Confessions of a Ukulele Convert: Why I Fell in Love with the Tiny but Mighty Uke

How the Ukulele Stole My Heart (And Can Steal Yours Too)

By Stacie Levy Norris, Music Teacher & Ukulele Enthusiast

When people ask me how many ukuleles I have in my apartment, I proudly say, “Four... for now.” 😄 There’s just something about this little instrument that I absolutely love. But funny enough, I didn’t start out as a ukulele superfan—or even a player.

In fact, before I became a Music Together® teacher, I had never touched a ukulele in my life. To me, it was just another string instrument—probably too hard to learn and definitely not something I imagined picking up. I figured it would require hours of practice, sore fingers, and more patience than I had to spare. That all changed with a single phone call. At the time, I was teaching classes under another director (long before I became a licensed director myself), and she suggested I learn an instrument to use in my classes. She promised the families would love it—and even claimed it would be easy to learn.

I scoffed. I was a singer! I already played a little piano—why would I need to pick up another instrument?

But the seed was planted.

Enter: The Wall of Ukuleles 🌈

One day, while browsing for piano music at Sam Ash in Midtown Manhattan, I saw it: The Wall. If you’ve ever been to that store, you know exactly what I mean. Floor-to-ceiling ukuleles in every color and style you can imagine.

As I stood there, one ukulele caught my eye—a small, simple red soprano. It wasn’t flashy or fancy like the others, but it was red... and I love red. (Red shoes, red lipstick, red anything—I’m in.)

I cautiously picked it up and strummed a chord. The sound surprised me—it was a little jarring—but there was something about it that I liked. I liked how it felt in my hands, how the strings plucked, and most of all, how happy it made me. That moment? I was hooked.

A Joyful Journey 🎶

Since that day, the ukulele has become part of my musical identity. I’ve learned chords, built up a repertoire of songs, and played it at children’s birthday parties, in every single Music Together® class I teach, and even during a concert at my alma mater—with a baritone ukulele, no less!

What makes the ukulele so amazing? Let me count the ways:

• It’s accessible. You can learn your first chord in 10 seconds. Three chords in a week. A full song in a month (with some solid practice).

• It’s lightweight and compact. Easier to handle than a guitar and perfect for small hands—or small apartments!

• It’s versatile. You can plug it into an amp, play solo or in a group, or just strum by yourself on the couch.

• It’s joyful. There’s something about its bright sound and playful nature that brings instant smiles.

Anyone Can Learn

Whether you want to teach yourself with online tutorials, join a ukulele learning circle (in person or on Zoom), or take private lessons, there’s no wrong way to start. All it takes is a little patience, a bit of curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

And that’s really the magic of the ukulele—it brings joy to the player and to the people around them. In a world that sometimes feels too serious, this tiny instrument is a reminder that music can be simple, fun, and deeply connecting.

So if you’ve ever thought, Maybe I could learn to play something..., let me say: try the ukulele. You just might fall in love, too.

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🎵 Thinking about learning the ukulele yourself?🎶 Have a little one who’s showing interest?

Now’s the perfect time to start.Sign up for ukulele lessons today and let the music (and the fun) begin! Sign up here.