WagePeaceNYC || Peace, Harmony & Transformation

Nick "WagePeaceNYC"

It appears Nick has moved on to other ventures and

closed his YT account. I enjoyed sharing a few e-mails

and stories with him... (5-25-2011)

Nick is doing something interesting with his old Harmony Bari and giving us a humorous and musical tour of the journey. I'll be sad to see that glued-up Harmony go but really interested to see it's new incarnation as a cigar box baritone ukulele. "Stay tuned" for the next episode of a musical superman's adventures in luthiery.

Nick's video editing is masterful. Love to hear the old song, "Mississippi Mud" which has its roots in less racially sensitive days and has been transformed to a more celebratory song.

wagepeaceNYC (Nick) || Zuma (Original) on the Baritone Ukulele

Awesome sound and beat, feels like you're at the beach.

PHOTO: Nick M. (WagePeaceNYC)

Nick graciously supplied an action photo of himself with his salvaged

and rejuvenated Harmony Baritone ukulele along with

greetings for a happy and peaceful new year.

Below he plays a piece from a Lyle Ritz masters book.

For more about Nick, see this prior posting post.

A personal note:

As I was describing my humble ukulele playing to Nick in one

of our e-mails back and forth I came up with the concept of being an

"ordinary musician having extraordinary fun."

Nick responded by saying that perhaps these connections in music

and on the internet have a "higher purpose" of bringing people

together in peaceful ventures.

In the words of the Beatles,

LET IT BE.

WagePeaceNYC || Keep on Smilin'

wagePeaceNYC || How Can I Tell Her?

... I spent the day writing a song for YouTube!

WagePeaceNYC || A Note from a Musician Rejuvenated by Bari

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for writing. I think your blog is great. When I first saw you feature my playing, tears came to my eyes. It's amazing what validation does to the spirit. I started in music as a horn player, focusing on the trumpet. After years of playing I found I was enjoying music less and less, even though I was playing in a great funk band. Three years ago my sister-in-law bought me an Oscar Schmidt soprano uke for a Christmas gift. It wasn't long before the trumpet was collecting dust. I couldn't put the uke down. I could practice for hours at any time of the day without driving my neighbors crazy.

Since picking up the uke I rediscovered my passion for music and have expanded my musical experience by starting to write songs. When I found the baritone, I had found an instrument that spoke to me. It's amazing how much joy can be found in a cheap Harmony Baritone. I feel very strongly that music has a healing, transformative power and I believe the ukulele has an important place in the arsenal of promoting peace and love. Thank you for your blog spotlighting this beautiful instrument. Please feel free to use this correspondence (or parts of it) in your blog if you feel it would fit.

wage peace,
Nick

Thanks Nick for sharing your story, I really enjoy your style with this amazing Harmony Baritone Ukulele. I had just bought one with just a few minor scratches and with a retro case from a local flea market for $62. I have really been drawn to the Bari and collecting and sharing have been a lot of fun. Your flair with the strums is what I have been watching more recently in videos. I have been doing a chunk and pick the high string for my own home strumming and your expert hands have shown it off. Jeff / Humble Uker

wagepeacenyc || Baritone Ukulele Original

My Bari-Uke journey winds all over the place. These videos remind me of the beauty of music, hearing it, feeling it, tickling it. Nick has these recent posts and I think I will put these on the tutorial page under the heading "strumming". The strumming is frequently the difference between an average and a solid performance. I would like to challenge myself to move along the strumming and picking path and hopefully to a better musical expression.

WAGE PEACE, good motto.



Boot Camp


My Romance from a crushed & repaired Harmony Baritone Ukulele