Ukes For Kids

Ukes for Kids: The concept of a Ukes for Kids program was started in 2004 by the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club. The aim is to provide children with ukuleles. A further goal is to provide instruction. The ukulele is a small, but versatile instrument and with just two or three chords and a few basic strums one can play pop, Tin Pan Alley, Hawaiian, country, jazz, blues or anything imaginable.

Ukes for Kids: The concept of a Ukes for Kids program was started in 2004 by the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club. The aim is to provide children with ukuleles. A further goal is to provide instruction. The ukulele is a small, but versatile instrument and with just two or three chords and a few basic strums one can play pop, Tin Pan Alley, Hawaiian, country, jazz, blues or anything imaginable.

In 2005 year we used $1000 from our raffle sales to purchase 20 ukuleles for Leal Elementary School in Cerritos. They received the ukulele, and a notebook with 25 songs. They learned how to dance and hula and how to accompany dancers. Lessons were held after school with around 30 students participating. They put on two programs at the school and performed with Da Hawaii Seniors Club at the Cerritos Performing Arts’ Center for Family Arts Day in June 2005 for the Let Freedom Ring celebration at Cerritos on the 4th of July. They also opened the 4th Annual Southern California Ukulele Festival concert on October 1, 2005

Again in 2006 we purchased more ukuleles and had two new classes of students. The students had their own slot at the Cerritos Performing Arts’ Center Family Arts Day in June 2006 and were a big hit. They will again be opening the evening concert on October 7, 2006.

This year all the money raised thru raffle sales will be used to further this program to bring musical enjoyment to families and produce the “next generation”of ukulele players.