Randy Parris leads a group of aspiring ukulele virtuosos during an Island Music Guild class Monday at Rolling Bay Hall.

Parris began his musical career playing a variety of instruments in a broad range of styles from a very young age. He followed his dream and began studying general music and classical guitar at Central Washington University, where he also began to learn lute and ancient forms of music. After three years an opportunity to own and run a music store in Ellensburg, Washington interrupted his formal studies. It was at that time, as a store owner, he began his lifetime interest in the harp and was able to have one specially made, also developing his interest in composing for the instrument.

At the same time he continued to play guitar regularly in touring bands and to do session work. Since then teaching music emerged as his central passion and profession by choice, and he is as comfortable teaching electric guitar to a budding rock star as he is with the meditative and mellow harp, for which he composes prolifically.

From Wikipedia: “The ukulele is a member of the lute family of instruments. It generally employs four strings. Some strings may be paired, giving the instrument a possible total of six or eight strings.

“The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese machete, a small guitar-like instrument, which was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, mainly from Madeira and the Azores. It gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century and from there spread internationally.

“The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.”

(Luciano Marano | Bainbridge Island Review)