When I was growing up, music felt rare. You had to seek it out.

The artists we admired—whether classical performers, Broadway singers, or pop stars—seemed almost mythical. Their music reached us through physical artifacts: records, tapes, CDs. Owning music felt special.

If you wanted to hear a song, you waited for it on the radio or saved up money to buy the album. And if you were a kid without much money, that album became precious. You listened to it again and again until every detail lived inside you. I’m not saying that kind of deep listening is impossible today. But the world has changed.

Today we live in an ocean of music. Millions of songs are available instantly. New music appears every day. In seconds we can access a world-class orchestra, a legendary rock band, or the latest pop hit. And now artificial intelligence—however one feels about it—can generate convincing music in seconds. Recordings no longer feel rare. They are part of the background of daily life. They are no longer the cultural anchor they once were, and even major musical artists struggle to make a living from recordings alone. I suspect the twentieth century’s obsession with recordings will eventually look like a historical blip.

At the same time, something interesting is happening on a smaller scale. All over the world, people are gathering in living rooms, community centers, and parks with simple instruments—especially ukuleles—and singing together. These groups aren’t trying to become famous. They’re rediscovering something older and more important: the joy of making music with other human beings.

While the recording age gave us a vast library of extraordinary and unforgettable performances—which is a wonderful thing—it also had a peculiar side effect: many people began to feel that if they can’t sing like the best singers in the world, they probably shouldn’t sing at all. Constant comparison with polished recordings and superstar performers can make people afraid to open their mouths.

Music shifted from something people did to something most people simply listened to. Imagine putting ten people in a living room together and asking them to sing a song, just for fun … does the thought make you feel nervous? Or even embarrassed?

We have easier access to recorded music than any generation in history, yet fewer people feel comfortable making it themselves. And that’s a loss—not just for individuals, but for communities.

Folk musician Pete Seeger once said: “Participation—that’s what’s going to save the human race.”

It’s a bold statement—but the longer I spend making music, the more true it feels.

Conductor and educator Michael Tilson Thomas also wrote: “In earlier times, so many people sang much more. You know, as a kid you’d go to some kind of religious training or summer camp or whatever it was and you’d learn to sing a lot of songs.”

Human beings are built to sing! Our voices are designed for it. The instrument is already inside us. In the past, music wasn’t something people consumed from distant performers. It was something people did. Families sang together. Communities gathered for dances. Religious groups sang in worship. Work songs, folk songs, and communal music-making were ordinary parts of life.

In many ways, the modern ukulele revival has rediscovered this simple truth. Few instruments invite participation more easily. You can learn a handful of chords in an afternoon, sit down with friends, and suddenly everyone in the room is making music together.

When people make music together, something subtle but powerful happens. Breathing synchronizes. Voices blend. Attention shifts away from the individual and toward the shared sound the group is creating. Long before scientists began studying it, cultures around the world understood that singing together creates bonds between people. It turns a room full of individuals into a community.

When I was younger, I wasn’t especially socially gifted. In fact, there were times when I fantasized about heading off into the wilderness like Robert Redford’s character in the film Jeremiah Johnson and living the life of a mountain man.

Music helped save me from that kind of isolation. It gave me a way to connect with people I wouldn’t have found otherwise. It became the place where friendships formed and where I felt I truly belonged.

Most of my best musical memories are tied to the joy of making music with other people. Anyone who has sung in a choir, played in a band, rehearsed for a musical—or sat in on a relaxed ukulele jam—knows the feeling.

The rehearsals.
The harmonies locking in.
The moment when a group of people creates something together that none of them could create alone.

Those who have experienced this know that the most valuable musical experiences are the ones that cannot be automated at all.

Most people intuit this already. When thousands of fans gather at a stadium concert and sing every word of a song together, they aren’t just there to hear the artist perform; they’re there to join in. They’re there to share a musical experience with other human beings.

What’s remarkable isn’t that this impulse exists. What’s remarkable is how thoroughly our culture has trained people to believe that this part of being human should be rare.

The Invitation

Thankfully, choirs, bands, and community theater are thriving. Songwriting circles and groups of friends are gathering around pianos and guitars, lifting their own voices. Ukulele clubs and informal jam circles are popping up everywhere, bringing people together with the simplest possible invitation: grab an instrument and join in.

These groups may not dominate streaming charts or social media feeds, but they are quietly building something far more durable: community.

A real renaissance of community music-making is already underway. The question is simple: Will you join in—or continue to sit on the sidelines?

Because when people make music together, something remarkable happens … They don’t just create sound; they create belonging and joy.

And if you happen to have a ukulele nearby, you already hold one of the easiest invitations into that world.

The future of music lies in participation.
M. Ryan Taylor

A Few Side Thoughts on Writing Music

Years ago I created a children’s music video called “’Welcome,’ said the Spider” that eventually passed two million views online. If I’m honest though, the view count is little more than a curious statistic. What I relish is the process: hours spent animating the entire thing myself, experimenting, solving problems, learning new skills.

Something similar happened years earlier when my opera Abinadi was produced, filmed, and broadcast. At the time the broadcast and the DVD felt exciting. Years later those artifacts matter little. What stayed with me were the rehearsals, the collaborations, and the shared effort of bringing it to the stage.

This observation has changed the way I think about writing music. While I’m grateful to sell a fair amount of choral music—after all, composers need to buy groceries too—the real value I get from composing lies elsewhere. Writing music matters because of what it does to me as I write it—and, I hope, to the people who perform something new.

What about the applause and fame that the media make such a big deal about? While there are a few moments burned into my memory when applause made a real impact on me and helped guide my direction, I’ve found it pointless to wait for those big breaks.

Instead, it is so much more rewarding to write music for the musicians around us: for our friends, for ourselves, for our ensembles, for the joy of creating something new together. If the music spreads widely, earns money, or brings recognition, that’s wonderful. But those things are the sprinkles on the cake, not the cake itself.

AI may eventually erase composers and songwriters from the commercial marketplace. Even so, it is still worthwhile to write music. Forget the fame. Share your music anyway and embrace the joy.

First Melodies for Ukulele (PDF) is a gentle, musically-grounded introduction to reading and playing melodies on the ukulele. Each song pairs traditional staff notation with easy-to-follow ukulele tablature, alongside chord indications that invite simple harmony and duet playing from the very beginning. Featuring a familiar collection of folk songs, hymns, and seasonal favorites, this resource is designed for beginners of all ages—supporting solo play, teacher-student duets, or family music-making that grows naturally from melody into harmony.

Contents

• Mary Had a Little Lamb
• Ode to Joy
• Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• Tom Dooley
• Drunken Sailer
• Lavender Blue
• Michael Row the Boat Ashore
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• The Bear Went Over the Mountain
• Buffalo Gals
• Kumbaya
• When the Saints
• The First Noel
• London Bridge 
• Joy to the World
• Silent Night
• Brahm’s Lullaby
• Amazing Grace

Free eBook

Get the free eBook with all 96 spirituals, including words, melodies and chords (organized from the simplest songs to more harmonically rich—grow your confidence in playing as you sing). From the famous, to the largely forgotten, these songs resonate deeply with me for their reflection of faith in difficult circumstances, and the hope they inspire. I think it is important to keep the spirit of these songs alive and available to all who are interested in faith and putting trust in God in the midst of oppression.

Bonus: Video Tutorials

Free video tutorials for the first 14 songs—learn by listening and singing along (YouTube playlist).

