University News
Uke High at Horn Field Campus June 13
June 7, 2010
MACOMB, IL -- Forget about being a Guitar Hero and become a Ukulele Underdog at Uke High offered at Western Illinois University's Horn Field Campus (HFC) from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 13 in Macomb. At Uke High, area high school students will have the opportunity to learn to play the four-stringed instrument, which recently has made a comeback, thanks, in part, to Jake Shimabukuroa, a ukulele virtuoso whose rendition of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" went viral on YouTube (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k). Shimabukuroa is featured in a newly released documentary, "The Mighty Uke: The Amazing Comeback of a Musical Underdog."
Uke High, taught by Michael McGowan, professor in WIU's department of recreation, park and tourism administration (RPTA), is a program designed for high school students who have no experience with the ukulele. The two-hour instruction session will introduce students to the basics (tuning, basic chords, basic strumming techniques and songs).
Advanced registration for the Uke High workshop is required; interested individuals can register by contacting Western's RPTA department at (309) 298-2026. The registration fee for the workshop is $5, and ukuleles are provided for the first 11 participants who enroll. If you have your own or can borrow a ukulele, you may also register for the workshop.
Learn more about "The Mighty Uke" documentary via the National Public Radio (NPR) story at www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127116452 or via the documentary website at http://mightyukemovie.com/.
For more information about Uke High, contact McGowan at ML-McGowan@wiu.edu or HF-Campus@wiu.edu.
HFC is located south of Macomb on China Road. From South Johnson Street (past Macomb High School), turn right on China Road and follow the road one-quarter of a mile to the Horn Field Campus entrance. Parking is permitted on the HFC lot.
Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
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