Others came to see the posthumous inductions into the Ukulele Hall of Fame of a master instrument-maker, Samuel K. Kamaka of Hawaii; Cliff Edwards, a performer better known as Ukulele Ike, and May Singhi Breen, New York City's Ukulele Lady of the 20's and 30's.
The Oxford institution, a supreme cabinet of cultural curiosities, has brought together some of the finest instruments ever crafted by master instrument maker Antonio Stradivari, whose name is as synonymous with violins as Hoover's is with vacuum cleaners.
Released on Thursday by Channel 4, the official UK broadcaster of the upcoming Paralympic Games, the three-minute spot intersperses scenes of people with disabilities taking on extreme sports, mastering instruments and performing mundane everyday activities.
Mr. Kruth says his resolve to master many instruments was nourished listening to Kirk's records as he was growing up.
Just sing, compose and master several instruments (besides the violin he plays viola, guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion) and the New York freelance world is your oyster.
In true punk style, Pink Floyd's improvised psychedelic jams arose as much from a reluctance to master the instruments as from the acid ingested by its leader.
It was a good learning and confidence-building experience for Ms. Leon, who had to master new instruments whenever a band member quit -- which was often.
It was only after discovering Elliott Smith – and realising that he could master multiple instruments, including guitar, piano, drums and clarinet – that he became the bearer of dark days, dying suns and Bad News.
Why has no-one ever matched the perfection of the Italian master's instruments?
