Years ago, when Barb Prud’hommeaux’s husband was a United States Merchant Marine, he traveled to foreign countries and brought her back unique gifts. Among those gifts was a stringed instrument from Russia called a balalaika.
The balalaika sat, unused, in her home for about 20 years. But that changed when Prud’hommeaux learned a ukulele club would be meeting in Winter Harbor. Although she didn’t have a ukulele, which is also a stringed instrument, she was able to tune her balalaika to play like one, and her husband’s gift became part of a whole new experience.
Ultimately, Prud’hommeaux fell in love with the ukulele club and purchased one of her own “ukes,” as she calls it.
At 71, Prud’hommeaux of Gouldsboro considers herself an advanced beginner at the ukulele club she attends, which is hosted by Schoodic Arts for All, a year-round, full-service community arts center in Winter Harbor.
“This is [Schoodic Arts for All’s] 17th year. We started in 1999 as an answer to the question ‘What is Winter Harbor going to do when the navy base closes? What are we going to do to address the economic impact?’” Mary Laury, executive director of Schoodic Arts for All, said.
Schoodic Arts for All, an initiative that hosts year-round programs such as this one, hosts a number of activities, clubs and events for community members, including Variable Winds, a recorder group, and a Singing Circle, both of which Prud’hommeaux participates in. It also brings the Schoodic Arts Festival to the area each year.
At the 2013 Schoodic Arts Festival, a “Ukin’ Do It” workshop, taught by Gene Nichols, an associate professor of music at the University of Maine at Machias, was held. The event was so popular that several students decided to keep it going and formed their own group to continue learning about the ukulele.
The ukulele club meets every Thursday and is led by Darroll Whitney, whom Prud’hommeaux says is probably the best player of the bunch.
For Prud’hommeaux, who was raised in a musical family, continuing her music education is important and brings her joy.
“Ukulele is such a happy instrument,” Prud’hommeaux said. “I listened to some YouTube ukulele players and really was very impressed by the musicality of the instrument. I really always thought of it as a toy.”
The club hosts people from as far as Cherryfield and Ellsworth and doesn’t cater to any specific age range; everyone is welcome.
“It seems to cross all sorts of demographic lines,” Prud’hommeaux said. “It’s very multigenerational.”
The club operates simply, and everyone learns from each other. They have developed a ukulele songbook and form a circle at meetings. Each person picks a song he or she wants to play, and the music commences.
For Laury, this club and the others Schoodic Arts for All hosts help to achieve its purpose.
“The mission is to bring together artists and community and develop this place for people to come together to do creative things,” Laury said.
For Prud’hommeaux, it’s a chance to keep learning.
“As you get older … learning something knew is a stimulating experience, whether you’re successful or not,” Prud’hommeaux said.
