Seniors Bring Out Inner Child in Ukulele Class

Jake Shimabukuro, a ukulele virtuoso from Honolulu, Hawaii once said, "There's something about the ukulele that just makes you smile. It makes you let your guard down. It brings out the child in all of us." If that statement is true, then on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Jill Young of Redlands is doing her best to draw out the inner children of those attending her Ukulele classes at the Redlands Community Senior Center at 111 West Lugonia. Beginning the class with a few moments to tune their ukuleles, some of the students made sure their instruments were in sync with those of like pitch. Grace Roque of Redlands and Larry Emmert of Yucaipa carefully matched the sounds of their ukuleles and then decided to sit next to each other to assure conformity of the sound quality of the songs they would be playing. “We’re going to be working on 3 songs,” Young said. “We’ll be practicing our strumming techniques and then we’re going to work on chords.” Calling out instructions at a fast clip, her teaching style is full of keen advice, “Down, down, now up one, up one, down, down,” she shares as she plays the Hawaiian song classic ‘For You a Lei’. As she plays the notes, she sings the words and throws in a word of advice here and there. “For you a lei of flowers rare, for you a lei to hold and wear…Smile, everyone, smile,” Young’s face breaks into a big smile herself, “Oh, you sound so good! You’re all doing great!” Her words of encouragement are enough to cause a small ripple of smiles across the room. Her students are staring intently at the music sheets in front of them while strumming along. Ukulele is serious business in this classroom. David Jaffe, City of Redlands Programs Specialist at the Redlands Community Senior Center shared that Young is a native Hawaiian who has taught both the ukulele and hula classes at the Lugonia site along with holding classes at the Joslyn Senior Center at 21 Grant Street. “90% of the programs we offer at the centers are taught by volunteers who want to share their knowledge and passion with others,” said Jaffe, “And that is something that we are truly proud of.” He said that Young has taught at the centers for two years now, and offers the classes without cost. “We are a public facility and a majority of our students are seniors, but anyone is welcome to attend,” added Jaffe. The Ukulele students perform for the Lugonia center about twice a year, with the largest recital at the annual Hawaiian Christmas party during the holiday season. “Jill will orchestrate other events for the students during the year that helps showcase their talents,” said Jaffe. Anyone interested in Ukulele or Hula classes at the Redlands Community Senior Center can call 909-798-7579.