Attempting to find the right chord, junior Matthew Whay recently started the Ukulele Club in hopes to improve the school climate.
“My belief is that if more people in this world played the ukulele, then this world be a happier place,” Whay said.
Whay used this mission to begin a formal organization.
“I started the club because I knew a few of my friends already played the ukulele, and I thought it would be fun to teach each other songs,” Whay said. “I hope to be able to spread the beautiful sound and good vibes of the ukulele throughout the halls of Parkway Central.”
Andrea Anderson, an English teacher who also sponsors the Creative Writing Club, will be the sponsor of the new club.
“A couple weeks ago Matthew approached me about the idea for the club,” Anderson said. “I thought it sounded like fun, and I thought it sounded totally like a Matthew thing.”
The club plans on meeting every other Thursday starting next semester. As of right now, there are more than six participants, and Whay hopes the club will continue to grow.
In order to become a sponsored club, Whay needed to gauge interest, describe what participants would do at each meeting, find a staff sponsor, and then turn that information in to principal Travis Fast.
“After Matt approached me with the idea of a ukulele club,” Fast said, “I thought about going out to get a ukulele.”
Whay accidentally became interested in playing the ukulele one day after his brother had left for college.
“My brother moved into his house at college and forgot his ukulele at home,” Whay said. “I found it and said ‘Hey, I should teach myself how to play this.’ Then I bought another one — and then another one.”
Freshman Danni Schneiderman is one of the members of the ukulele club and has been playing the instrument since October.
“My sister is friends with Matthew Whay, and I’ve been playing for a while so it just made sense to join,” Schneiderman said.
Schneiderman said she appreciates being able to have a structured hobby to add to her schedule.
“I play volleyball a few days a week, and the other days I’m not doing much, so I decided to find something to do,” Schneiderman said.
Whay said he has aspirations to find more members and eventually take this club to another level of performing in public.
“I have hopes and dreams of their being at least 10 people by the end of this school year,” Whay said. “Then tune in at next year’s pep rally — that’s the dream.”