by Pauline van de Haar
The first time I held a ukulele was in 2011. My classical guitar teacher suggested the ukulele was an instrument that may work better for me. I wasn’t bad at playing classical guitar.
Actually, I played well enough to go to the conservatory. However, playing 5 to 6 hours a day was difficult as my hands and shoulders just couldn’t handle it. In 2012, I tried to take
part in the music exams, so I would graduate at the highest amateur level in classical guitar. Unfortunately, I was physically unable to participate in this exam. I quit playing guitar in
a split second. I hated my body for not being able to play and make music. In 2017, the doctor’s diagnosis of fibromyalgia was identified as the main reason for all my pain.
Luckily, I restarted playing the recorder in 2010, started in 1999, quit in middle school ’because it wasn’t cool. In 2014, I graduated at the highest amateur level in classical recorder!
After saying goodbye to my guitar in 2012 (which is still hanging on my wall), I bought my very own first Aloha concert ukulele. I fell in love in a NANO second!
Playing the ukulele doesn’t cause me too much muscle pain and has brought the joy of string instruments back in my life!
It took me 6½ years to buy my second uke. Late 2018 is when my UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome) really started. The second uke, also a concert but with no brand has a cats’s paw as a sound hole. I restrung it a year or two later with a low G string.After buying my second ukulele, UAS set in and many more were purchased. I have a Flight Travel Series TUS-EE Sunset Elise Ecklund Signature soprano ukulele, which is amazing to travel with.
In 2021, I came across a new ukulele with kittens all over it. As a cat behaviorist, I couldn’t resist buying it. It’s the Flight Travel Series TUC Kitty concert ukulele. Then, I really wanted a baritone as it’s a little bit closer to a guitar, but still playable for me! I fell for the Flight Natural Series NUB310 baritone. Most recently, I bought an Enya Nova U pink concert ukulele. It’s just magnificent! Never have I ever seen a ukulele like this one close up! The Enya feels different, sounds lovely and is wonderful to look at. Funny fact: my niece’s name is Enya too! Maybe I’ll buy her an Enya uke one day, if she wants one! Before the Enya Nova, I saw a Kala ukulele. All those Sparkles! I mean, how could I resist ordering one for myself?! So, I did. It’s the Kala KA-SPRK-PINK Sparkle Series Pink Champagne concert ukulele.
Another amusing fact- in the last 1 ½ years, I bought the last 4 ukuleles for myself. As my friends say, “That’s just, a little crazy”! How can I help myself when I have UAS? For now, I may stop buying more ukes. I just can’t tell you for how long though!
That’s the crazy thing about a Cats-Pink-and-Sparkles-Obsessed-Ukulele-girl!