Ukuleles – Boulder, Colorado 

For those of you who are familiar with country music (it’s okay, we all have a little country in us) the name John Denver should raise a few musical memories from years gone by. Songs like “Take me Home Country Road” and “Rocky Mountain High” are tunes that resonate with all of us and creates images in our minds of just that – high rolling mountains capped in snow and wide-open plains where buffalo and other wildlife roam free.

What on earth does all of this have to do with ukuleles, you ask? Well, today our eye is shifting to the ukulele scene in the city of Boulder, Colorado which is nestled at the feet of the famous Rocky Mountains. With all this natural inspiration around, surely there must be a budding ukulele scene around these parts.  

Your definite first stop should be the Boulder Ukulele Group, or B.U.G for short. This band of merry strummers get together every second Saturday and there are a whole host of activities to immerse yourself and your Bondi ukulele into. From beginner classes to group sessions to advanced classes, it’s definitely anything but dull. The group is headed up by Sarah Goodroad who founded B.U.G. in 2010. Sarah has a degree in music from the University of Northern Colorado and has been passing her knowledge to ukulele students for nearly ten years, so if it’s good tips you’re after, look no further. All the info you will need is on the group’s website (http://www.boulderukulelegroup.com/BUG_About_Us.php) and if you would like to contact Sarah Goodroad directly with any questions, her email is listed below.

info@boulderukulelegroup.com

The Uke School in Boulder offers another option for exploration of all things ukulele. Their local hangout for most classes and events is the Bohemian Biergarten (sounds interesting enough already) or the Wildflower School of Voice and feature from beginner courses to a Singer Songwriter Level 2 class for the more advanced and adventurous among us. Angelie Timm manages this school and you can get a hold of her through the website below or on the listed email address.

http://www.theukeschool.com/contact.html

theukeschoolboulder@gmail.com

It sounds like there is nothing better on a cold winter’s day in Boulder than to meet up with your fellow ukulele players in either of these spots for a session, a lesson and some good banter with your strumming partners. And if you thought that all there is to Boulder are the Rocky Mountains, animals, rivers and streams you’d get schooled very quickly. Among the various kinds of artists, musicians, musical clubs and events on offer here (Boulder won 8th place a few years back in the Top Ten Cities for Artists – Business Week) there are groups who join regularly to celebrate and learn all there is to know about their favourite string instrument. The ukulele might be small, but it’s big enough to traverse the mountains of Boulder, Colorado and make its way into the hearts of the festive souls who call the foothills of the Rockies their home.

Keep strumming, all!