Mittge Commentary: Even a Few Sour Notes Sound Sweet When Played Together

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Caleb Rogers has played music across much of the world, including in a rock band in China and in villages across South America and northern Africa, but he said nothing compares to the feeling of the first time he ever sat down to simply play music in a small group with other people.

“It was magical,” he said, and he’s devoted much of his life since then to sharing that experience.

This afternoon he and his wife, Victoria, will be leading a free class in Chehalis that will offer that same wonderful feeling to any and all comers. 

Their “Kookoolele” project — basically, a freewheeling, hands-on group ukulele lesson, featuring a big table full of colorfully painted ukuleles you can use if you don’t have one of your own — is a way to learn to play a simple but enjoyable instrument, accompanied by a live band.

He’s pulled together some extraordinarily talented folks for the band. Oh, and one other guy who’s there to make everyone else look even better in comparison. Yeah, that would be me. 

Our little pickup band will debut at 1 p.m. this afternoon in the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library, and the goal is simple: to give everyone there a taste of that extraordinary feeling of performing with other people. 

I still remember my first time playing with other folks. It was just a block away from the Chehalis library, at the old Red Dawg Brewpub. A group of bluegrass musicians would perform there from time to time. I knew them as the Red Dawg Irregulars. They were incredibly generous and gracious, letting me sit in with them. 

I’d take a spot between the guitar, upright bass, five-string banjo, fiddle and whoever else was there that night. Each of us would take a turn on a song, either leading, picking the piece or performing a solo. When my turn came around, I would sing a Johnny Cash tune or “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” 

I might not have been good, but having them play behind me was — to borrow Caleb’s description — magical. Even better, it was fun. And even better than that, it made me (to my ears, at least) sound great. 

The support from others, the richness of sound, the impromptu collaboration, is exhilarating and buoyant — like riding a bicycle for the first time. Dare I say it, it’s a little like falling in love. And this experience is open to everyone.

I truly believe that you — yes, you — can create beautiful music, something unique and worthwhile that is far better than anything you can hear on CD, the television or iTunes.



What’s that you say? You can’t play an instrument? Only hound dogs would want to sing along with you? 

Yeah, I’m not buying it. 

So you’re not as good as the people on the CD — you don’t have to be. If we know anything about what is common to every human, across the great bounds of time and the span of the Earth, it’s that people enjoy making music together. You don’t have to be great, you just have to be there and willing to participate. 

Which brings us back to this afternoon and this unique opportunity to learn ukulele and play along with a live backup band. 

Caleb and Victoria will teach you the simple positions for three basic ukulele chords. After some practice, the band will play along as you perform “You Are My Sunshine,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “King of the Road” and other favorites.

Everyone will be making lots of noise and lots of mistakes. They’ll also be having lots of fun and making plenty of new friends. No one will notice your blunders, but everyone will notice your smile. 

I look forward to seeing you this afternoon. I’ll be the guy with the banjo and the obvious delight to be sharing the joy of making beautiful music with you. 

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Brian Mittge lives with his family south of Chehalis in a house full of live music and lively musicians. Drop him a line at brianmittge@hotmail.com. He takes requests.