Sisters Norah and Charlotte Young are both talented musically, but neither had ever picked up a ukulele. “Some people had been playing their whole lives - and some had never played an instrument before.” “We had a wide swath of skill level and ages,” Langham said. “That first rehearsal, I showed up with a huge box full,” he said. “I would have been thrilled with seven or 10,” he said.īut orders for ukuleles kept coming in. Langham was not sure how many would try their hand at the instrument. Or, the church offered to order ukuleles for $50 each.
Those who already had ukuleles could bring their own instruments to practice. Langham spread the word through the church newsletter.
Then, at the culmination of the session, they would perform one Sunday morning and play hymns for the congregation. The idea was that the group would meet after Sunday sermon for four weeks - to practice briefly, 30 minutes each time. He offered to start a church ukulele ensemble. “And it doesn’t require any advanced training.” “It’s an easy instrument for anyone to pick up,” Langham said. Also, the ukulele is light enough for anyone to carry or hold. The size of the instrument also makes it easier to form chords by children who might struggle to reach around a guitar neck. The strings are made of nylon, which do not hurt while learning to play, he explained. He had dabbled with the instrument in college and believed the ukulele would be a good addition to a church’s musical repertoire. “I’m always open to trying new things,” Langham said. “This would be cool to try,” she told Langham. The unique music ministry started over the summer - and the band got back together for Christmas, due to popular demand.įorming a church ukulele ensemble came from a conversation between organist and director of worship Melissa Burnham and Justin Langham, the church’s director of traditional worship music.īurnham had read an article about another church that incorporated ukuleles into a service. The classics, like “Away in a Manger,” “What Child Is This?” and “Feliz Navidad,” were performed for a Christmas concert and worship service this month with that aloha uke sound. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show LessĬhristmas has an island vibe at First United Methodist Church Missouri City this year - thanks to a band of carolers strumming ukuleles. She has played with the ensemble since this past summer. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 8 of8 Eliza Nicholson preforms with the ukulele ensemble during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 7 of8 A ukulele ensemble plays during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. It was so successful that the church begged him "please don't let this be the last time." J. He formed an ensemble to play the instrument. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 6 of8 Justin Langham plays the ukulele during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 5 of8 Justin Langham directs a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 4 of8 Andrew Ward, 15, Debbie Hartgrabes and Lizan Wardplay play in the ukulele ensemble during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of8 Justin Langham plays the ukulele during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of8 Justin Langham directs a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. Singer just joined the ensemble six weeks ago and has been enjoying the expeirence. 1 of8 Diane Singer, middle, preforms with the ukulele ensemble during a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec.
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