What if APPLE sold ukuleles

Apple alliterates. Well appointed devices begin with a little “i” and serve the world’s growing appetite for “we do it for you” APPs … now an everyday word.

It appeals. Apple revenues jumped to over $46 billion for the last 3 months of 2011. Thanks to shipping millions of iPhones (37M), iPads (15.4M), iPods (15.4M) and Macs (5.2M).

Wall Street applauds. Apple shares jumped 8%. Just one day.

Who wouldn’t appreciate Apple appliances and apps? Beautiful appearance overrides apprehension. Apply your wit. Appease your kids. Constantly append new apps.

I sell musical instruments. Ukuleles. Maybe a magical APP approach applies:

Experience iUke, iStrum, iSing … or simply iMM (short for iMakeMusic). No batteries. Powered by your hands, mind, heart and soul. All human. Express yourself beyond texts, updates, likes, links and apps.

Love your apps (what others create) but give your fingers a stretch, too. Young and old can MAKE MUSIC on our ukes. Revel in the true YOU. Visit our website. Order your iMM. Equipped to make you h-APP-y.

click to visit our website

Bloggers, visit us on: WordPress (True Joy Acoustics – Community), WordPress (Ukulele Shops), Tumblr (Ukulele Shops) and Blogger (Ukulele Shops). Comments and connections welcome!

Greg, TRUE JOY ACOUSTICS

Blogging for Ukuleles

Looking for a fun musical instrument … a ukulele?

A dizzying number of options exist at your fingertips. The challenge is knowing where to search … deciding what’s best … making a confident purchase.

We keep it simple. Durable FLEA® ukuleles made in the USA. Three models. Perfect for beginners and pros. An easier alternative or stepping stone to playing guitar, too.

Three new “ukulele shops” in the blogosphere help others discover us.

Please click “shops” below and see. Helps train the search engines! Share with others looking for a terrific ukulele – or easier alternative to guitar.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

Ukulele Shops on WordPress – http://ukuleleshops.wordpress.com

Ukulele Shops on Tumblr. – http://ukuleleshops.tumblr. com

Ukulele Shops on Blogger – http://ukuleleshops.blogspot.com

THANK YOU Oxford Financial Partners

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to accelerate ukulele donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

Oxford Financial Partners

Please visit the their website (click name above) if you are retirement-minded and looking for a licensed, professional finance team. Call (513-469-7014) or send an email to Erik Christman (CFP, CPA) to set up a convenient appointment. Located in Kenwood, highly familiar with Procter & Gamble retiree plans, informative newsletters.

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CCHMC music therapists are exceptionally skilled and appreciative. Pledges are quickly transformed into musical joy and therapeutic benefits among many young patients. Here’s a short video of Brian Schreck demonstrating an early FLEA ukulele donation, with fellow therapist Jennifer Seley singing in the background.

Are you or your business interested in helping? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

THANK YOU Superior Honda

Our ukulele donations strive to bring 24/7 music to more hospitalized kids facing difficult challenge. Summed up nicely by lyrics in ABBA’s I Let the Music Speak:

Let it be the joy of each new sunrise
Or the moment when a day dies
I surrender without reservation
No explanations
No questions why
I take it to me and let it flow through me
Yes, I let the music speak
I let the music speak

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to help “let the music speak” by accelerating ukulele donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

Superior Honda

Please visit their website (click name above) to see quality Honda vehicles, pre-owned vehicles and service specials. Conveniently located to serve anyone in the Cincinnati tri-state region (off I-75 at Exit 6/Mitchell Ave). Open 7 days a week. Stop in or send an email to Chris Heck (GM) or Robert Starks (sales) for personable and professional service. My family has been exceptionally pleased with our Honda Odyssey purchased there and received a great deal with our older van trade-in.

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How do pledges support “24/7 music therapy”?

A hospital music therapist often carts in their array of musical instruments for a session, then carts them back out. Rigorous cleaning protocols after each patient’s use must adhere to strict hospital standards for infection control.

FLEA ukuleles have many innovative features that make them suitable for LEAVING IN THE PATIENT’S ROOM for 24/7 access. Not “music therapy” per se without the therapist; nevertheless, it creates opportunity to explore and enjoy music making. Promotes a mindset of musicianship. Much like the role of homework reinforcing a classroom lesson, or daily instrument practices between weekly lessons.

This is why our minimum pledge unit of “one brand new FLEA ukulele” also includes a “Ukulele for Kids” DVD. Ten fun lessons instructed by Marcy Marxer and Ginger the dog that enables anyone to learn the basics of tuning, forming simple chords, strumming and singing along to 9 traditional songs. Marcy is a Grammy Award winner for children’s music and a talented teacher and performer.

Each patient room at Cincinnati Children’s is equipped with a DVD player/monitor. These DVD’s are an ideal companion for staying in the room with the FLEA ukulele. Learn and play anytime. Easy to wipe down. And their producer, Homespun Video, graciously allows us to duplicate the song booklet for each patient.

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Are you or your business interested in helping? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

THANK YOU Brower Insurance Agency, LLC

Imagine your child being diagnosed with a major health concern. One requiring extended hospital care. A prognosis that the condition becomes manageable at best, not curable. Hardly a time to think about taking up a musical instrument.

Yet, music offers power to cope, nurture and heal –– especially when guided by music therapy professionals. Music instills normalcy and an expression of feeling. It counterbalances the confinement of illness, dreading tests and treatments, waiting.

That conundrum sums up the True Joy Acoustics mission. We leverage our sales proceeds to donate FLEA ukuleles to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. At no added cost to purchasers. And without bothering parents nor hospital budgets as their resources focus on the health crisis.

