Alfredo Canopin Sr

Alfredo Canopin, Sr. also known as Al Canopin – Updated: June 5, 2013
Ukulele Background:
Born January 5, 1935, Koloa, Kauai and raised on Oahu, Hawaii all my life. Started playing the ukulele since I was 9 yrs. old. At 15 yrs. old, won my first contest, have been placed 1st place in several other Ukulele/music talent contests. At the age of 22, took lessons from Hal Summers in Waikiki to learn reading music.

Joined the Hawaii Ukulele International Club in 1969 with affiliated members, Ohta San, Eddie Bush, Sam Kamaka, Roy Sakuma and others. Presently, I am a member of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii.

From 1970 thru 1987, with my wife Jovina, we performed in Waikiki nightclub and military circuits and with other groups, as lead Ukulele player.

Retired in 1991 after 37 years technician service with the Hawaii Air National Guard at Hickam Air Force Base and since then attended Leeward Community College majoring in music and playing the classical guitar and participated in concerts at the LCC auditorium each semester. Presently, I am still with LCC majoring in classical guitar, and yes, I am presently the oldest & longest student because of my love and interest in music and the professor always looks forward to seeing me there.

Since 1991, I have been teaching my style of ukulele playing in the form of private lessons, employing my own arrangements of songs in tablature format. Chords, meter and tempo are incorporated in sheet music with fingering illustrations of each introduced chord. After just one year of instruction, some of my students participated in various ukulele contests and won 1st, 2nd & 3rd places. Presently, one of my former students, Kalei Gamiao, an outstanding ukulele artist, has recorded several CD’s and is traveling through the Orient performing his established ukulele styling as an artist.

In 1998, I had the privilege of performing at the father and son’s reunion: “The Braguinha Meets the Ukulele Concert” in Madeira, Portugal at various venues including the 1998 World Expo in Lisbon, Portugal.

Presently, as a Christian, I play lead ukulele with my wife at the piano for the choir of St. Jude Catholic Church at Makakilo, Hawaii.