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Ukulele enthusiasts. Front row, Pat Marks, Janice Gill, Norm Nelson. Middle row, Jeannette Scott, Sue Robertson, Anne Middleton, Christine Robson. Back row, Peter Taylerson.
After five years of devoted teaching by diversional therapist Sue Robertson, the ukulele group at Summerset Falls Retirement village is starting to sound pretty good.
Already the group has been invited to play at rest homes and Age Concern events around the region, and Sue suspects more opportunities for public performance are in the pipeline.
Last week, she was going back to basics to allow some newcomers in the group to learn some easy pieces and gain confidence.
Sue says her teaching booklet describes the ukulele as the instrument of friendship, love and peace and she has certainly found that to be the case.
“When people play together, it’s about celebrating the joy of music and the fact that everybody feels they are contributing,”
Sue adapts her teaching strategy for seniors, especially those troubled with arthritis.
Although seniors may not be as dextrous as they once were, Sue says the instrument remains a relatively easy one for them to play.
“By learning just four chords, they can end up with a repertoire of 350 songs to play,” she says.
