Think PUB CHOIR, but more concise. This activity aims at creating fast affinities among the event participants, and to reinforce the connections of the team (family, group, community). Music being an active and emotional art form which can engage the group in ways that access different parts of the whole brain and promotes emotional connections to the situation and the people involved. And its fun, even for those who are a bit out of their comfort zone.

In about 30 minutes, this can be an ice breaker that will bond participants, or as a physical activity to break up the “in the chair” activities; or as a “nice way to end the day” energiser. Can be filmed as a memento.

For all that it is, and is not, what began, and what it became – in just 30 minutes. Imagining what can be achieved with a little more time, practice, working together. We mutually acknowledge that the process requires courage, cooperation, identifying and attending to details, being responsible for doing your part, trusting others to do their part, and that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Song choices need to be something very well known (or even a round), to help the group pick it up quickly. Selection is also driven by issues or themes relevant to the occasion or organisation. More complex songs can be tackled in a longer timeframe. All song choices have a positive theme.

These wonderful community driven groups are usually run by volunteers, at free or low cost venues. Organising the music is a collective process coordinated by one or two people ultimately developing “the book”. Someone usually leads by announcing the next song, perhaps a count in and OFF WE GO…

The costs are very low and the enthusiasm very high. They are by nature welcoming and inclusive, so you can be confident about turning up to any local uke group you find on your travels (Australia and worldwide) and just ask if you can join in.

Community groups are inexpensive and loads of fun, and certainly make up a large part of our experience with music once we’ve got a uke. If the group has a band, or even just a bass player, the timing hangs together stronger and can sound really good. Were there is not some mechanism to synchronise timing, it can all become a bit muddy. This is because not everyone in the group is playing each strum at the same exact time. The same happens with the singing; if we aren’t aiming to sing as ONE voice, it can sometimes sound like a mob of drunks. But even if it doesn’t sound great it is usually lots of fun, and the people are lovely.

Ukestration is not your usual uke group. Ukestras (like an or-ke-stra) go beyond the popular “hum and strum” model used in most community ukulele groups. Some players are ready and wanting more. Private lessons are helpful but can’t provide a group context. Ukuleles (and their players) seem to be happiest in groups.

The Ukestra, works on breaking the song into the parts that need different treatment. The parts are played by different members according to their skills. A strumming part, possibly two different strum parts, a lead or riff, possibly a second riff line and singing, lead and harmonies.