Article repost from UH News – January 25, 2024.
Photo credit: Chryshanne Thomas, 2nd year MELE student
The Honolulu Community College’s Music & Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) program got a treat from ukulele maestro Jake Shimabukuro and his bassist Jackson Waldhoff, a Honolulu CC alumnus, with an exclusive performance and Q&A session on January 19.
“Hearing and meeting Jake and Jackson was one-of-a-kind,” said Noah Chee, second year MELE student. “Hearing Jackson’s story of how he worked for Jake while he was a student goes to show how important making connections and taking opportunities are in the industry.”
Shimabukuro and Waldhoff shared their expertise and insights with aspiring musicians including performance nerves, and when to know when a song is finished.
“They told us their stories about how they came to be and how they made connections with each other while they were here,” said Landon Guzman, MELE Audio Engineering student. “This only serves to highlight the value of networking in the music business, which is an important part of the MELE Program—uniting the passionate together and sprouting new opportunities,”
Embracing kindness as a core principle was emphasized. Shimabukuro and Waldhoff said it enriches personal relationships, and opens doors to a multitude of connections and opportunities, creating a pathway to success built on positive and genuine interactions.
“They were so kind and it was awesome to be able to see them perform,” said Chryshanne Thomas, a MELE Music Business student. “I love that they stressed how important it is to be a good person working in the industry because it shows that doing something so simple like just being kind to people can open doors for you.”
Learn more about the MELE program at Honolulu CC.
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