Included Songs

• Let us Cheer the Weary Traveler
• He’s Got the Whole World 
• Stars Shining
• We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder
• Sinner Man
• Sit Down Servant
• Palms of Victory
• Good News, the Chariot’s Comin’
• I’m Gonna Sing!
• It’s Me, O Lord
• Little David
• Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
• Old Ark’s a Moverin’
• Rock-a My Soul
• Stand the Storm
• Standing in the Shoes of John
• Tell All the World, John
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Calvary
• O Shepherd, Feed My Sheep
• Every Time I Feel the Spirit 
• Keep Me from Sinking Down
• Michael Row
• When the Saints Go Marching In
• Rise, Shine, for the Light is A-Comin’
• Open the Window Noah
• Mary, Don’t You Weep
• Joshua Fought the Battle
• Keep Your Lamps
• No More, My Lord
• The Downward Road
• Tryin’ to Get Home
• Wade in the Water
• You May Bury Me in the East
• A Little Talk With Jesus
• He is King of Kings
• I Want to Be Ready
• Lonesome Valley
• Some of These Days
• Let Me Fly!
• Do Lord Remember Me
• I’ll Fly Away
• Jesus is Risen from the Dead
• Study War No More (Down by the Riverside)
• Go Down, Moses
• Ride On King Jesus
• Angels Watchin’ Over Me
• Anchored in the Lord
• Daniel Saw the Stone
• Trampin’
• When the Train Comes Along
• Shepherd, Shepherd
• Peace Like a River
• His Name’s So Sweet 
• By and Bye 
• Lead Me to the Rock
• The Lord’s Been Here
• There is a Balm in Gilead
• This Train is Bound for Glory
• You’d Better Run
• Get on Board, Little Children
• The Lord is My Shepherd
• Done Made My Vow
• Soon A  Will Be Done
• Deep River
• Tryin’ to Cross the Red Sea
• My Lord, What a Morning
• The Wings of a Dove
• Steal Away to Jesus
• Plenty Good Room
• Who Built the Ark?
• Show Me the Way (Down in the River to Pray)
• One More River
• I’m On My Way
• One Sunday Morning 
• Lord, Make Me More Holy
• Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
• Ain’t That Good News
• All My Trials
• I Believe this is Jesus
• Amazing Grace
• Listen to the Angels Shoutin’
• Give Me Jesus
• Shall We Gather at the River?
• Free at Last
• Were You There?
• Be With Me
• Steal Away and Pray
• De Blin’ Man Stood on de Road an’ Cried
• Wayfaring Stranger
• Lord, Help
• Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?
• Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
• Didn’t it Rain?
• Never Felt Such Love

Made for my students, now available to all.

Free Ukulele Skills Bingo Sheet (PDF)

Build real ukulele skills — one square at a time.

I’ve been wanting to create this resource for a long time, and I’m really glad it’s finally here.

The Power-Up Ukulele Level 1 Bingo Sheet is a simple, encouraging way to track your progress as you learn the core skills every beginner needs. It’s designed to pair directly with the Power-Up Ukulele Level 1 video and to support what we work on in lessons and classes, giving you a clear path forward and something solid to come back to anytime.

Whether you’re brand new, returning after a break, or reinforcing what you’re learning in lessons, my hope is that this helps turn practice into progress — and makes your time with the ukulele feel more confident and enjoyable.

What you’ll work on

Each square represents a foundational skill you’ll actually use:

• C & G7 chords
• F & C7 chords
• First 5 strums (including the Chattanooga strum)
• Two beginner fingerpicking patterns (3241 & 1423)
• C pentatonic scale and an introduction to TAB
• Playing a melody from tablature
• A complete two-chord song that’s easy to memorize

No busywork. No overwhelm. Just the essentials, organized in a way that feels doable.

How to use the bingo sheet

1. Watch the Power-Up Ukulele Level 1 video
2. Practice each skill at your own pace
3. Check off squares as they click
4. Revisit skills anytime you need a refresh

Reward yourself for a bingo, but go for a full blackout. You’ll know exactly what you’ve learned — and what’s coming next.

Who this is for

• Adult beginners who want structure without pressure
• Youth players building confidence
• Current ukulele students who want a reliable reference
• Anyone who wants their practice time to feel clearer and more rewarding

Think of this as your Level 1 home base — something you can return to again and again as your playing grows.

Happy strumming!
Ryan

American Fork, UT

For the first time, this summer I’m bringing together choir and ukulele into a coordinated studio experience. Students may enroll in choir or ukulele on their own, or choose both for the richest, most integrated musical experience — combining vocal and instrumental study in a way that work powerfully side by side.

When students study both voice and ukulele within a coordinated program, skills reinforce one another in powerful ways. Instrumental study strengthens rhythm, harmony, and independent musicianship, while choir develops listening, blend, tuning, and musical expression. Together, these experiences help students become more confident, versatile musicians — able to read music, understand how parts fit together, and engage more deeply with music as a whole, not just a single skill.

Super Early Bird Pricing — Available Through February

Super Early Bird pricing is available now for both summer offerings. Families may choose one program, or combine both for the greatest benefit.

Summer Ukulele Fellowship
https://choirworks.ticketspice.com/summer-ukulele-fellowship

Voices of Light — Summer Choir School
https://choirworks.ticketspice.com/voices-of-light

Sign up by the end of February to lock in the best rate and ensure your child’s place.

Youth Ukulele Beginner Class — Starting in March

For students who are brand new (or just getting started), our Youth Ukulele Beginner Class begins in March. Use code ‘ukuleleplay’ for an exclusive 10% discount for newsletter and website readers at https://timpanogosartsfoundation.ticketspice.com/tyc-ukulele-youth-beginner-class

This class is designed to help young players build skills quickly while keeping the experience fun, social, and confidence-building — and it serves as a great on-ramp to summer study.

Sheet music and audio available for download at https://www.patreon.com/posts/pit-of-despair-129617603

PIT OF DESPAIR – Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! Is it wrong to have so much fun singing about the worst experiences of your life? I guess that’s how ‘the blues’ got popular. This song is particularly about letting go of caring too much about all the things you have no control over (i.e. fostering ‘light careless regard’). I’ve been pretty quiet lately regarding mental health issues, partly because at times it feels like people start to treat you like a ticking time-bomb if you’re too vocal about it. Regardless, I’m still filled with a longing to let people know what I’ve discovered in my road to recovery. First of all, if you’re perpetually unhappy (depressed, anxious, etc.), don’t assume that you’re normal and that this is just how everyone feels (some people call this ‘denial’). Secondly, while ‘the pursuit of happiness’ is inherently toxic (so, so toxic), there is much you can do to invite happiness in for a cozy cup of herbal tea (Bengal Spice = Yum). For me this has included:

• Letting go of toxic thought loops and replacing them with messages of trust (for me that is trust in God and Jesus, including prayers filled with gratitude for the wonders of the world and that I can let go of the past thanks to the atonement … you don’t have to keep punishing yourself forever because a former you was foolish).
• Meditation is all about the discipline of the mind. There are many forms, but most of them are about choosing the focus of your thoughts, rather than being swept away by the flood of your thoughts … you can’t always control your thoughts, anymore than you can control the weather, but meditation builds the strength of mind to refocus your mind on gratitude, your breath, lovingkindness, etc.. It has not only benefited me but people I love.
• Drugs for depression, anxiety, and insomnia often overpromise on how helpful they can be. Study after study shows that CBT, meditation, lifestyle, exercise, diet changes, and many other things can be more effective than medication. This is not a call of judgement; if medication is helping you, that is awesome. It just didn’t help me, and the side effects … oh, my (I’m convinced my insomnia medication was the straw that broke the camel’s back).
• Investing time in activities that bring you joy or into a ‘flow’ state. For me this has included joining an excellent choir (Cantorum) to experience musical bliss and bump elbows with people, doing lots of lyric writing, songwriting and composition, investing time in practice (lots of piano this year), and working toward worthy goals whether or not anyone else will care (i.e. recording and releasing songs, entering choral composition competitions, etc.). This also includes spending time in nature with my family (a big, huge love and thanks to my partner in life Dixie).

There’s more than I can impart in a single post, but these are some of the biggest things. My hope and prayer, in the words of a lovingkindness meditation, is ‘may be happy, may you be healthy, may you be filled with love and grace and gratitude and hope.’

