Biography
Susan Montgomery is an artist, author, and musician who lives with chronic pain. She has learned to rely on a variety of supports including her faith, family, and funny bone. She has a background in Art Education and although she cannot teach in a traditional sense anymore due to health conditions, she enjoys learning about hobbies, techniques, and new ways of seeing the world, and sharing that with others through her writing, art, and published books.
Her interest and eagerness in playing music started during the COVID-19 pandemic. She started by learning how to play the guitar through various online lessons. A few months later, she was playing the ukulele and piano. She was always apprehensive about learning music as an adult, but quickly realized how much fun it could be and couldn’t imagine her life without playing music going forward.
Susan published her first book, Ukulele Expressions: Illustrated Ukulele Fingerstyle Etudes for the Picking Hand in 2021. While going through carpal tunnel pain and eventual surgery, she wanted to continue playing the ukulele. She couldn’t find any music for only one hand, so she learned how to improvise and began composing instrumental pieces for only the picking hand. Combining these pieces with nature-themed paintings provided her with a rich playing experience. She wanted others with limited mobility, or who simply wanted to improve their picking hand skills to experience that as well.
She began learning about self-publishing and has now published even more books, with each one featuring illustrations or paintings she created.
Susan graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education and lives in Bowling Green, Ohio with her tuxedo cat, Tracey.
Social Media
Publicity
Ukulele Expressions – Ukulele Magazine No. 35 Winter 2021
Interviews
Susan Montgomery draws on creativity to help deal with chronic pain – BG Independent News
Podcasts
Stigma Busters – Wood County ADAMHS Board – Let’s Get Creative, Season Two – Episode Three
Published Articles
The Power of Writing and Sketching About Chronic Pain and Illness – The Mighty
How the Ukulele Brought Magic Into My Life With Chronic Illness – The Mighty
The Simple Strategy That Helps Me Manage My Medical Care – The Mighty
Keeping Calm With The Kalimba In A World of Chaos – The Mighty
How to Play the Cm7 Chord on Your Ukulele – Uke Like The Pros
How to Play the F7 Chord on Your Ukulele – Uke Like The Pros
How to Play the Em7 Chord on Your Ukulele – Uke Like The Pros
5 Ways to Use Your Ukulele To Ease Anxiety – Uke Like The Pros
Sidelined From Playing Ukulele Due to Hand Pain? – Uke Like The Pros
How to Play the D Chord on Your Ukulele – Uke Like The Pros
One Hand Strum Man, Karl Jackson – Uke Like the Pros
Can You Play Any Style of Music on the Ukulele? – Uke Like the Pros
Play Ukulele and Keep the Peace – Uke Like the Pros
Top 10 Easiest Ukulele Chords – Uke Like the Pros
Are Ukulele and Guitar the Same? – Uke Like the Pros
Munson Inspires New Ukulele Players – Uke Like the Pros
10 Basic Ukulele Chords for Beginners – Uke Like the Pros
Where to Start with Ukulele? – Uke Like the Pros
Lisa McCormick: Inspiring New Ukulele Players – Uke Like the Pros
Martin Konter Ukulele: A Fascinating Piece of History – Uke Like the Pros
Can Ukulele Strings Break? – Uke Like the Pros
Where to Buy Your Ukulele? – Uke Like the Pros
Which Ukulele Size is Best? – Uke Like the Pros
Ukulele Strings: How Many Does an Ukulele Have? – Uke Like the Pros
The Christmas Ukulele Fake Book – Uke Like the Pros
Ukulele Gifts for Kids – Uke Like the Pros
7 Best Christmas Songs to Play on Ukulele – Uke Like the Pros
Created by Susan 