leadership

Ken Hartman

I grew up in a small town about 30 kms from Edmonton. I took music lessons for 2 or 3 years learning to play the piano accordion.  For 5 years I was a member of the Devon High School Marching band. I played the alto horn and then  a baritone horn in grades 7 to 11. We marched in some small-town parades and on Remembrance Day. Our big concert performance for parents and friends was at Christmas. My only musical playing from the age of 17 to the age of 63 was a stereo. Moving from vinyl to cassettes, to CD’s. 

While working at  Camosun college a fellow instructor started a Ukulele club, and I thought this was something I could do with my very musically talented daughter. A few basic lessons and I was hooked. We met and played once a week in the evening at the college.

After I retired, I joined the Monterey Ukulele Club and have been a member for about 15 years. I also purchased my first guitar, took some guitar lessons and started singing and playing the guitar with another local musical club. 

Currently I sing and play the Ukulele on Mondays with the Monterey Ukulele club and sing  and play the guitar three times per week with other like-minded folk. 

When I am not playing music with my friends I enjoy walking some of the beautiful trails we have around our city and riding my electric assist bicycle for longer distances.

Doug Smith

I grew-up in a musical family where  violin, voice & piano was my sound -scape. Performance in Classical, Jazz, & Sing-along  music was encouraged. Car seats, campfires &  piano groupings was our stage.

During high school, I played trombone with the Edmonton Schoolboys Band at concerts, & Calgary Stampedes. I earned my first trip to B.C. as a musical supporter of the Edmonton Eskimos at a Grey Cup Game.

For 27 years I've tried to perfect my singing with words like BUM,BUM.BUM & DOO, DOO, DOO as a Bass Barbershop Singer. Still trying to sing with South Island Harmony barbershop . 

But it was a one dollar garage sale gift of EVERYBODIES FAVORITE SONG BOOK (with chord charts) & a PLASTC UKULELE that started me singing & strumming at age 15. My first song was LITTLE BROWN JUG (3 chords). I'm self taught.

As my voice deepened, I moved from plastic to several wooden baritone ukes that matched my vocal range.

Since 2007, the Monterey Ukulele Club has been my place to play, or lead in Luaus & weekly meetings.

Making music with others is my greatest pleasure.

Come join me at the mike.

Michael Miller - President/Club Representative

I grew up in Winnipeg and learned at an early age that I had no future in hockey, baseball or football so I turned to music.  I did the usual piano and music theory lessons and sang in a variety of choirs.  As a teenager in the 60’s, in the midst of the folk scene and the British invasion, I picked up guitar and a bit of banjo - who didn’t? But a high school music teacher convinced me to become a bass player.  I played at the school, in garage bands, dance bands, theater performances, and for awhile in a polka band.

I have played stand-up bass and bass guitar over the years, but now play a Twisted Wood Guitars fretless ukulele bass - a great little instrument that only needs a small portable amp.

I joined the Monterey Ukulele Club in 2018.  The Club is a fun and enthusiastic group with an eclectic song repertoire from oldies to show tunes to country to folksy to classic pop to modern.  The best part for me is that we have song sheets with the lyrics and chords but as the bass player I am left to improvise an appropriate bass line.  The line I play for a song is not always the same.  They usually evolve for the better.

Favourite ukulele song: The next song I am given for which I have never played bass.

Richard Letourneau - Vice President/Alternate Club Rep
Hello everyone, I have been a member of the Monterey Ukulele Club (MUC) for 3 years.

I was introduced to ukulele while on a cruise to French Polynesia in 2018.  One of the enrichment activities was learning to play the ukulele.  Three women - 2 from Hawaii, and 1 from Polynesia - led classes and supplied ukuleles for passengers to use.  If I recall there were probably 25 people in our class.  It was a lot of fun! We learned a handful of 3-chord songs and it was very enjoyable.

Later, during the pandemic and sitting around the house wondering what to do with myself, I recalled how much fun the ukulele was, so I ordered one online.  Today I own 4 ukuleles, which are pictured on the home page.

My instrument of choice is the mahogany, arched-back Leho tenor, pictured in the photo here.  I also have a Lohanu, Fluke, and Donner.   

Other hobbies include playing the piano, and wildlife/landscape photography.

Favourite ukulele song: Kansas City

Murray Woods - Club Activities Coordinator

Hi Folks

I joined the MUC in the summer of 2022, having picked up the “jumping flea” then at the suggestion of a high school friend of mine. I have a guitar background, which made for an easier transition, and I play a baritone uke as well, which is really easy… since its DGBE tuning is the same on both instruments! 

A fairly new spalted maple Kala uke is my favorite, where my first instrument, a mahogany Outlander, is easily identified, because I have worn off much of the wood on the front, around the sound hole!

I appreciate the lightness and joy of ukulele strumming and singing, the sound of the group when playing together, and the camaraderie that we have within the MUC. I enjoy our social interactions  and the variety that we include in our sessions, including leading songs, open mics, hula and the 16 Gig Uke Drive outings we have in our community. 

This is an interesting, fun, supportive and eclectic group of people…and music. 

Other hobbies include cycling, swimming and exploring. 

My current favorite ukulele song is Fields of Gold.

Lynne Bain - Secretary

A happy-go-lucky Victoria native, Lynne grew up in Central Saanich and eventually settled in scenic James Bay. Music was always a big part of her life: her dad, a self-taught pianist, singer, guitar and ukulele player, was also a member in a barbershop quartet; and both parents listened to a wide range of classical and popular music when not singing “the old songs” together in the living room. Lynne also played piano & flute in school, and after she was living on her own, soon had an impressively eclectic collection of LPs.

When not distracted by the demands of work – she was a very successful saleswoman at Monday Magazine, then later at Sager’s Fine Furniture – Lynne continued to include music at the centre of her life, whether that meant rocking to David Lindley at Harpo’s or attending the Island MusicFest in Courtenay. For 15 years she danced flamenco, and to this day still goes to many a tablao to absorb that fiery gypsy passion. Lynne was also a member of the Getting’ Higher and Sweet Soul Choirs, and now loves being in Nick La Riviere’s Victoria Rock Choir.

Recently Lynne discovered the magic world of ukulele! Those bleak COVID years meant learning from a book at home. When lockdown ended, she enjoyed lessons with Patrick Alexander and “Diamond Tooth” Molly, before joining Patrick’s Victoria Ukulele Ensemble. Ultimately, Lynne joined the Monterey Ukulele Club, which proved to be one of the happiest places on Earth. Lynne feels blessed to make music every week with such a wonderful group of people!