Ukuleles in the Classroom

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Bringing Ukuleles Into the Classroom
Liz Soules is the music teacher for Flynn Elementary School here in Eau Claire. She is working to enrich the music education of her students by bringing ukuleles into the classroom.

Why the ukulele?
Currently, students learn only the recorder in school. By adding ukulele to the curriculum, Ms. Soules can teach her students harmony as well melody and students can experience the fun of playing together as an ensemble. The ukulele has enjoyed a recent revival in American culture and since it is easy to play and well suited to social music making, it is likely that students will continue to make music with it outside of school. Ukulele technique can be easily transferred to other common instruments like guitars, banjos, and mandolins. Learning the ukulele opens the doors to a lifetime of music making.

Why now?
Ms. Soules has already started working with her 4th graders on ukulele, and the results have been great.  Here is a video of her students on their first day with ukulele in the classroom.  As you can see, in a short time they have already learned to rhythmically strum a chord and sing along. You can also see that each student has a limited time with the instrument in their hands. Ms. Soules doesn’t have enough instruments for each student to play one at the same time, so she has worked out a complex relay system so that each student has time to play. More instruments are needed so that each student can have one during music class. In the future, the school might even have enough instruments that students could borrow one to take home for practicing!

Ukuleles offer great potential for music education, especially in Eau Claire. Roosevelet Elementary has already established a strong ukulele program and other schools are exploring it as a possibility. Our town is already home to a well-established ukulele club that students might join and the Eau Claire Music School has held a series of popular ukulele classes for children and adults. We also have a world-class music scene in which students can grow and learn.

What should we do?
Ms. Soules is in need of 15 instruments so that each student can use an instrument during music class. The Eau Claire Music School  has partnered with Morgan Music , a long-time supporter of ukulele in our community and home to the largest variety of ukuleles for sale in the region. They are offering to donate two ukuleles and gig bags to the effort PLUS selling us the remaining instruments and bags at HALF PRICE! The Eau Claire Music School will be contributing two more instruments, which means we only need to purchase 11 ukuleles.


The instruments aren't flimsy plastic models that quickly fail. We'll be purchasing the Kala KA-S model, which provides the best value for the money in a starter ukulele. (These are the same instruments recommended by the Eau Claire Music School and used in their ukulele camps.)

The Ukulele Klub of Eau Claire , founded by local luthier Gordy Bischoff , has also offered to donate the money earned by their next concert to the cause. (Learn more about the origin of this amazing local ensemble .)

With your donation, we will be able to supply the students of Flynn with quality instruments that will provide years of learning and music making!

UPDATE 7/21: We've had a great response already! We wanted to let everyone know that any donations that exceed our original goal will be used to buy additional instruments so that students can borrow instruments to practice at home. Thanks!

UPDATE 7/22: Due to your amazing support, we quickly reached our first goal! As promised, we are now aiming to purchase additional instruments so that students have the opportunity to borrow instruments for home practice. Students are naturally excited to learn the ukulele and giving them the chance to continue learning outside of school will amplify the positive effect of their music education.