The ukulele, with its cheerful tones and compact design, is a fun and popular instrument. Its soft nylon string and small size make it easy for children to play. Originally from Hawaii and inspired by Portuguese stringed instruments, the ukulele’s melodic sound has made it popular in many genres of music, including folk, pop, jazz, and rock.
Ukulele Lessons for Kids
The ukulele is a small yet mighty instrument to start your child’s musical journey. Kids thoroughly enjoy singing popular songs as they learn how to strum simple chords. They can start learning at the age of 5. Most kids take a half-hour lesson on the same day and at the same time each week. As they progress, the teacher might recommend longer lesson lengths.
Ukulele Lessons for Adults
We also offer ukulele lessons to adults with flexible lesson packages to accommodate busy schedules. We recommend weekly or bi-weekly 45-minute lessons for adults to maximize the benefits of each session. You can start with a trial lesson package, allowing you to try lessons with different teachers before committing to regular term lessons.
Our Ukulele Studios
All our studios are equipped with amps and cables – bring your instrument, only!
Our Ukulele Teachers
OTOB has several ukulele teachers you can choose from. We strive to find one that aligns with your personality, musical style, and personal goals. Most guitar teachers also teach the ukulele. This is a good option if you want to transition to guitar and continue with the same teacher. Additionally, there are two primary methods for tuning a ukulele. If you have learned one method, let us know. We can link you with a teacher who uses the same method.
All our teachers help you learn the basics and proper technique of playing the ukulele. We also teach note reading, basic rhythm and theory skills when needed.
Ukulele Lesson Books
Your teacher will recommend music books once they assess your learning level during the first lesson or two. You may purchase the books from our online music bookstore, and we will have them ready for pickup at your next lesson. Your teacher can help you explore different musical styles (pop music, reading chord symbols, improvisation, composition, etc.) with corresponding learning material as you advance through the levels of playing ukulele.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Ukulele?
That all depends on you! If you put in the time to practice at home, you will be surprised at how much you can learn, and your love of music will grow with your advancing skills. Our music teachers work at the students’ pace to keep them engaged and enthusiastic.
Developing a routine to review what you learn during your ukulele lessons will help you progress steadily through the levels. Here’s a fun fact about practice: According to forward-thinking Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell, it takes 10,000 hours to become a world expert on anything! Playing music is about training your mind and establishing muscle memory; daily practice is the key to becoming proficient. Making time daily to revise what you learn in school will help knock down those 10,000 hours quickly to become a world-class ukulele player!
Renting or Owning a Ukulele
You can borrow a ukulele from us if you do not have one for the first few lessons. However, purchasing or renting a ukulele is essential so you can take it home to practice. We recommend Long and McQuade or Remenyi for instrument purchases and rentals.
Performances & Recitals
Performing is an essential element of musical learning, and our students have many opportunities to perform at our Spring and Winter recitals, community events, and our “Music and Munchies” mini recitals. These opportunities help keep students motivated and build their confidence. Ukulele students can also join our rock bands, which gives them a chance to make new friends and play in a group setting.
If you have any questions that we haven’t answered above, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Us.