Old Town Music Co.

We love sheet music and have the best collection of sheet music in Southern California to prove it. Check us out at www.oldtownmusic.com

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Old Town Music's 35th Anniversary Celebration!

Mark your calendars for Old Town Music's May 24th Anniversary Celebration!

10:30-12:00: Bring the kids for our Instrument Petting Zoo!

1-4: Alley Sale Refreshments, and Live Music!

More details to come, so check back often!

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Richard Konter with Igloo the mascot dog aboard the ship Expedition. This ukulele was the first ukulele to travel to the North Pole and was signed by the entire ship’s crew.  The ukulele is known as the ‘Konter Uke’. May, 1926

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A lot of people ask me why I decided to start playing the Ukulele. So I figured it was time to sit down and write up 5 good reasons to play the Uke.

Reason #1: It’s Fun!

The Ukulele is a blast! Imagine your sitting in your backyard on a warm summer day. The wind is lightly blowing through your...

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Side of the Story

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Theremin. Needs no other words.

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McKay and friend play "There Will Never Be Another You".

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McKay playing some jazz guitar.

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McKay playing some jazz guitar.

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Looks like the ukuleles are ready for the big ukulele jam!

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Second Strings String Chamber Orchestra!

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Flute Trio!

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Musings on the Ukulele

It’s no secret that the Ukulele’s popularity has spread like a wild fire. Whether it’s on hit televisions shows like Glee, Cougar Town, or The New Girl, or in popular music from such high-profile artists as Jason Mraz, Train, and Eddie Vedder, the humble “plink-plink” of the Ukulele is being heard everywhere.

  As strangely unfashionable as one might think the Ukulele would be, its appeal is sensible. The instrument’s portability, along with its innate simplicity provides for a musical experience that players of all levels can take part in.

  The ukulele’s invocation of the Jazz Age, Vaudeville, and of Tin Pan Alley seems to fall right in line with popular culture’s on-going preoccupation with all things “retro.” Quite simply, “old” is the new “new.” Forget about chart toppers like those listed above, “indie” singer-songwriters and bands in garages all over the world have prominently featured the ukulele in their sometimes rootsy, sometimes exotic, but always familiar sounds since the late 1990s. In 1999 The Magnetic Fields released their iconic triple album “69 Love songs.” The band, whose principle songwriter Steven Merrit has been spotted perusing the walls of Old Town Music (*sssshhhhh!*), use ukuleles throughout the album which, in the years since its release, has gone on to be a touch-stone among quirky, dependently-minded music fans. In 1998 the major Hollywood film “Meet Joe Black” starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins used the late Israel "Iz" Ka’ano’ Kamakawiwo’ole’s recording of "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World." The song is now ubiquitously used in movies, television, and commercials. The mighty Iz’s sweet voice and gentle playing of his ukulele has helped make the instrument popular, reminding a new generation that the uke, so often associated with Hawaiian music and culture, can be easily used to play all manners of popular music.

  We are part of a culture very much intrigued by the antiquity and decadence of eras like the roaring 20’s, the romance and sentimentality the war-time 30’s and 40’s, and the eerie pageantry of the 50’s and early 60’s. Popular television programs like Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men and major motion pictures like 2004’s The Aviator, 2009’s Inglourious Basterds,and currently The Great Gatsby have both benefited from and helped to perpetuate our continuing love of all things vintage. What better way to invoke the feeling of days past than with the sound of the uke? According to Ben Sisario in his 2011 New York Times article Ukulele Crazy “the light, carefree strum that has become the instrument’s sonic stereotype invokes innocence, sincerity and childlike wonder, as well as nostalgia for a pre-rock ’n’ roll era.”

  The uke’s sheer simplicity has also helped to make it fashionable among everyone from pre-teens to retirees. This is evident in the amount of Adele, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift artist folios for uke we sell here at Old Town Music Company. Another trend can be seen in the growth of local “uke clubs” and community “orchestras.” People are getting together in large groups, perhaps inspired by “The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain” -arguably the most popular uke group of the day, and playing all manners of pop songs with their varied ukes and skill levels, the more ironic and ridiculous the song the better. Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and Ceelo Green’s “F**k You” are regularly featured in performances by Los Angeles’s own “Ukulele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere” They are a western answer to the afore-mentioned group. As Sisario says of the uke “..it’s so easy to learn that it’s said to be almost impossible to play it badly. Even when slightly off key, it serves as a blank canvas that can accent the character of any voice. And in the right hands, it can strip a song to its skeletal core.”

  Want to join in on the fun? First off, if you aren’t busy tomorrow afternoon, May 25th, come to Old Town Music Co., and check out some of the live music taking place in Mercantile Place just behind the store. The store is celebrating 34 years of being in business and we thought “what better way to celebrate than some live music, refreshments, and sales?” Around 4:15 we will be having a Ukulele Jam led by members of the OTMC staff, and rumor has it that the legendary Ian Whitcomb may even stop by. Beforehand, a slew of wonderful acts will include a local strings group, performances by OTMC teachers Stephanie Doell Barrett and McKay Tebbs, Local Uke-group “Side of the Story” and even a Theramin demonstration by yours truly and Barry Schwam.

  Then shop! Come into the store and check out our selection of ukes, uke books, and accessories. Unless you’re looking for children’s toy, don’t buy a uke for $20. You won’t find any at OTMC. Our $40 ukes from Diamond Head, Makala, and Mahalo will hold tune once new strings have stretched and will sound fine for the beginning player. In my opinion, the best bang for your buck is Lanikai’s LU – a great sounding instrument for only $70. Go to www.oldtownmusic.com for details. The LU21, along with Kala’s KA-S, is generally considered the best buy when choosing entry-level soprano ukes. Order one from us! We will also have other comparably priced ukes that sound terrific!

  Here at Old Town Music we are as captivated by the ukulele’s simple charm as the rest of the world seems to be. We’re excited to keep on providing you a place where you can come in, poke around, and maybe even go home with a nice new uke or uke book! Can’t wait to see you Saturday!

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Did you know that the awesome and talented duo "Side of the Story" are going to be playing during Old Town Music's "Music at Mercantile Place Ukulele Jam" on Saturday to celebrate our anniversary!

Stop by and check them out at 3:45 on Saturday!

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We're pretty obsessed with this series of children's books "Baby Loves Jazz". Pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Duck Ellington today in honor of Sir Duke's birthday.

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In honor of Duke Ellington's birthday.

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