Members of the Oconomowoc Ukulele Club jam on a Monday night.

If Jesus played a musical instrument, would it be a ukulele?

That’s a legitimate spiritual ponder for Eric Raskopf, an ordained Anglican vicar. The 6-foot-3-inch Raskopf figures that The Man would probably groove on such an instrument, especially since Christ was an upbeat social sort wanting his message heard every way possible.

Raskopf, 47, considers the above postulation as a fun theory; since for the past decade he’s also been an avid practitioner of that fabled Hawaiian stringed instrument. Initially a confirmed guitar player, Raskopf purchased a $20 ukulele for his son to encourage the youngster’s musical talents. But when his offspring didn’t play it much, dad stepped in and hasn’t stopped since. Raskopf taught himself to play via the Web and long hours of practice, now owning five of these "jumping fleas." That’s the native Hawaiian term for the instrument brought to the islands by Portuguese sailors generations ago.

Subsequently, for 90 minutes or so, beginning around 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, Raskopf jams with like-minded music fans at Books & Company in Oconomowoc. About six years ago store co-owner Lisa Baudoin, also a "uke" aficionado, offered her place in which to play, after a music store where the gang used to gather shuttered its doors.

The 20 or so members of the Oconomowoc

Ukulele Club love casually assembling at her comfy bookshop/cultural center/community hub to strum, hum, sing and simply get on down. Of all ages, these retirees, working moms, business people, civil servants and students also perform regularly at senior centers and area festivals, even presenting a St. Patrick’s Day program. (Clad in green, of course.)

"Our goal for any new people who drop by is to have them playing a two-chord song by the time they leave," Raskopf says.

Wearing another hat by day, Raskopf is a criminal defense attorney with the Schober, Schober & Mitchell law firm in Oconomowoc. He does not wear his clerical collar in the courtroom, but could be considered the unofficial "chaplain" of the Waukesha County Bar Association. Nor does he wear a Hawaiian shirt or carry a ukulele when appearing before the bench.

But if he did, would that make him the organization’s unofficial "court" musician? Ah, another pondering to pluck.

Get Your Uke On

Talk about getting into the groove: It will be all things ukulele at the annual Ukulele Festival on Oct. 20 at the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove.

Ukulele masters will lead a variety of workshops, so you can learn how to finger pick and strum with the best. Or, pick up a new uke in the vendor area.

This all-day event culminates with a concert and post-Ukulele Festival party at the Silver Spur, 13275 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove. For more information, visit http://mufest.com.