by Katie Lamborn

When someone says ukulele the first thing that comes into your mind is George Formby and his clean windows isn’t it?!

Well, wipe that from your mind – the ukulele is cool, it’s kitsch and it’s taking over from the recorder in the classroom!

Now, when I first heard this news I was full of jealousy. I was stuck with the recorder for three long years at primary school… it’s just not fair. The recorder was hard – well it was hard for someone who is as musically inept as I am.

But now, recorders are being cast aside and more and more primary schools are teaching the ukulele to whole classes! In fact 1500 children are learning in Kent, that’s a 50 per cent increase on the year.

With a deep love for the ukulele (I can’t really play but admire the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain from afar) I went along to St John C of E Primary School in Maidstone to find out what it was all about.

I did not expect to be greeted with such utter enthusiasm for the instrument. With ukuleles every colour of the rainbow year 3 were sitting in their music room with massive smiles on their faces listening to Kent Music teacher Philip Bennett.

Before I know it, they are playing in unison and singing at the top of their voices “Jingle Bells”.

Spurred on by this early Christmas festivity I decide to join in and try to learn once and for all how to properly play the uke.

Turns out I am rubbish. I asked the class of 16 who thought they were better than me. Every single child put their hand up – it’s fair enough I did at one point drop the ukulele.

But with the warmth only a primary school teacher can, their teacher Ann Lee managed to praise my minimal ability and reminded me that the 8 year old children had been learning a lot longer then I had. This made me feel better.

She also told me that the reason more classes are able to enjoy the ukulele is because of the government’s wider opportunities scheme. Schools are given a year’s free tuition and instrument hire for the whole class.

The ukulele really is fantastic instrument for children. As Ann Lee puts it, it’s not so loud that Grannie and Grandad get disturbed if they are trying to have a nap upstairs but as far as I’m concerned it’s loud enough to put a smile on every body’s face!

For more information on ukuleles, contact the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain