The third annual Rocky Mountain UkeFest kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday. Among the presenters is Kevin Carroll, a teacher, singer-songwriter and performer from Austin, Texas.
Carroll, who started teaching the ukulele five years ago, makes the case that the ukulele may well be the perfect instrument.
Q: Have you been up here before?
A: Not for the festival. I’ve been to Durango once maybe 12, 15 years ago. I bought a guitar there in the short time I was there.
Q: Tell me about what you do with ukuleles: You teach and perform?
A: I teach, I perform – I’m mostly a teacher; I’m a former – a recovered – guitar player (laughs). And that’s what brought me to Durango the first time – I was on tour. I did that for many years, and then through many fortunate and circuitous circumstances, I ended up with the ukulele, and teaching and kind of running my own business doing that, and it’s been just an amazing journey as far as that goes. I’m the only full-time ukulele teacher I now in Texas, that’s for sure.
Q: Why do you think the ukulele has become so popular? It seems like it’s been a trend that hasn’t really slowed any in the last few years.
A: It’s interesting – people keep thinking it’s tapped out. I find it immensely fascinating, and I don’t think there is a right answer; it’s speculative, but I’ll say from a music teacher point of view: It is the perfect instrument. You can play melody on it, you can play harmony on it, play rhythm on it and you can sing while you play it. So, if that’s someone’s first interface with music, they’ve got a lot better chance than with a recorder.
Q: Why are festivals like this important?
A: This is hugely important for ukuleles because it’s such a social instrument, it’s kind of a beacon of light or, I think, hope and positivity and fun. I’ve never been to one, but I would guess that a cello festival would not be quite as light-hearted. The ukulele is one of the few instruments that is really easy to teach in groups. When you learn, it’s like you’re in a giant band, it has some elements of being in a choir and being in a big band all at the same time, and having some fun. And you can’t take yourself or the instrument too seriously, and at the same time, I don’t think that anybody will ever master the instrument.
katie@durangoherald.com
If you go
What: Rocky Mountain UkeFest.
When: Today through Sunday.
Where: Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive.
Tickets: For pricing and to buy, visit http://squ.re/2tn3NxD.
More information: Visit http://rockymountainukefest.com.
