Strumming Banjo Ukulele with Kaitlyn Baker

What makes our FLEA ukulele donation program so rewarding?

The smiles in this picture!

Accompanied by Kaitlyn Baker in the Music Therapy room, a patient from South Carolina enjoys a special moment. The “banjo ukulele” being played is the 68th ukulele donated to Music Therapy at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Photo shared with permission

Who is Kaitlyn Baker? This question is sure to become rhetorical as her career soars! A young performing artist from Virginia, Kaitlyn shared her talents by performing at the hospital and creating individual patient time.

You can learn more about Kaitlyn at her website and Facebook page (www.kaitlynbaker.com, https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynBakerMusic), but here are two YouTube music videos:

• Coal Train (https://youtu.be/D3mLivBoSnM)
• Burn (https://youtu.be/zW-is2ZlZ9A)

The first highlights the work and “escaping” aspirations in a small mining town. The second video shares the tale of a relationship that turns a bit “incendiary”!

Special thanks goes to Caleb Hastings, MT-BC, the neurologic music therapist at CCHMC who made me aware of this special artist and moment.

---

Donations on this scale would not be possible without generous support from individuals and businesses, including those who purchase our instruments.

Wanna’ PLAY or PLEDGE a FLEA® ukulele? Visit www.truejoyacoustics.com to learn more plus connect to Amazon and eBay listings. Purchases are convenient, secure, delivered FREE (continental USA) and backed by Buyer Protection Programs on these two well established e-commerce stores.

Email me at info@truejoyacoustics.com if you would like to sponsor a donation of one or more FLEA ukuleles to the music therapy program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. It’s easy and will certainly bring joy to your heart as well as many kids spending many long days in a hospital.

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

Ukulele and Peter Frampton

Peter Frampton. Superb guitarist, rock star legend, lifelong musician who plays with vibrant heart and soul.

It all began by strumming a close cousin of the ukulele –– a banjolele from his grandmother –– with his father teaching him a few chords to play Tom Dooley and Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore at the age of 7.

Peter Frampton shares how the Banjolele formed the roots of his musicianship (segment begins at 1:45 into 7:48 video)

A banjolele has 4 strings and is fretted, tuned and played like a ukulele; however, it has the body of a small banjo which provides distinctive banjo sound and volume.

Mr. Frampton recounts this career inspiration when describing the song track “Vaudeville Nanna and the Banjolele” from his latest album entitled Thank You Mr. Churchill. Click here for YouTube video link. The song is autobiographical, and in his own words: “the title of the song is me, equals Peter Frampton”.

What a great testimony to the power of musical inspiration from within the family … starting small and simple with easy strums and songs … evolving it into a 53 year guitarist journey and still keeping it fresh and strong.

Greg H., True Joy Acoustics founder