Scarboro Music paddleboards through the pandemic with ukulele lessons on the lake

Erin Horrocks-Pope Tuesday, August 18, 2020

A group of students from Scarboro Music learns to play ukuleles while floating around the lake on Thursday, August 13.

When Covid-19 slowed the world down, many people took their extra time to try new things that they probably wouldn’t have ever gotten into in the “before-time”.

While some tried their hands at baking or knitting, Josh Dielemen, the sales and marketing manager at Scarboro Music, decided that he would embrace the chance to try stand-up-paddle-boarding.

As Dielemen was working hard to shift Scarboro Music’s sales and lessons to an online model when the pandemic led to store closures, he chatted with customers and students about his summer goal to start SUP boarding.

Music sheets and a waterproof ukulele on a picnic table in Kew Gardens, Tuesday August 11.

“I mentioned to a few people that we could take some ukuleles out and play,” Dielemen said. “This was all jokingly of course until one evening during our live stream jam session I mentioned it live. Everyone had a good laugh and we went on with the jam.”

After the live-stream, Dielemen thought about this idea some more and a few days later he had created a flyer and sent it out over Scarboro Music’s social media and in the newsletter.

Dielemen now takes two groups out on the lake every week, playing tunes and enjoying the water.

Josh Dielemen plays his ukulele in a post-paddle-board jam session in Kew Gardens on Tuesday, August 11.

Scarboro Music’s SUPs and Ukes outings ended up being a great activity for this strange and unexpected summer.

Paddleboarding and park ukulele lessons turned out to be a great and safe way to learn two new activities, allowing students to follow physical distancing guidelines while enjoying their new summer pastime.

It was a great way to safely be outdoors with some good people learning 2 new activities in a safe way and enjoy the summer (well what was left of it).

“Everyone was looking for something to do,” Dielemen said. “Something we could all connect with and music does just that! Playing music on the water while floating away from each other was a very random idea with not a lot of thought put into it, but we are having an amazing time.”

A group of students enjoys a jam session in the park after their lesson on the water on Thursday, August 13.

While some bring their own, most of Dielemen's students rent their boards from WSUP Toronto, a SUP rental company set up next to the Kew Gardens tennis courts at the bottom of Waverley Road.

Dielemen plans to continue the lessons next summer, with added sessions and varied options, like a Ukulele Bootcamp.

"Possibilities are endless," Dielemen said. "We will have some great options for all ages to be learning music on the water and learn how to truly enjoy stand up paddling boarding.  It's all about finding peace in music and nature together with good people around you.... or floating away from you!"

Students play their ukuleles against the sunset while floating in the waters of Kew Beach on Thursday, August 13.