FAQ
What is TUBUP?
The Utterly Butterly Ukulele Project (TUBUP) provides music and junk instrument making workshops which will amaze and amuse you, and help you learn a lot while having fun! Each participant makes their own TUB-Uke, learns to play a few songs, and takes part in a TUB-Uke performance.
What’s a TUB-Uke?
The TUB-Uke is made from an Utterly Butterly tub, a piece of wood, and fishing line for strings. It’s fully functional and tunable and is played the same as any conventional ukulele.
Who are the TUBUP team?
Steve “Nutter” Nutter – a musician and composer and has been working in the field of community arts for over 20 years. www.slyarts.co.uk
Nick “Prof” Penny – a musician, inventor and instrument maker who has visited over 2,000 schools with his junk instrument making workshops. www.nickpenny.com
How did TUBUP start?
Steve contacted Nick in 2009 with the idea of creating a ukulele-based community arts project in Corby. Nick came up with the Tub-uke design and after hundreds of workshops and performances the project is now a well-oiled machine.
How many Tub-Ukes can be made at a TUBUP workshop?
In schools between 60-90 in a day, festivals up to 150. It depends on the way things are organised and the age of the participants.
Where have they been made?
In primary and secondary school music workshops (ukuleles are VERY cool with teenagers at the moment) and at festivals and community workshops across England, Scotland and Wales. They’ve been made at corporate training days and conferences too.
Did you eat all the Utterly Butterly that was in the tubs?
No, Utterly Butterly’s parent company Dairy Crest provides us with their unused reject tubs, and has helped us subsidise our workshops with sponsorship from their Community Social Responsibility budget.
Do the Tub-Ukes sound good and how can I tune them when I get home?
Tub-Ukes sound remarkably good and we’ll teach you to play them and tune them for you. There’s a tuner on the resource page you can use when you get home.
Do you have to be bonkers to think up the idea of TUBUP?
No, but it helps!