Teachers and parents often have to consider how to teach the ukulele to kids. Knowing how to play won’t be enough. They’ll need to deal with motivation, know the benefits of music learning, and how to structure their teaching.

Common questions and issues a teacher or parent instructing a child might face:

• You might hear from kids that they want to learn ukulele.
• As a teacher, you need to justify how music benefits students to your school administrator.
• You are considering how to form an after-school club to bring more students into the music program.
• As a parent, you see summer around the corner and you want stay-at-home kids to learn music as a hobby.
• Or maybe, all you want to do is to teach concepts of music theory so that students can create music of their own.

If you’re faced with any of these issues, let’s discuss why and how to teach the ukulele. Whether you follow an online YouTube channel like our very own Ukulele Sisters or others like Bernadette Teaches Music, a little advice that goes beyond learning might help.

If you’re looking to purchase a ukulele, check our recommended ukuleles and accessories here.

Why Learn or Teach Ukulele?

There are many reasons this little instrument from Hawaii is an excellent choice for schools, clubs, and private studios.

• It is easy to learn. You can use it to teach musical concepts such as melody, harmony, rhythm, playing by ear, and music reading. The ukulele’s nylon strings are soft and easy on a student’s fingers and there are only 4 strings (vs. 6 on the guitar). Students can learn the basics of three chords in a few sessions and move on to improvisation and composition in a few weeks.
• The ukulele is affordable. A decent kid’s ukulele can be had for under $100. This is especially true if you are unsure whether a child will take to music and this instrument.
• The ukulele builds community. There is something magical about having 45 students strumming a C chord and singing a folk song all together. The ukulele’s lyrical sounds will calm a class of rowdy students quickly.
• Students love the ukulele. More and more the ukulele is appearing in today’s music. I’m Yours, Lava, and Over the Rainbow are all recent hits featuring the ukulele that today’s students know. These songs all use a few chords and simple strumming patterns. So students can learn to play them in your class!

Benefits of Teaching Kids the Ukulele

While all musical instruments offer cognitive benefits, the ukulele stands out for its accessibility and ease of learning. It also provides immediate sense of achievement to young learners. Its smaller size, simpler chord structures, and the ability to play recognizable tunes quickly make it an excellent choice for children looking to develop their cognitive abilities through music.

Learning to play the ukulele can offer numerous benefits for a homeschooled child, enhancing their education and personal development in several key areas:

Cognitive Development:

• Memory Enhancement: Memorizing chords and songs can significantly improve a child’s memory capacity and retention skills, which can be beneficial in academic pursuits.
• Improved Concentration: Playing a song from start to finish requires sustained attention, helping children develop better concentration skills that can transfer to other areas of life.

Emotional and Psychological Benefits:

• Emotional Expression: Music provides an alternative language for children to express their feelings, which can be particularly valuable for those who might struggle with verbal articulation.
• Stress Relief: Engaging in music-making can be therapeutic, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm.

Social Skills and Teamwork:

• Collaboration: Even if homeschooled, children can participate in group lessons or play in ensembles, learning the importance of teamwork, listening to others, and synchronizing their playing.
• Building Friendships: Group lessons or ukulele clubs provide opportunities for children to make new friends and share a common interest, enhancing their social networks.

Educational Benefits:

• Musicianship: Learning the ukulele involves tuning, strumming, rhythm, accompaniment, melody, singing, hand coordination, and sight-reading, all of which contribute to a well-rounded musical education [PDF].
• Mathematics: Understanding how string length affects pitch can introduce children to basic principles of physics and mathematics.
• History and Culture: Exploring the history and cultural significance of the ukulele can enrich a child’s understanding of different cultures and historical contexts.

Justification for Teaching Kids the Ukulele

Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem:

• Achievement: Successfully learning and performing songs can significantly boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem, fostering a positive self-image.

Physical Coordination:

• Fine Motor Skills: The precise finger movements required to play the ukulele help develop fine motor skills, which are beneficial for tasks requiring hand-eye coordination.
• Hand-Eye Coordination: Reading music and translating it into physical actions on the ukulele improves coordination between visual input and physical actions.

Accessibility and Ease of Learning:

• Manageable Size: The ukulele’s small size makes it accessible for children to hold and play, which is particularly beneficial for younger learners.
• Gentle on Fingers: Nylon strings are easier on the fingers, reducing discomfort for beginners.
• Simple Chord Structures: The ukulele’s chord structures are straightforward. This allows children to quickly grasp the fundamentals of music theory and start playing recognizable tunes

How to Start Teaching Ukulele

So, how do you add the ukulele to your teaching arsenal?

First, learn ukulele yourself. I found it best to start with simple one-chord songs and strumming patterns. As a violinist, it was easy for me to pick out melodies right away. But I have found that for a person without a stringed instrument background, strumming and singing is more beneficial as an initial experience.

I start my classes with one-chord songs (rounds) and have students strum with a steady beat. I teach them all down strums first and then add the up strums as quickly as possible. The coordination of singing pitch and rhythm over a steady beat improves student musicianship quickly.

After learning a few chord shapes and one-chord songs, I move on to two-chord songs with simple strumming patterns like the Down-Up-Down-Up pattern and the Down-Down-Up pattern.

Tools for the Classroom

Over my years of teaching ukulele, I’ve developed various tools to help make it easier for me to manage a class.

I created video lessons for the songs I teach which show the lyrics and the chord shapes on the screen. I stream them into the classroom so that the class can play along with the video while I roam the room and provide individual help to students who need it.

