Pity the poor dancing flea.
Despite that upbeat translation of its Hawaiian name and its association with laid-back island melodies, the ukulele is an oft-misunderstood and underestimated instrument.
Beginning Wednesday, Lone Mountain Band banjo player and longtime uke aficionado Jim Pankey will direct an eight-week ukulele ensemble course at the Folk School of Chattanooga. When I heard that, I decided to determine what most people think of Hawaii’s musical ambassador.
Their responses were unflattering, if not particularly surprising.
For the most part, they were dismissive of the uke’s potential, calling it a tiny guitar, a novelty and “a nub of an instrument.” As examples of noteworthy players, they named Hawaiian crooner Don Ho, talk-show novelty artist Herbert “Tiny Tim” Khaury and the strumming of an Aloha-shirt-wearing Elvis Presley in “Blue Hawaii.” Given their wry grins and shoulder shrugging, I can’t help but think those were meant mostly in jest.
Admittedly, the uke is undeniably comical. A co-worker aptly summed it up when she called it “the Rodney Dangerfield of the musical world.” And she’s right; it gets no respect. And who can blame them? Asking most people to take the uke seriously is like asking them not to smile when served by a butler wearing clown shoes.
Before my introduction to the masterful, explosive strumming of Jake Shimabukuro and Roy Smeck, I might have agreed with that. But those musicians demonstrate the uke’s versatility in the same way Bela Fleck proved the banjo wasn’t just for hillbillies.
Actually, the uke’s greatest asset is its innate sense of humor. It’s too fun to be taken seriously.
Even when virtuosos play, they can’t help but ham it up. Smeck was known for blowing on his to “cool it off” and grinning, Marx Brothers-like, at the camera.
And because of its size and limited number of strings, the uke is great for beginners (Pankey called it a “gateway” instrument). Many songs require only a handful of chords, and Pankey said the ensemble’s curriculum may cover music by popular artists such as The Beatles and America.
So if you’re intrigued by the dancing flea and want to join Pankey’s circus, the course will cost $140 ($180, if you buy an instrument from the school). For more information, visit www.mmfolk.com.
E-mail Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com.