EMMA SCHAIBLE
Special to The Leader
Have you ever wanted to try something new or get back into a hobby that you once started? Look no further. On campus there is a new club starting up: Fredonia Ukulele Club.
“The club is meant to help others in their field,” said Alexia Lekos, a freshman music therapy major who is the founder and president of Fredonia Ukulele Club. “It can be used with education majors as well [as] speech pathology, [for example]. It’s so versatile and also it is such a fun instrument so the club can be used recreationally.”
At the moment, there are ukulele jam sessions held off-campus once a month by Dr. Jill Reese, who is an assistant professor at Fredonia of music education. Due to the members’ love, appreciation and dedication toward the ukulele, the ukulele experience will be brought to campus by the Fredonia Ukulele Club. Reese is also the adviser of the club.
Throughout the semester, there will be jam sessions for anyone of all music levels to join. No auditions are necessary and ukuleles will be provided.
“It’s a great stress reliever from [a] long week,” said Nicholas Farrauto, a freshman music education major and social chair of the Fredonia Ukulele Club.
The first event of the club will be held on March 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event will be the first on-campus ukulele jam session and will be in room S204 of The Williams Center. Beginners will be able to learn how to play the instrument, and those who already know will be able to practice and relax. To spread the word about the club, Farrauto has created a Facebook page and plans to send information to people via email as well.
When asked what she hopes people will get out of their participation in the club, Lekos said to “have a good time.”
Farrauto also said “to have an understanding of the instrument.”
Krissy Dejuri, a sophomore music composition major, thinks that the Fredonia Ukulele Club does sound interesting.
“The ukulele instrument is an instrument that anyone can pick up pretty easily and just jam … I feel like some of the best things following a jam session [are] the really cool connection with people you normally don’t have,” said Dejuri.
The Fredonia Ukulele Club hopes to bring people who share a common interest together. The Ukulele Club is a great way for people to come and “learn and [is] for people that are passionate about learning music or just the ukulele itself,” said Lekos.
“This club is a great way to bring the campus and the community together,” Farrauto said.