I often talk to parents who’d like to start their 6 or 7 year old on ukulele. While I would never tell them not to do it; I’ve found that age of student needs patient, private instruction, rather than the group instruction I usually offer students.

Having taught lots and lots of kids … 7 is really just so very young. I know media is full of prodigy stories and tales of kids starting violin at 4, but my personal experience with kids in my ukulele youth choirs is that 8 or 9 is just more doable for most kids (95% or more). There is a certain level of coordination the ukulele requires (in many ways, violin is easier to start on). Kids need to understand and remember string numbers, fret numbers and finger numbers, have enough finger strength with those tiny hands to fret, as well as the coordination to strum with the other hand at the same time (even a simple thumb strum can be difficult for young kids). On top of that: vocals (because most parents are thinking of singing AND playing the ukulele when they envision their child playing ukulele).

If you’re going to start young, my suggestion is to do 1-chord songs. There aren’t a lot, but Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a good one for the C chord (also Rain, Rain, Go Away). By all means, let the child make up their own songs to go with a chord; a great move for this stage. Move on to two chord songs when he/she feels really comfortable and is ready to move on. There are lots of two chord songs (I’ve published three books of them).

An alternate route is to treat the ukulele purely instrumentally and teach how to pluck simple melodies (Rain Rain Go Away and Ring Around the Rosies can actually be played on the open strings). Some might think this would be more difficult, but it is actually easier; the student is only ever playing one note at a time and you don’t have to juggle what two hands are doing with vocals, unless you want to sing along with the melody you’re playing (in this case it is easier to do because the voice supports the melody you’re playing).

I’m currently teaching an 8-year old boy with a little diagnosed ADHD … so it is very, very slow going. I keep having to remind myself to be patient, and I’ve been teaching kids ukulele for a decade.

I personally think 9 is the sweet spot, but if you’re intent on starting younger, I think the above tips will help (paired with a lot of patience and love).

Post filed under All UkulelePlay! Blog Posts.