By Julia St. John
Michael Haynesworth is a sophomore at T.C. Williams. He plays the ukulele as he walks around the halls and brings his instrument to school every single day. In addition, he plays the ukulele at least an hour a day when he gets home. Haynesworth chose the ukulele because, “When I was a kid, I always wanted to branch out differently and the ukulele always relaxed me. I just enjoyed it a lot; I like the sound of it and how it tunes. It is just easier than guitar.” Specifically, he plays it in the hall because, “Personally I like to think that it makes me happy and it makes certain other people happy so that adds to my happiness a little bit.”
Haynesworth started playing the ukulele over the summer. Some other instruments he plays include the piano, the guitar, the drums, and the triangle. Some of the songs he can play are “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by IZ, “Rainbow Connection” by Kenneth Ascher, Paul Williams “Kermit the Frog”, and “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” by Elvis Presley. He also writes his own chord progressions. His favorite song to play is an original chord progression that he wrote for a friend. He said he does not really care about the attention this is drawing to him. Something that he wants everyone to know is that he wants to get to know people. “Don’t just call me the ukulele guy,” he says.