Ukulele

I am currently offering Beginner to Intermediate Ukulele lessons to students of all ages. The specifics of what I work on with students varies depending on students’ goals, but almost all students can expect to spend some time working on a number of fundamentals. Chords, chord switching, strumming, basic rhythmic competency, ear training, right and left-hand techniques, and reading music are almost always touched on in lessons. That being said, you will learn these skills in the context of the music you are excited about learning! Whether you love Jake Shimabakuro or Eddie Vedder, we’ll try to find a way to work on music you like while still learning the important music fundamentals!

Ukulele for younger learners (age 10 and under)

While ukulele is fun for all ages, I think it is especially a great fit for younger kids just beginning to get into music. First, the size of the instrument works for almost any kid, unlike the guitar which often feels difficult to hold for children of this age. Second, it's easier on the fingers! Guitar and Bass Guitar both typically have steel strings, which produce a great sound, but can often be uncomfortable or even a little painful for the player before calluses develop. While this is true for all ages of beginners, it can be especially troublesome for younger players. That is why Ukulele’s nylon strings can often make for an easier introduction to playing a stringed instrument for a younger student. Lastly, with only four strings Ukulele often does not require as much practice upfront as the guitar does. The first chord most students learn on the Ukulele only requires one finger! For all these reasons, Ukulele can be a wonderful tool to teach children the fundamentals of music.

Ukulele for older learners (65 and up)

As a music teacher, I often talk to people who have wanted to learn an instrument their whole lives but just never found the time. While it is true that starting early can make musical skills easier to develop, I always tell these people that it is never too late to start! For adult students that are new to music or haven’t played an instrument in a long time the Ukulele can be a great starting point for many of the same reasons it works well for younger kids. I have worked with many adult first time musicians and senior students and have found that with some practice they can absolutely learn to play this instrument! Across the country there are adult Ukulele groups started with the sole purpose of getting people of all different ages and skill levels together to sing and play the “Uke”. it’s pretty amazing!

Ukulele to Guitar?

Often students and parents will ask me if they should start playing Ukulele and then switch to Guitar once they have “the basics” down. My answer is typically it depends on your reasoning. While Guitar and Ukulele do share some similarities, both are at the end of the day different instruments and require different skills from the player. Most of the time the best way to get ahead on an instrument is to start with that instrument right off the bat. That being said, if a student tries guitar and is initially struggling with holding the instrument, finger pain, or getting the instrument to sound properly I will often suggest trying Ukulele first. The Ukulele has a very similar tuning to the top 4 strings of the guitar, so although they will have different chord names, a lot of the chord shapes learned on ukulele will often also apply to guitar! This and the similar left hand techniques often make the transition from Ukulele to Guitar a fairly smooth one.

Evan’s experience playing the Ukulele:

In recent years, the Ukulele has become a very popular instrument among a huge demographic of people. Whether you're an elementary schooler exploring music for the first time, an adult who has always wanted to play an instrument but hasn’t found the time, or an indie songwriter looking for a new chordal sound to accompany your voice, it seems the ukulele holds a special appeal. I first started playing Ukulele in 2015 and have had a lot of fun discovering the nuances of the instrument. Since then, I have taught dozens of ukulele students from all kinds of backgrounds. I’ve also used the ukulele to play on the soundtrack for an animated short, among other little professional projects. it's been a lot of fun!