Recording PIT OF DESPAIR was so much fun! I pulled my Godin Multi-Uke off the wall, my DigiTech Vocalist Live FX and ZOOM G3 out of mothballs and spent hours diving into finding and crafting patches … for the joy of it. The song is underpinned by my love for The Princess Bride and the band They Might Be Giants. I hope it brings a little joy to your life as it invites you to laugh at the ‘cares of the world.’

If you read this far … please post your favorite Princess Bride quote in the comments.

Audio, sheet music, lyrics and notes at https://www.patreon.com/posts/dont-feed-127826483

What are the vampires in your life? Don’t feed them! … Another song born out of my struggles with OCD, invasive thoughts, PTS and depression. The good news being that I’m doing really great right now. Having a near collapse in my life forced me to figure out what was going on in my head, diagnose problems I didn’t know I had, and develop healthy ways of thinking. One of those is not allowing the search for happiness to kill happiness … that’s largely what this song is about for me, but there are plenty of alternative ‘vampires’ out there to ruin your joy (news, doom scrolling, politics, worry, blame-gaming and many more). Whatever your personal life-suckers are, I invite you to take a breath, let them go and deny them the food that keeps them keeping you down.

Download the sheet music, audio and find the lyrics for BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE at https://www.patreon.com/posts/beautiful-people-127314417 .

Don’t you remember that scene?
The one with all the witches
gently persuading Jen
to treat her toys like riches?
No, Bowie wasn’t in that bit,
the crones worked to convince,
and blind the girl with useless baubles,
to forget the infant prince.

But she refused to let some trash
obscure the quest, where they’d connive
to hide it midst the filth and ash
and see poor Jen buried alive.

Buried alive, buried alive
under the baggage of yesternight;
let it all go; let yourself thrive
climbing up into daylight.

Sometimes we’re living in that scene,
surrounded by seducers
whispering softly to us
in subtle, swift maneuvers,
while Bowie sings, as goblin king,
distracting us with sweet,
like honeyed lullabies of sirens,
all to knock us off our feet.

But we refuse to let some trash
obscure the quest. We will revive
and wash off all the filth and ash;
escape the sets of eighty-five.

Buried alive, buried alive
under the baggage of yesternight;
let it all go; let yourself thrive
climbing up into daylight.

#31

Copyright 2025 M. Ryan Taylor
_______

Note: If you haven’t seen the film Labyrinth, starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie, then this one may not make a lot of sense. It is a really strange movie, but there are a few scenes that my mind goes back to on occasion. I actually began this lyric with the title Buried Alive, a reference to my struggle with food addictions. How do you write a song about that? The scene involving the ‘Junk Lady’ (she is later joined by others) from Labyrinth came to mind; this scene is not about food, but about burying yourself with attachment to possessions … allowing me to talk to myself about addiction, without actually mentioning food.

Photo: ddzphoto via Pixabay

You, and I, and everything
are the dancing echoes of a string;
within this space of sacred sound
all harmonies, when sought, are found
where dissonance can find a way
to grace the melodies we play,
the pepper in the pot to spice
this swirling recipe of life.
Follow the music.

For I am yours and you are mine
and we are ours in the divine;
as moon reflects the light of sun,
we mirror back what makes us one;
the aspect of a greater grace
which shines in every human face;
each one of us to play a part
in that symphonic work of art.
Follow the music.

By singing, playing out our gifts,
with varied rhythms, rhymes and riffs,
our voices blend to make or brake,
through this harmonic give and take;
joy might be ours, and not alone,
when sharing songs that bring us home
to root, to branch, to leaf, to tree;
an everlasting family.
Follow the music.

#29

Copyright 2025 M. Ryan Taylor

_______

Note: Oh my heck! This one just started with the idea that all matter is made up of strings, aka ‘string theory,’ which though problematic and requiring at least 10 dimensions … is still a beautiful thought. From there, writing this was just not easy. I was trying to come up with a unifying closing stanza to sum up, but it was just so heavy handed I had to axe it. It wasn’t until I did an image search to go with posting the song that I stumbled upon the refrain that now tags the end of each stanza, “Follow the music.”

Photo: Jabber Visuals via Unsplash