(Original article link in Coronado News/Zach Dinsmore/January 5, 2024)
Coronado Ukulele Club is thriving, but more are welcome in 2024
Daniel Perwich is the founder of and a main strummer in the Coronado Ukulele Club, which can be linked to a Hawaiian vacation.
Daniel Perwich is the founder of and a main strummer in the Coronado Ukulele Club, but the origins can be linked to a Hawaiian vacation with his wife, Rita, eight years ago.
Perwich said the couple wandered into a music store where he ended up walking out with a ukulele and every accessory it had to offer.
“I started noodling around with it, and I realized it’s kind of a group thing, and it’s a singing instrument,” said Perwich. “Then I figured it’s got to be groups. So my wife helped me.”
He said the couple began advertising for a local meeting around town.
Surprise turnout to start club
According to Perwich, there was a surprising turnout at his first meeting in 2015, but the sense of community he felt while playing the ukulele with other Coronado locals fueled him to continue.
Now, eight years later, the club has about 40 members and meets weekly to share in the playing of their beloved 4-stringed instrument.
The group meets every Monday from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, and practices are live-streamed on the @TeeLynnMusic YouTube Channel.
Helping group thrive
Tricia Lynn Naval, the group’s musical director, has been a crucial part in helping the club thrive. Her background in music as a DJ, guitarist, bassist, drummer and singer has well prepared her for this role, said Naval.
“I’m the person that leads and directs them, meaning I start the songs, I help them be cohesive as a group. I’m the main communicator, I tell them how and when and where to show up and what to bring so there’s no surprises,” said Naval. “It’s a lot of stuff. Though, as the director, there’s a lot of responsibility; I knew how much it was going to be, but I ended up really, really loving it.”
According to Naval, the group also holds a monthly gathering on every first Monday at Serrano’s on 126 Orange Ave, from 4 to 6 p.m. for what is known as Kani Ka Pila.
‘Let’s play music’
The Hawaiian phrase doesn’t have a direct translation to English but it essentially means ‘let’s play music’ per Ukulele Magazine.
“[Kani Ka Pila] that’s where we get together, and I don’t lead anything. I don’t teach anything, it’s like the jam session,” Naval said.
As the new year comes, Perwich and Naval are looking forward to the plans and events they have for the club in 2024.
One of their desires is that the club can flourish while keeping the same sense of community among the strummers.
“I want to make sure that the roots keep getting deeper, so that the tradition carries on, you know, and I want to create something where it’s a known entity, and its viability keeps rising, like a nice bread in the oven,” said Perwich.
‘More Music, More Love’
‘More Music, More Love’ is the mission statement that Perwich came up with for the club.
To him, that means the more music he can share by playing for people, the more people he can spread love to.
“If you’re a musician and you make music and you want to present and you want to give that to people, it’s love.” said Perwich, “It’s trying to bring people together. It’s trying to create an environment where people are enjoying themselves.”
Perwich also mentioned the group is in need of a percussionist.
Uke shredder or novice, the Coronado Ukulele Club says it welcomes any experience level to join in the playing of music together. More details can be found at https://www.coronadoukuleleclub.com/.
