Let me share with you the life-changing magic of playing the ukulele
I’ve been in love with the ukulele since I was six years old. My mother taught me three chords and three songs.
I remember the amazing feeling of joy. I thought, “This is so much fun! This is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life!”
But it wasn’t that straightforward. Soon after that, I was sent off to violin lessons, which weren’t joyful or fun.
Ever since then, I’ve played my way from orchestras to rock groups and everything in between, looking for my musical home. I’ve played violin and viola in symphony orchestras; fiddle in folk and bluegrass groups; drums, bass and keyboards in rock bands. I’ve made recordings, written songs, even been in a few videos.
Ten years ago, I found my way back to my first love, the ukulele, and it was just as much fun as I’d always remembered.
Finally, I learned how to create my own musical space in the world. With the ukulele.
You may have tried to play other instruments, but it just wasn’t fun. Or you stopped because you didn’t feel like you were any good at it.
I love helping others get to the happy highs of music-making as enjoyably and speedily as possible.
That’s why I love teaching people like you to play the ukulele.
More about Alice
I live in the Waikato region of New Zealand.
The beautiful Waikato River is just a short walk from my home. And it’s an hour or so’s drive to hot pools, hobbit homes, volcanoes and wild surf beaches.
My kitchen is full of DIY fermented foods:
Apple cider vinegar, yoghurts, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, sourdough…
I’m married to a musician, so our house is usually full of music.
My husband Matthew Bannister is in my favourite New Zealand band, Sneaky Feelings. Our adult sons, Tom and Albert, are both musicians too.
I love the Beatles.
My favourite Beatles album is Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
I spent my childhood in Papua New Guinea.
If you’re curious about why, read about my adventurous parents here: My father the giant and The family bat.
I used to be annoyed at Alice in Wonderland
but now I’m embracing my namesake.
The ukulele is a great place to start. It’s absolutely the fastest way that exists to get your musical groove going.
With the ukulele…
- You can go from zero to playing your favourite songs in a matter of weeks. Not years.
- Making music is about expressing who you are directly through sound.
- You’ll be doing something that’s just for yourself and not for anyone else.
- You don’t have to be able to read music.
- You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a ukulele.
- You don’t even have to practice for hours and hours (unless you want to, of course).
- You’ll be able to turn up to parties and jam with other musicians!
Check out my Strum for Fun Youtube channel, for lots of free ukulele tutorials.
Strum your way to fun! Play along with my ukulele videos.
All levels welcome, from absolute beginners to those who are already musicians. I’ll show you how to quickly and easily start playing the ukulele.