My good friend and neighbor, Brian Sanborn, and I were feeling (like everyone was) worn down by the pandemic as we headed into the Spring of 2021. We’d both been through our share of Zoom calls, rapid tests and masked-up, pared-down, outdoor, socially distanced get togethers with family and friends. That’s when we hatched a plan.

Both eager novices in the world of playing ukulele and both cancer survivors, we wondered, could we build a uke (or two or more) and give it as a gift – no strings (pun intended) attached – to someone fighting cancer?

I had tried building one myself (see my left thumb for proof of my trial, error and self-inflicted injuries) but could we, together, enjoy the fun of building but then (as it is hard to explain to wives why one needs more than a few ukuleles in one’s house) give them away to a cause we believe in?

Thus was hatched “SanZilius Ukuleles – Ukes Against Cancer.”  The idea is simple. When we have the time, aren’t too busy, aren’t too lazy, etc., we hand build ukuleles, one at a time, and give them to folks fighting cancer as we have both fought in our own respective pasts. (We’re firmly entrenching in our anti-cancer stance and we don’t care who knows it :- ) If you’re looking for us, we’re on Facebook and always searching for fellow survivors who might find enjoyment in a SanZilius Uke (though please keep in mind my earlier point that we are limited in how many we are able to build). Let us know if you know someone who you think would enjoy a lovingly crafted uke from a couple fellow survivors! There is absolutely no requirement that they have a musical background and no expectations that they need to commit to learning to play. The entirety of our hope is that the uke bring some joy and if it does kick off a love of ukuleles or any musical instrument, really, so much the better!

So, Dan, what does this have to do with the library that we all love? Great question; thank you for asking!

First, have you ever tried playing a uke? They are tremendous fun! In fact, there’s a famous saying that it is very hard not to smile while playing a uke! But who wants to buy one if it turns out it isn’t for you? Some folks make the mistake of buying an extremely cheap uke (like the ones you might see in a beach tourist shop) that is more of a child’s toy than an instrument. That can be unfortunate as those are usually nearly impossible to keep even sort-of in tune, and nothing is more discouraging to a new player than their music sounding bad due to a very poor-quality instrument. That said, I will note that a basic model from a music store can hold its pitch properly and sound lovely (and is far cheaper than other instruments like guitars and violins) – but why spend any amount on something before you even know if it suits you?

Enter the LIBRARY OF THINGS!  For those who don’t know, this is one of the incredibly cool… ahem… things that our wonderful Norwood Library offers. You can literally check out a uke (including an instruction book, too) any time you like and give it a try. Total cost? $0! And it’s not just ukuleles. The Library of Things contains an amazing assortment of items. There are lots of other musical instruments from guitars to drums to triangles to cow bells! And there’s a lot more than that, with items as diverse as Bocce Ball sets, Steamers to remove old wallpaper and Tarot Cards!

And while you’re at it, you can also look into the excellent selection of books the library carries both on specific topics, like Ukulele for Dummies, to music instruction videos, or even just books on music in general, like David Byrne’s book How Music Works which is available as an e-book via the Libby app. It’s all there at your fingertips! Finally, keep an eye out for the library’s varied and wonderful programming around music, from live performances to classes. There have even been a few beginner ukulele classes over the years!

So there you have it. Likely not surprising to many of the library’s patrons, it is just the place for budding ukulele and other musicians to get a taste of what can be (trust me) a long and happy obsession.

Dan Corzilius is the President of the Friends of the Norwood Library. Look for his article in the April 7, 2022 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.