So, how do you get from zero to hero in the shortest time possible? Our Ukulele for Kids Book is here to make that happen. The book provides a unique pedagogy for beginners and you will be up and running from the first page! The book comes with over 30 songs, fun activity pages to keep kids motivated, and access to videos.

Unlike most books for teaching children to play the ukulele, Ukulele for Kids Book, addresses a key aspect — motivation! I’ve found that once a child is motivated they are curious. They find fun in learning. They tap into their natural love for discovery. It is then that learning becomes easier.

Focus on Major Chords

The C major chord, F chord, and Am (A Minor) chord are fundamental building blocks for any ukulele player, especially beginners. These chords are not only easy to learn but also form the basis for many songs. Once these chords are mastered, a child will be emboldened to try more complex chords.

If you sense frustration, go back to these easy-to-play chords to reinforce the basics. Some songs that kids love, that use just the C, F, and Am chords are:

• Row, Row, Row, Your Boat (Traditional)
• Clementine (Traditional)
• Counting Stars (OneRepublic)

C Major Chord

The C major chord is a great starting point for new players. It requires just one finger, typically the ring finger, placed on the third fret of the first string. This simplicity makes it an excellent introduction to chord playing. It also allows students to focus on their strumming hand and rhythm. The C major chord is often the “home base” for many songs.

F Chord

The F chord is another essential chord that complements the C major chord well. To play the F chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the second string. Then place your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string. This chord requires a bit more coordination but is still accessible for beginners. The F chord’s bright and cheerful sound pairs beautifully with the C major chord.

Am Chord

The A minor (Am) chord is an easy one-finger chord that is perfect for beginners. To play the A minor chord, place your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string. The A minor chord’s melancholic tone offers a contrast to the brighter sounds of the C major and F chords, allowing students to explore the emotional range of music. By practicing the A minor chord, students can quickly add variety to their playing and start experimenting with different chord progressions. As they become more comfortable with the A minor chord, they can begin to incorporate it into songs.

Combining C Major and F Chord

Combining the C major chord with the F chord is such a great way to introduce students to chord changes. Practicing the transition between these two chords helps develop finger dexterity and muscle memory. These are more crucial skills for playing more complex chord progressions in the future.

Practice Tips

Encourage students to practice these chords regularly and to experiment with different strumming patterns. Using a metronome can help maintain a steady rhythm. Moreover, watching videos of experienced players, like Bernadette teaches music, can provide additional guidance and inspiration. By mastering the C major and F chord, students will build a strong foundation for their ukulele journey, enabling them to tackle new chords and more advanced songs with confidence.

Easy Strumming Patterns

Strumming patterns are an essential aspect of playing the ukulele and can significantly enhance the sound and rhythm of the music. For beginners, starting with easy strumming patterns is such a great way to build confidence and develop a solid foundation for more complex techniques later on. When teaching strumming on the ukulele, start by having students practice on the open strings to develop a relaxed motion with their strumming hand. Next, introduce basic chords, like C and Am, ensuring they use proper finger placement, especially their ring finger for chords like C. As they transition between different chords, emphasize how down and up strums should stay consistent. When introducing G chords, remind them to keep their wrist loose to maintain fluidity. To help with rhythm, show them how vertical lines in strumming patterns represent downstrokes and upstrokes, making it easier to follow along with common strumming patterns.

Basic Down Strum

The basic down strum is the most straightforward pattern and involves strumming down across all four strings using your strumming hand. It’s perfect for simple songs and helps beginners get accustomed to the motion of strumming. This pattern allows students to focus on their left-hand chord shapes while maintaining a steady rhythm.

Down-Up Strum

Once comfortable with the basic down strum, students can progress to the down-up strum. This pattern involves alternating between downward and upward strums, creating a more dynamic rhythm. It’s an excellent way to introduce students to rhythm variations and improve their coordination between strumming and chord changes.

Island Strum

The Island Strum is a popular strumming pattern often used in Hawaiian music. It consists of a down, down-up, up, down-up sequence. This pattern adds a lively and upbeat feel to songs and is a fun way for students to explore different rhythms and styles. Admittedly, this requires a lot more coordination so save this for last or for a more skilled beginner.

Practice Tips

Encourage students to practice these patterns slowly at first, focusing on maintaining a consistent rhythm. Using a metronome can help students keep time and gradually increase their speed as they become more comfortable. Watching videos of experienced players, like Bernadette teaches music, can also provide valuable insights into proper technique and strumming hand positioning.

By mastering these easy strumming patterns, students will be well-prepared to tackle more complex songs and strumming techniques in the future.

Next Steps

• Blues: After teaching 1 and 2 chord songs, I teach the 12-bar blues as an initial experience with three chords (I, IV, V7) material. At this point, I also add the blues scale and improvisational experiences.
• Three-Chord Songs: Then I move to three-chord songs and more complicated strumming patterns.
• Reading Melodies: From there, I move to reading melodies making sure that my students learn to read tablature along with standard music notation.
• Four- and Five-Chord Songs: Finally, I move my classes into four- and five-chord songs and more complicated strumming patterns.

I also use video to motivate my class. For instance, I film a class performing the songs they know and then post it on a private YouTube channel for parent viewing. Students are motivated to work hard and play well knowing they will be on camera, and parents love seeing what their children are learning in music class.

For parents instructing kids at home, you can inspire kids by watching YouTube videos of famous ukulele players especially kids like Grace Van derWaal and Claire Crosby.