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Author
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Topic: My "Hawaiian Treasures"
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George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 27 February 2006 10:33 PM
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If you folks click this site:
http://www3.telus.net/public/lake_r/
If you like my Hawaiian Treasures website ... please link us to your website! Mahalo ... KeokiHopefully you might see how a 78 year old character like me keeps himself busy ! I have 20 Hawaiian steel guitar students and 15 ukulele students, all of them seniors, (55 +) [This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 02 April 2006 at 10:45 AM.] |
Don Kona Woods
Member From: Vancouver, Washington, USA
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posted 27 February 2006 11:24 PM
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Nice Keoki, I'll bet they are enjoying every minute of it.Keep up the good work. You are possibly helping to keep these seniors alive longer with all of the mental exercising that goes on in learning the steel and ukelele. Aloha,
Don |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 28 February 2006 12:47 AM
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Keoki, I completely forgot to mention this.I had just finished playing at the Ilikai Hotel several weeks ago when a woman (who looked to be in her 50's) came up to me and said, "I used to play one of those! I took lessons when I was a little girl." I asked her where she was from. She said Edmonton. I asked if she knew a man named George Lake. She completely lit up and said, "Yes! that was my teacher!!!" I asked her name and all she said was "Amanda" and that "it was so long ago, he probably wouldn't remember." I'm sorry I didn't get her full name. |
Patrick Thirsk
Member From: Clwydd, United Kingdom
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posted 28 February 2006 02:50 AM
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Keoki....any plans to open a branch in U.K.??????...just what I need at 66 Regds..Pat |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 28 February 2006 10:12 AM
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Hi Jeff....My memory is good, but not THAT good. When "Amanda" was taking lessons, I was working for one of those "mass-production music schools" and, no kidding, some years I was teaching over 100 students a week! I did this for about 9 years. It was both gruelling and unrewarding. This "school" had branches in 4 small towns surrounding Edmonton...I was "on-the-road" 4 days a week and teaching in the city 2 days each week. Students came and went until rock and roll came along and solved everything. I swore I would never take up teaching again. Of all the students who took lessons during the late forties, early fifties, only two went on to local professionalism. Kids in those days took Hawaiian Guitar lessons not because they wanted to, but because their parents forced them into it.About 12 years ago the local senior center asked me to teach adults. I took on this task with some reluctance but what a joy this has turned out to be ! Seniors WANT to learn and they love Hawaiian music which they never hear around these parts. As Don mentioned above, music for seniors keeps their minds active and I'll tell you one thing...I keep those minds REALLY active! The eldest in my group are two young ladies, (pictured on the site), who are both 81 and both are enjoying the sessions.
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BTW: On this site you will notice the TROCADERO emblem, (lower left side). Click it and you will see the Big Band which I founded back in 1991. The band is 15 years old and still going strong![This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 02 March 2006 at 01:27 PM.] |
Roy Thomson
Member From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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posted 28 February 2006 10:32 AM
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George,
That's a great site you have!
Congratulations on the work you
have done and are still doing for
the the "55" and over group.
Is there a CD by Hawaiian Treasures?
I hope so for two reasons:
Would love to hear the group and
I would like the opportunity to support your
work.------------------
http://www.clictab.com/RoyT/Roy_Thomson_Steel_Courses.htm |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 28 February 2006 01:02 PM
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Aloha Roy... coming from a fine steel guitarist such as yourself, your kind comments make me feel truly humble! Mahalo. I have taped every concert the gang has performed. The results, taking in consideration not one of them could be considered anywhere near "professional" are highly gratifying. They have been averaging about 15 concerts at various senior lodges each year. (Normally I can expect a minimum of 22 students to show up for each performance). If you have ever been involved in anything similar, you can appreciate the amount of practice and dedication on the part of everyone. No cd's at the moment, however we have that in mind. |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 28 February 2006 01:20 PM
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Good for you, George! Seniors have a lot to contribute and much wisdom to impart. ps Still enjoying those tapes you sent me many years ago.  |
Jesse Pearson
Member From: San Diego , CA
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posted 28 February 2006 01:24 PM
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George, I have dial up and when I go to your site there's no pictures and the buttons don't work except the memory coupon link? Man, 100 students a week! That's gotta be a record. |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 28 February 2006 02:04 PM
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Jesse...ya gotta remember, back in those days they had salesmen calling on homes and enrolling (often reluctant)students. (Usually 15 or more per one hour class). The classes were always large, far too large to achieve any decent results. I really hated teaching back then. The peak came around 1949, afterwards fewer students were enrolled however still too many to do the proper job. The classes were an hour in duration,(and frustration for me). By the time each guitar was tuned, and discovering little Johnny didn't practice that week, (thus holding back the class), very little time was left to actually accomplish anything! Today, teaching these adults is so different ... they come with a positive attitude because they WANT to learn. I devote 3 hours every Monday and Thursday morning to each class. We achieve a lot and have so much fun doing it...as you can see on their faces. ~~re...the site: If you are on DIAL UP, the pics will take much longer to come up. If you are on CABLE, they should come up very quickly.~~ As a footnote: If you click on the name KEITH SANDULAK (page 5), you will discover a man with awesome artistic talent.
He is also one of my senior students on steel.[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 28 February 2006 at 02:25 PM.] |
Kris Oka
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 28 February 2006 07:36 PM
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Hi George, would you by any chance be related to Dennis Lake on the Big Island. He makes custome ukuleles? Kris |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 28 February 2006 09:50 PM
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Hi Kris...No, I'm not related to the gentleman...never met him. Many years ago I spoke with Kahuanu Lake as we discussed both of our family heritage back to London, England. I'm quite certain I'm not related to K.Lake but it was an interesting discussion nevertheless. (One of my ancestors was sea-faring who sailed between Australia and Hawai'i). As for me, I'm a land-lubber who gets sea-sick very quickly ! |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 01 April 2006 10:01 PM
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bump |
Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 02 April 2006 09:27 AM
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Nice site, Keoki! I really enjoy it! |
Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 02 April 2006 12:05 PM
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As Jeff quoted YES that is a GREAT Site.Thank you Keoki and my love to Mary. Jody |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 08 April 2006 07:26 PM
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New pics on site, and sound .[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 09 April 2006 at 10:01 AM.] |
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