Ukulele with Alex W.

I am a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where I majored in international studies and minored in education. When I was 13, I decided I would learn to play the ukulele after visiting Hawaii. At the time, I had been playing the violin for several years to please my parents. However, I never enjoyed it much and it discouraged me from exploring more music. Learning to play the ukulele changed my outlook towards music. I soon found myself constantly practicing the ukulele without being asked to do so, while challenging myself to new songs that were often out of my comfort zone at first. Being able to play the ukulele gave me an outlet to express myself through music. It became a skill that I can show off to my friends and family. I use the ukulele as a prop in classrooms that volunteered in as well as with campers when I worked at a summer camp. Lastly, learning to play the ukulele encouraged me to always explore the things that I am interested in, and that I can learn anything that I put my mind to. Coming from a small town in North Carolina, my resources for learning the ukulele were limited. I found some helpful video resources online but often times, I craved more interaction. I needed someone to give me feedback and people to play different parts of a song with me. In high school, I introduced the instrument to a few friends around me and playing the ukulele together were some of our fondest memories from that period. I hope to provide people the support and guidance they need to learn a new skill.