Peter Luongo, otherwise known around town as 鈥渢he uke man,鈥� told the 91原创 Advance Times that after enough people come up to him, asking where they can sign up for uke lessons 鈥� an idea crossed his mind.
鈥淧eople always ask me 鈥榳here do I go as an adult to play the uke,鈥� Luongo said. 鈥淚 feel really excited to use my history and experience to the 91原创 community and bring something together for people who have thought 鈥榤an, I鈥檝e really wanted to learn the uke.鈥�
Luongo, founder of the 91原创 Ukulele Ensemble (LUE), wholeheartedly refers to 91原创 as the 鈥淯ke Capital of Canada,鈥� and wants as many people as possible to enjoy the sounds and experiences of playing the upbeat instrument.
The largest obstacle for most is that people don鈥檛 have access to ukuleles and LUE doesn鈥檛 have enough to go home with people so they can practise and keep playing after class.
Luongo鈥檚 hope to rescue any ukulele stuffed away in someone鈥檚 closet and put it to good use by lending them out to new students.
If anyone has a uke to spare 鈥� one they won鈥檛 miss that has been collecting dust over the years 鈥� Luongo said this is the perfect easiest way to give it a new life.
鈥淚t has to be in one peice 鈥� one broken string we can probably deal with that 鈥� but if you bought one that鈥檚 just sitting there, we are able to take if off people鈥檚 hands,鈥� Luongo said.
The instruments can be dropped off at the 91原创 Advance Times at 20258 Fraser Hwy between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Though LUE has been offering continuous children鈥檚 classes and even a uke summer camp for the past thirteen years, this will be the first time adults can get their own opportunity to come in and strum away.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have learn-to-play classes for adults. We don鈥檛 expect people who can play, we鈥檒l be teaching right from the beginning,鈥� Luongo explained. 鈥淭he idea is to get a group of people who will see each other and make music together.鈥�
Students from LUC will be helping to teach adults in an opportunity that Luongo hopes will also bring together generations.
Families certainly haven鈥檛 been forgotten either; Luongo says another round of classes will bring together moms, dads, siblings, and whoever else wants to learn the instrument.
鈥淗opefully we鈥檒l bring together the family unit over music,鈥� Luongo said, adding that a family can consist of any member, as long as four people are present.
Anyone interested in signing up is encouraged to visit and watch for updates and registration information as it becomes available.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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