Music: The Professional Uke

New York City’s American Federation of Musicians’ Local 802 had long been un decided about the ukulele. The question: Is it 1) a non-professional musical toy or 2) a professional musical instrument? Union banjo and guitar players, who have been complaining of losing jobs to non-union “uke” players, plunked for No. 2. Last week, after pondering the complaints and listening to a demonstration uke performance of Liszt’s Liebestraum which struck them as professionally impressive, the executive board of Local 802 made its decision. Henceforth, all practitioners of the uke in 802’s jurisdiction who appear commercially on television, radio or other programs will have to hold union cards.