Ukulele Heroes: Deborah Guarnieri

Central New York instructor and innovator Deborah Guarnieri has developed adaptive technologies to allow people with upper limb disabilities to play the ukulele.

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As this article by Mike Jaquays from the Rome Sentinel explains:

"With the use of accoutrements like hub straps, waist straps, finger splints and other accessories, the Ukulele Support System has given people of all ages around the world the ability to play the ukulele. And all the parts she uses to modify the ukuleles are readily available to anyone, Guarneiri added.

Her Ukulele Support System is now under the umbrella of the Ukulele Kids Club of America and Guarneiri has created her own local CLUES Ukulele Club that meets at the Canastota and Oneida public libraries that help in her mission. CLUES is an acronym for Canastota Library Ukulele Extraordinary Strummers."

Here is Deb being interviewed on WSYR's Bridge Street, demonstrating several of her inventions. For more background and videos, here's an interview on WXXI from 2019. Follow the work that Deb, local club members, and other heroes around the world do to make the ukulele accessible on the Ukulele Support System for upper limb disabilities Facebook Page.

The Okee Dokee Brothers are Truly Okee Dokee

Today a student asked to work on a song I wasn't familiar with. The song is "If You Want a Song," by the Okee Dokee Brothers. Now, I'd heard of this duo before and liked their music a lot, but I'd forgotten about them. 

The aforementioned (and Grammy-winning) "brothers" are Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, and are based in Minnesota. Together, they write and perform American-roots style, kid-and-parent friendly songs.

What makes them Okee Dokee in my book is that they not only feature the occasional uke in their songs (or sing about them–see below), but that they offer free download files of their lyrics and chords.

Check out the video of the song my student requested and watch for a cameo by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer!

And for your winter strumming pleasure, here is the very charming "Ukulele in a Snowstorm."

Visit the Okee Dokee Brothers Website