If you’re considering introducing your child to the world of music, you’re doing them a big favour. It can benefit them immensely, from fostering creativity to boosting their cognitive skills and self-confidence. The ukulele is becoming a more popular instrument in schools that had taught the recorder, or wooden whistle, as the foundational instrument. Here’s a list of reasons the charming ukulele is a fantastic beginner instrument. We’ll also help you pick the best option for your kid.
Why Should Kids Learn Ukulele?
The lightweight and compact ukulele is ideal for tiny hands. Kids can grip and play it easily, which promotes good finger placement and technique. Additionally, it offers a solid basis for understanding musical concepts like rhythm, melody, and chords. If your child chooses to pursue other musical paths later, they can use what they’ve learned on additional instruments.
With so many advantages, it’s no surprise that ukuleles are quickly taking over classrooms in Australia. Many teachers say the ukulele class is the highlight for them and their students. Here are five more reasons the ukulele is the perfect instrument for your child to start music.
Ukuleles Are Educational
Children can develop many abilities crucial for studying other subjects, developing character, and becoming more responsible—not to mention for making music! Here are some examples:
- Musicianship. While learning the ukulele, students will acquire various abilities such as tuning, sight-reading, hand coordination, melody, accompaniment, and singing.
- Mathematics. Students can observe how the length of the string decreases to produce a higher pitch. As an illustration, the open A string produces a note due to its 440 Hertz vibration. This identical string vibrates twice as strongly at a frequency of 880 hertz, an octave above the A note if you fret it exactly halfway up the fretboard.
- History. Students learn about the past through the instrument’s story, its construction, the creation of sound, and the events that took place at the time.
- Culture. Learning an instrument often includes learning about the history, origins, and culture of the instrument they are playing.
- Social Skills. Students help their classmates learn, practice cooperation by playing together, and express their creativity by writing original songs!
- Responsibility. Students acquire the skills necessary to care for their instruments, keep track of their practice time, and assess their development.
Ukuleles Are Easy to Learn
The ukulele is easier to grip than a guitar due to its smaller size. It has four strings while the guitar has six, yet it still uses the same fingerings. As opposed to integrating chord changes with increasingly intricate finger positions on a guitar, that makes learning how to play chords considerably simpler and frees the learner to concentrate on specific abilities like strumming.
For example, you only need to place one finger on a single string to play the major C chord on the ukulele. However, you need three fingers on different strings to play the same chord on a guitar. Moreover, compared to the steel strings of a guitar, the ukulele’s softer, all-nylon strings are far kinder on the tips of inexperienced fingers. Additionally, all of the acquired skills are transferrable. You can play guitar with the same methods if you can play the ukulele!
Ukuleles Are Versatile
Children can play the ukulele alone or in a group regardless of ability level or genre. It can also be used for songwriting and accompaniment while singing alone, or with other instruments.
Ukuleles Are Portable
Kids have so much fun playing the ukulele that they’ll want to take it everywhere, which is simple because ukuleles are so portable!
Ukuleles Are Fun, Forever!
Kids are excited to study such a versatile instrument that allows them to use music to express and explore who they are. Ukulele players can use their talents to enjoy playing music outside the classroom and throughout life because of the instrument’s versatility and resemblance to the guitar.
What Is the Best Ukulele for a Child Beginner?
There are a few factors to consider to pick the correct ukulele for your child, with size being the most important. A child’s comfort and success with learning the instrument depend greatly on selecting the proper size.
Types (Sizes) of Ukuleles
Four sizes are available for the Hawaiian instrument, a little musical device: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.
Soprano
The most common and smallest ukulele size is the soprano. Because of its reasonable price and manageable size, the soprano is the little guy in the bunch and a favourite with kids and beginners alike. It’s a terrific choice for children because it’s tiny enough to fit comfortably in their hands and is simple to grasp and play with. It can have 12 to 15 frets and is typically 54 cm long. Kids will adore the bright, upbeat sound that the soprano ukulele produces.
Concert
The next size up from the soprano ukulele is the concert. It’s slightly larger, with a length of 59 cm and 15 to 20 frets. It is a fantastic option for children who like a broader tone because it has a slightly louder and deeper (richer) sound than the Soprano.
Tenor
The tenor ukulele has 17–19 frets and is longer than the concert model, measuring 66 cm. It’s ideal for more experienced players since it has a resonant, richer sound than the concert and soprano. It might be too big for small children, though.
Baritone
The largest ukulele size is the baritone, which has 18 to 21 frets and measures 76 cm. Its rich, deep sound makes it a popular choice for professional musicians. It’s not the correct choice for children, as it’s too big and heavy to handle
