Congratulations To Ichika S.
This month, we celebrate ukulele student Ichika as the “Student of the Month” award winner for December! Ichika has been taking music lessons at SMMC since November 2023. This charming instrument with roots in Hawaii was brought there by Portuguese immigrants. It was quickly incorporated into Hawaiian culture and art. The ukulele has found it’s way into much of our own pop music and culture over the years. It has been featured in popular songs that include artist like Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Jason Mraz or Bruno Mars to name a few . The reason for this popularity? It’s a gentle sounding instrument that pleases the ear of any listener. It’s lightweight and portable, making it a great choice for anyone at any age. To get the full scoop on it’s popularity, check out our other blog “6 Reasons To Learn Ukulele”.
In the short amount of time Ichika has been taking music lessons, she has learned much! This is her very first foray into learning an instrument and she is soaking it all up like up sponge! When it came time to nominate a student, SMMC guitar, bass and ukulele teacher Mr. Jason did not hesitate to state her name. Seeing as how Mr. Jason has a number of music students, Ichika has made a positive impression on her teacher with her progress, dedicated practice and ability.
In Her Teacher’s Words
Mr. Jason, Ichika’s ukulele instructor, holds a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance for Jazz & Classical guitar from Indiana University at Bloomington. He holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts and has been teaching at SMMC for close to 10 years! Mr. Jason often performs at several of SMMC’s public engagements like this Instagram Live performance! Mr. Jason writes:
“Ichika has been an exemplary student since she began lessons at SMMC. Her practice is consistent and targeted. Ichika does not shy away from challenges and looks forward to learning new material in each lesson. Indeed, she becomes disappointed when she does NOT pass the previous weeks lesson or learn a new song. She is also a confident performer with an eagerness to make her debut at our next recital. I look forward to hearing her progress on the ukulele and as a musician. Great work Ichika!
Ichika During A Recent Ukulele Lesson
Enjoy this duet performance of Ichika and Jason playing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.
Meet The Student
We close our our blog by asking the “Student Of The Month” award winner a set of questions revolving music and her general interests. Here is what Ichika had to share:
How long have you been playing your instrument and what do you like most about playing it?
“I have been playing uke since last December. I like playing it because it is fun to play music and learn hard songs.”
How do you make time for practice in your schedule?
“I do it in the morning or before I do my homework. I love playing ukulele so much that practice comes easy!”
What brand/size instrument do you play on? What do you like about how it sounds?
“My parents bought my ukulele from San Marino Music Center. What makes my instrument special is it sounds like ‘Aloha’!”
Who are some of the artists you look up to for your instrument and why do you like them?
“Jake Shimabukuro! He is amazing because his sounds are awesome. His performances are wonderful and full of feeling.”
What do you like about the piece you chose to play in the video?
“I like the song Somewhere Over The Rainbow because the melody is soft and it makes people relax. I am also glad I can play the songs I like.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I like reading books like Magic Tree House, Baby-sitters Club and Dog Man!!“
Thank you for sharing Ichika. Nice to see that you are a big fan of Jake Shimabukuro! Keep up the great practice and progress.
Meet The Instructor
Jason started teaching at San Marino Music Center in 2013. He studied Jazz and Classical Guitar at Indiana University in Bloomington, receiving his Bachelor of Music in Performance. He received his MFA in Jazz Guitar Performance from California Institute of the Arts. Jason has over twenty years of public and private teaching experience. He has taught in middle school, high school, conservatories and one-on-one to eager musicians. He is involved in several Los Angeles music projects and frequently performs in diverse venues. These include The Echo and Satellite, The Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Hammer Museum. Jason composes music for commercials, short films and silent films and teaches guitar, bass guitar, and ukulele.