzing by my house on a skateboard, strumming away. What a wonderful world, indeed.