CRESSKILL, N.J.—You don’t have to travel to Maui to enjoy beautiful ukulele music!
Every Thursday evening, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a group of up to 30 ukulele enthusiasts meet at the Cresskill Recreation Center on Third Street and strum up a storm.
The small but growing group, called the BUG (Bergen Ukulele Group), was started last summer by Beryl Skog, a Cresskill resident.
“Our members range from ‘out of the box’ beginners to advanced multi-instrument players, from age 11 to late 70s. We also welcome kazooers, tambourine players and singers.”
Several members of the BUG group had no musical background prior to joining.
“It is very easy to learn,” Skog says. “You can watch a video on YouTube and begin playing right away.”
Skog began playing the ukulele in 1975, and then gave it up for many years. In 2013, her husband surprised her with a brand new concert ukulele, and she was back to playing.
“I was lonely and wanted to find some like-minded friends,” Skog recalled. “On a visit to Portland, Oregon, to visit my son & family, my daughter-in-law signed me up for a ukulele group. There were many such groups in Portland.
“Upon returning home, I tried to find a Bergen County group, but there weren’t any. So, I started a group myself,” she said. “I put out flyers and used word of mouth. Before I knew it, there were ‘closet’ players all around. We began to meet initially in the Cresskill Borough Hall, thanks to our wonderful Police Chief Ed Wrixon (also a ukulele player), and now our meetings are held at the Cresskill Community Center, which Mike Hamlet graciously lets us use.”
When she isn’t playing ukulele, Skog is self-employed as a forensic nurse (registered nurse with a master’s degree) working with Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office as a “SANE” (sexual assault nurse examiner). She also owns a small business teaching CPR and she serves as a trustee on the Cresskill Library Board
Skog is happy to report that, “In California and Florida, and now in other parts of New Jersey, ukulele music is extremely popular. There is an annual Ukulele Festival in Whippany that draws hundreds of people.”
Lynn Kiminski, who took up ukulele four years ago along with her husband, Bob, said, “In Tampa, there’s even a foundation that gives out free ukuleles to elementary school students.”
On Aug. 13 the BUG members met at the Cresskill Community Center for an evening of music, fun and socializing. They came from towns all over Bergen County, including River Vale, Closter and Mahwah.
The group played and practiced several popular songs: “Margaritaville,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Tonight You Belong to Me,” “Octopus’s Garden,” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.”
Christine Meltzer explained that BUG plays many different genres of music, from rock to folk to classic melodies, such as “As Time Goes By.”
coming from all over Bergen County. | Photo by Hillary Viders
Some weeks they have a specific theme, such as The Beatles.
“In particular, everyone loves to play Bob Dylan songs. They are very easy to play and they have great melodies,” Meltzer said.
Joffin-Mari Motyka, said, “I come from a community near Manila in the Philippines where ukuleles are extremely popular. My ukulele is particularly beautiful because it was made from the wood of a mango tree in the village where I grew up. In the Philippines, everyone loves ukulele music because it is happy and joyful.”
Linda Epstein remarked, “I just started playing ukulele a few weeks ago. I bought my ukulele in July on a trip to Spain. I feel so comfortable with this group.”
Another thing that attracts people to ukulele is the fact that it is a very inexpensive instrument.
“They come in all price ranges, but you can buy one for as little as $50,” Epstein related.
Most of all, everyone in BUG agrees that ukulele music is relaxing and enjoyable.
“It is called ‘the happy instrument,’ and ‘the people’s instrument.’ You can take it anywhere and wherever you play, it becomes a party,” Steve Zitelli said.
Marion Lippis agreed: “It’s fun and you meet great people!”
The BUG is always looking for more people to join. If you are interested in attending a meeting or joining the group, contact Beryl Skog at berylskog@gmail.com.