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to accelerate such donations. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

Brower Insurance Agency, LLC

Please visit their website (click name above) to learn about their comprehensive insurance, financial and consulting services for the business community. Email or call Andy Watson at their Cincinnati office (513-338-5759) and you will experience the prompt, professional service that I count on for my business insurance needs.

The Music Therapy staff at CCHMC is exceptionally skilled and appreciative. They quickly transform an organization’s financial pledge into musical joy and therapeutic benefits among their many young patients.

Brian Schreck, MA, MT-BC at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center - thankful for the generous business support, ready to put a DOZEN new FLEA's into music therapy action!

Are you or your business interested in helping? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

THANK YOU Fifth Third Bank

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to accelerate ukulele donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

Fifth Third Bank

Please visit the bank’s website (click name above) to see their broad range of personal and commercial banking services. They offer convenient branches, bank marts and ATM’s across the Greater Cincinnati region and beyond. My family has appreciated excellent service at Fifth Third Bank for many years.

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What makes a FLEA ukulele special for music therapy?

Same benefits of guitar, yet much easier for hospital PATIENTS to hold and play.

Guitars are popular instruments among music therapists. They are multi-sensorial. A guitar’s aural spectrum, physical vibration and fine motor-skill interactivity makes it a powerful all-in-one “tool box” across many music therapy protocols.

However, guitar is difficult if not impossible for PATIENTS to hold in a wheelchair or bed position.

Wood/glue construction and finishes make guitars sensitive to environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), physical shock and routine wipe downs for infection control.

FLEA Ukulele - a natural fit with pediatric hospital music therapy

A guitar’s metal strings are not as gentle on sensitive skin as a ukulele’s nylon strings.

Common guitar chords require three or more fingers straddling a wider fingerboard, whereas many ukulele chords can be formed with just one or two fingers.

FLEA ukuleles overcome these guitar hindrances without compromising fine/gross motor skill engagement, multi-sensory stimulation and emotional enjoyment.

Even PEDIATRIC PATIENTS can hold and play a “real acoustic instrument” firsthand.

Learn more about a FLEA ukulele’s innovative features by clicking here.

These same features make a FLEA ukulele ideal for ANY beginner or player. They promote successful musicianship from the start plus an easier path to mastering guitar.

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Are you or your business interested in helping us bring more ukulele joy to hospitalized kids? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

THANK YOU James R. Wertz Insurance Agency

True Joy Acoustics is a musical instrument program that connects a rapidly growing world of ukulele strummers (+ guitarist wannabes) with the Cincinnati community.

Sales proceeds enable ukulele donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where kids play ukulele for music therapy … escape to the world of music vs. have everything in life so “out of control, on hold”.

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to accelerate donations. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

James R. Wertz Insurance Agency

Please visit the contact page for Rick Wertz’s agency (click name above), set up a convenient time to review your insurance needs, and you’ll know why my family has appreciated excellent service from this State Farm office for over 30 years. Located in Anderson Township, serves the greater Cincinnati area. Evening/weekend appointments available. Always a quick phone call away (513-231-0100).

Rick is an Encore sponsor … beyond his initial ukulele trio pledge, Rick offered to support a new ukulele donation every other month!

CCHMC Music Therapy staff play ukulele to connect with even the youngest patients. See how by clicking photo or this link http://youtu.be/MQRU6_M_5SI. Copy/paste the link address into your browser if these clicks do not activate video on your system.

Are you or your business interested in helping? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

Ukulele and The Beatles

Ukulele and guitar go hand in hand with many great musicians.

Many guitarists even credit their start to ukulele and ukulele-like instruments (e.g., banjolele), such as Chet Atkins and Peter Frampton.

Paul McCartney performs an inspirational ukulele tribute to his Beatles band mate, George Harrison. Just wowed a Cincinnati stadium audience with this performance. Here’s an earlier video in Quebec:

Do you aspire to become a great guitarist? Starting with ukulele makes an easy path to playing guitar. Who knows, you may also find ukulele a nice way to spice up your concerts, just like Paul.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

THANK YOU Northeast Cincinnati Pediatric Associates, Inc.

True Joy Acoustics is a musical instrument program that connects a rapidly growing world of ukulele strummers (+ guitarist wannabes) with the Cincinnati community.

Sales proceeds enable ukulele donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where kids play ukulele for music therapy … escape to the world of music vs. have everything in life so “out of control, on hold”.

FUN STRUMS is a program that invites local businesses to accelerate donations. We thank the following organization for their heartfelt support:

Northeast Cincinnati Pediatric Associates, Inc.

Please visit their website (click name above), watch their informative video and you’ll know why my family has appreciated excellent care there for two decades. Their staff includes about 10 board certified pediatricians plus 5 nurse practitioners. Three convenient locations, flexible office hours.

The Music Therapy staff at CCHMC is exceptionally skilled and appreciative. They quickly transform an organization’s financial pledge into musical joy and therapeutic benefits among their many young patients.

Jennifer Seley, MT-BC, CCLS at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Are you or your business interested in helping? Email us (info@truejoyacoustics.com) for more information. Modest pledges go a long way.

As always, you can personally support this cause by visiting True Joy Acoustics. Treat yourself or others to the fun of playing a FLEA ukulele packed within our exclusive Musician Maker Kits. The more we sell, the more we donate.

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder

Join our Facebook Community

Just 2 clicks away. Visit our new Facebook page by clicking anywhere on the photo below, then click the “LIKE” button on our welcome page.

What’s in it for you?

• fresh insights related to making music, emphasis on ukulele and guitar
• tips and links to specialized resources that help you learn ukulele
• early scoop on future sweepstakes – FREE ukulele gear & songbooks
• pride in turbocharging our community outreach – pediatric hospital donations
• insights and happenings that originate “off the wall of others”

Greg, True Joy Acoustics founder