The ukulele is a small, four stringed instrument that has a shape resembling that of a guitar. Popular songs like “Riptide” by Vance Joy or “Hey Soul Sister” by Train have incorporated the ukulele into their music. Though notably, the instrument is played by a variety of countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. Its combined structure of solid wood and nylon or metal strings produces a mellow, hollow sound that is often associated with tropical environments, likely due to its Hawaiian history.

In 1879, the ukulele was first introduced to the Hawaiian people by the Portuguese, particularly Joao Fernandez. It is said that Fernandez had jumped off his ship and started singing with his machete, a small guitar-like instrument similar to the ukulele. The group of Hawaiians, who had watched Fernandez swiftly utilize the machete’s fingerboard, called the instrument “ukulele” or “jumping flea.” The ukulele then became ubiquitous across the Hawaiian islands, even being played by Hawaiian kings.

The ukulele became popularized after a combination of the Panama Pacific International Exposition, the manufacturing of plastic ukuleles, the Great Depression, and television. However, the ukulele became associated with being a “toy” due to its miniature guitar appearance. This caused the instrument to gain a negative reputation. The “Tiny Tim” portrayal of the ukulele, as absurd and “emasculating”, also contributed to this reputation.

Luckily, the ukulele was able to regain its character. Throughout the following decades, popular artists like the Beatles used the ukulele in their music. It made appearances in cameos and shows at Radio City Music Hall, as well as various advertisements. The Hawaiian music revival also contributed to the positive popularity of the ukulele, leading to songs like “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo'ole. The ukulele has also become an instrument generally viewed as inviting, due to its sweet sound and manageable size.

At the Niskayuna high school, Ms. Noonan is the Life Skills teacher and has been teaching at the school for the past four years. Within her’s and Mrs. Johnston’s class, students get to learn and practice functional life skills, which includes cooking and laundry, as well as money skills and job skills. Ms. Noonan states “Students leave our program with an increased sense of independence in various skills. They used these skills in their home lives as well as at their future jobs.” Relatively recently, Ms. Noonan’s music class has begun playing new ukuleles from a Friends of Music grant. 

Other students at the Niskayuna high school have been volunteering to assist Ms. Noonan’s class to “Adopt a Ukulele.” Before the music unit started, these students had helped the class by bringing home the ukuleles for tuning. With the ukuleles ready for overall usage, they now assist with the actual class itself. Generally, everyone starts with tuning, like an ensemble would. Then, the class learns new topics or reviews previous concepts, such as patterns and fingerings. 

Lucia Vysohlid, who occasionally participates in the program, states “The class is amazing in how interactive it is! There were often several demonstrations and then playing back and forth. After that, we often played along with recordings of songs, such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". They have visited the class a few times to help out, especially with tuning and demonstrations. Lucia has also shown the class a few things they could play, namely new patterns learned by ear and the fingerings for a c-chord, as well as technique related things like posture and muting strings. There are also more regular helpers, like Dante Colose.

In their description of how they think the ukuleles have impacted Ms. Noonan’s music class, Lucia says “I think that the ukuleles are a great addition to our music wing. A lot of instruments and courses can be quite rigorous and feel unreachable to the public, especially those without outside help or experience, so having an accessible instrument like a ukulele in music class is great! The class is also such an open and supportive space, especially thanks to its wonderful teacher, Mrs. Johnston. Overall, I think it's an amazing opportunity for students to come and enjoy music.”