Rod Salaysay

I was introduced to the ukulele when a friend of mine gave me a souvenir ukulele display item 5 yrs ago. Felt so intrigued that I went to get myself a beginner uke the next day.

An instant love affair developed immediately, as i didn’t put it down for 4 hrs the first time I got it. What a fun little noble instrument.

I am an ICU nurse by profession and currently work at a hospital trauma unit. My work environment is oftentimes challenging, stressful and fast paced. After learning to play a few tunes on my uke, I decided to bring it to work one day and played for my patient who used to live in Hawaii. That was an eye opener for me. I can’t describe how good it felt to share music and how it turned into a positive experence for the patients and families alike.

This little instrument has opened the doors for me to be involved with a few fundraising activities last year. I was also invited and played at the La Jolla Arts and Wine festival as well as the recent San Diego Ukulele Fest. Finally, it also helped me to touch people’s hearts through music, as I was given a chance to play for the celebration of life for a family in Texas.

I have dedicated the last five years in understanding and knowing how to play this instrument to the best of my ability and style.., and this time around, I am excited to share my love for this instrument with you. Happy strumming…! Mahalo nui loa.