Bret got Molly a ukulele for her birthday, so our house has sounded like a tropical paradise lately.
I had no idea, but ukuleles are evidently loved by students who are looking for an instrument that's quick to master. With only four strings, a ukulele has a limited number of chords. I can't say that it's easy, because I haven't even given it a try yet - but within minutes of getting her gift, Molly was playing (and singing) songs. She sounded like she had been playing for years.
My first thought was a little cynical. I wondered to myself if Molly really needed to add another talent to her already impressive repertoire. But that wasn't a serious thought. In truth, I was thrilled to see her embrace one more avenue of artistic and musical expression.
In addition to being fairly easy to learn, ukuleles are also easy to carry around. They come with little cases that you wear on your back like a pack. And I'm told that they can be found by the thousands on the campuses of theatre schools in particular.
The best part, of course, is the sound. Molly is learning and playing all kinds of songs - especially some of our favorite worship songs. Admittedly, there are some songs that aren't really meant for the ukulele. Surprisingly, though, there are many songs that are perfect. It doesn't hurt, of course, to have a voice like Molly's - and the sound is lovely.
When I hear her singing and playing, I think of Hawaii (though, now that I think about it, I didn't hear any ukuleles there).
Later this week, we'll be heading off again for that long drive to New York. Molly said off-handedly the other day that she's planning on playing her ukulele the whole way there.
Eight hundred miles of ukulele.
That's a lot of ukulele.
Thankfully, she's not interested in the drums.