Cindy Wilson
Janice Crosswhite
UKULELE CLUB
ORPS member Cindy Wilson, from Bend, Oregon, spent her stay - at - home time practicing ukulele, walking, biking, hiking, playing pickleball, reading, and knitting. She ’ s active at ORPS with golf, line dancing, playing pickle ball, working out in the fitness center and going to happy hour. She played clarinet in high school and a friend from her hometown introduced her to the ukule- le, which she has played for one year. Jimmy Buffett ’ s Margaritaville is her favorite song, but learning some- thing new, meeting new people and playing in the ORPS group is so much fun. Two years ago, Janice Crosswhite, a full - time RVer from Aurora, Oregon, began her ukulele journey playing with the ORPS group. Ukulele is the very first instrument she has played. The leader/teacher when she started learn- ing said that strumming was the hardest part of playing. She didn ’ t believe him because all she saw was his hand going up and down. How hard could that be? Learning 16+ chords plus changing them during a song had to be harder. Well, she soon learned that strumming was indeed harder, but with lots of practice, strumming can be mastered. She says that learning the ukulele (strumming, changing chords and singing) is like patting your head, rubbing your belly and tapping your feet at the same time. Mike Murray, from Downey, California, is a guitar player who took up ukulele three years ago. He was invited by another ORPS player to give it a try. He enjoys playing Hawaiian music with the ORPS group and other groups and getting songs down tight. At ORPS he plays pickleball, tennis, bikes and golfs. During the summer he went camping and biked and admits he had not played his ukulele for four months but is looking forward to getting back to the group. The ORPS Ukulele Group hopes to welcome beginning players sometime this season, but because of Covid restrictions, in - person group instruction is not permitted at this time. Please check with the Lifestyle & Events office for updates and possible beginner classes in January. Returning players continue to practice on Wednesdays, 2:00 - 4:00 in the East Room and Saturdays, 2:00 - 4:00 in the West Room and hope that throughout the season they are able to perform and share new music with those in the resort. For more
There were eight ukulele players so far this season who worked on Christmas songs for a December sing along that didn ’ t happen. So to brighten the season, here is a practice audio and a Christmas poem. Enjoy! Ukulele resumes January 16, 2021. Happy New Year. Twas the night before Christmas, and all through ORPS park Not a uke player was strumming, and boy was it dark. The ukuleles were hung in the RVs with care In hopes that COVID restrictions would no longer be there. The strummers were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of chord charts danced in their heads, And some dreamed of kazoos and all dreamed of masks, But players couldn ’ t have both, that was a thing of the past When out by the phase satellite there arose such a clatter, Strummers sprang from the beds to see what was the matter. Away to their storage they flew in a hurry. Grabbed music stands, sheet music, all in a flurry. The moon on the desert made a beautiful calm. There were cacti, roadrunners and the swaying of palms. When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, But a few other ukers, showing no fear. They had a director, so lively and quick, They knew in a moment she had a small trick. To play all the Christmas songs that they ’ d practiced and knew. They ’ d play during restrictions, to see how they ’ d do. More rapid than eagles, they set up in the back And she shouted, and named the songs they ’ d attack. Now! Frosty! Now! Rudolph! Now! Silent Night! On Jingle Bells! Silver Bells! What a delight! The music was playing, there wasn ’ t a glitch. The Christmas musical spirit went on, there wasn ’ t a hitch. They played during COVID, sat six feet away and all in the audience said it was the best holiday. And now for a wish from ORPS ukulele players to you, “ Come listen to us, we ’ ll be playing again soon! ”
information please contact: Marilyn Sabens, Lot #363 marilyn.sabens@gmail.com
ORACLE
11
JANUARY 2021
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