Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 11, 1 November 1997 — Beginning ʻUkulele 1 with Teresa Bright [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Beginning ʻUkulele 1 with Teresa Bright

By Manu Boyd AWARD-WINNING vocalist Teresa Naniali'i Bright has hit the video market with "Learn to Play Beginning 'Ukulelel." Inherfirst attempt at video instruction, i Bright succeeds in making you feel

; right at home as you learr : to tune, strum, play and sing some of her favorite songs from among the dozens she has recorded i over the past 1 8 I years. Her cousin Jk Frank Kawaikapu J : Hewett's composii tions, "Lehua JH : Makanoe " and «H : "Ho'olauna : Aloha," andthe : Lot Kauwē classic, : "He Aloha nō 'o

: Honolulu" are featured, : eompleīe with enclosed song sheets. By the end of the video, ; you will have covered chord progres- ; sion in the C, F and

: G keys. While there's no substitute : for personal interac- ; tion and one-on-one : training, Teresa Bright's warm : demeanor and play- : ful sense of humor ; will keep you glued to the tube, 'ukulele ■ in hand. ĪHE VIDEO reveals a bit of the historv of the

I 'ukulele since the Portuguese introdued the instrument to Hawai'i in : the late 19th e entury. It was taped : amidst verdant backdrops in : Ko'olaupoko in windward O'ahu,

home district of Bright's 'ohana for many generations. The attractive cover includes a photo of Bright smiling, wearing a lei pua kenkeni and a yellow hibiscus blossom in her hair. A motif of 'ulu (breadfruit), symbolic of growth and inspiration, adds additional color. Video graphics and paekaging are the work of artist/designer

Mauiine Paishon, also credited as the script writer. k "This project was a lot of fun to work on," said Teresa Bright,

who has taught 'ukulele to friends and family at

home, and to V* Waimānalo kūpuna in Alu Like's Ke §| Ola Pono no nā Kūpuna program. "We take the * 'ukulele for granted, because so many of us

grew up surrounded by music - but today's family lifestyle is different. Hopefully, this video will provide quality instruction, enabling you to view the tape as

often as necessary until you're eomfortable with basic chord progressions," she added. "Beginning 'Ukulele 1 with Teresa Bright," is available at record stores, or write to Teresa Bright's 'Ukulele Video, P.O. Box 813, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744. Bri2ht

plans to continue her series with intermediate and advanced tapes. ■ VIDEO PHOTO BY GENE KOIS

"We take the 'ukulele for granted, because so many of us grew up surrounded by music - but today's family lifestyle is different."