Host Chris Russell has the opportunity to visit with Aaron and Nicole Keim from The Quiet American (their performing group) and Beansprout Musical Instruments (Their instrument company).
Aaron and Nicole were raised in Wisconsin, slowly landed in the world of folk music, and then professionally located in Colorado and Oregon as they established an instrument company, a performance group, and a publishing enterprise. Along the way, they also worked for/with Gordon and Char at Mya-Moe Ukulele, and introduced their son Henry to the world.
Post-pandemic, their main focus is Beansprout Musical Instruments, where you can purchase a hand-crafted instrument (literally built by hand) out of renewable North American tonewoods (or some reclaimed tonewoods) influenced by the designs of the past, yet with a modern twist. You can also buy many instructional books that were written by Aaron and Nicole, and then painstakingly created—by hand—by Nicole. Simply put, they are excellent instructional books created by self-identifying “folk musicians” who also have training and advanced degrees as music educators.
Aaron also recently received a grant from Mortise and Tenon magazine to study Kingdom-Era instruments (instruments built from 1879-1893; the first ukuleles), and he has written an article for the magazine and at the time of publishing of this podcast, has built three instruments in the style of the kingdom era instruments. Those instruments are impacting some aspects of his design including the use of some inlays and some uses of the early headstocks.
Aaron and Nicole were incredibly kind to share about of their journey on a Sunday afternoon, and the result is a wonderful podcast discussing the journey of a family that continues to provide so much for the ukulele community as builders, authors, teachers, and presenters.
(00:00) Introduction
(03:18) What was school music like for you?
(06:38) When did ukulele come into your life?
(08:17) James Hill vs. Denise Gagne (https://tinyurl.com/Uke-Vs-Recorder)
(10:06) Graduate school experiences (While in Colorado)
(13:00) Any guitar experience?
(14:43) When did the building start?
(23:22) Why do banjo ukuleles have ukulele strings?
(24:40) Do you have any of your early ukuleles around?
(26:13) What is your response when you see your early work?
(26:53) When does the collaboration with Mya-Moe begin?
(36:37) How did you transition out of Mya-Moe?
(41:10) When does the publishing begin?
(47:37) After learning chords, what is the next step for players?
(52:31) Where is Beansprout today?
(58:03) Why do you offer an “Alto” uke?
(59:57) Beansprout Artists
(01:02:27) Dave Matthews Band
(01:04:35) The Wayfinder Ukulele
(01:06:06) A quick discussion of tonewoods
(01:12:30) Vintage repairs & Kingdom Era Project
(01:28:08) Contact information
UkeStuff Podcast 