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Video: Ukeleles are the new recorders for school children

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 ukeleles, contact the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain