Ukulele Lessons Vancouver

Learn, play, and grow with ukulele lessons for kids, teens, and adults at Pleasant Mountain Music.

About Ukulele

• Ideal for: singer-songwriters who want a simple instrument to accompany themselves, bands who want a cute or iconic sound, people with small hands and also for children and youth
• Great because: the start up costs are minimal, it’s lightweight, doesn’t take up much space, and has a charming overall sound. It also adds a unique sound layer when incorporated into a band or ensemble of players
• Lesson options: In person lessons at our Granville Street or in-home lessons at your home. Remote lessons are possible, but are best suited to students who’ve already had a few in person lessons already
• Common styles: Pop and folk are the most commonly associated genres of the ukulele but many other styles can make use of the a ukulele to add an interesting twist on on the common sound…especially with the advent of electric ukuleles which plug into amps with distortion or pedals to create new sounds
• Space/noise needs: ukulele are very small, which means they are extremely portable and also it makes them generally quieter than other stringed/fretted instruments. Electric ukuleles do exist, so bare in mind that the addition of amplification will mean that the instrument will carry (especially into the neighbours condo) if you don’t monitor the volume on the amp.

What This Instrument Is Like (background + where you hear it)

Getting Started & Instrument Costs

You don’t need the “perfect” setup to start, just something that fits your budget and your space.
What you’ll need for your first ukulele lessons include:

• Instrument type/size: ukulele come in a few different sizes. They have slightly different sounds, but your knowledge on one is transferable to the others. The best option is a soprano ukulele for the young beginner, or for an adult with very small hands. Someone with larger hands or longer fingers might find the soprano ukulele too small for them, so a tenor or baritone might feel more comfortable. The baritone ukulele has an added benefit of being the same tuning as a standard guitar, minus two strings, meaning songs are transferrable more easily.
• Basic accessories: You will want a good quality strap, perhaps a couple of picks, and definitely you’ll want to invest in a tuner. Other accessories like a capo or foot rest can be acquired over time (and are super handy as birthday or holiday gifts!)
• Practice space: Ukulele is portable and quiet, meaning you may be able to practice in more spaces than a larger (louder) instrument. For example a student practicing in the living room might not actually be too disruptive for someone else in the same space who may be working on their computer. Your neighbours likely won’t be too bothered by acoustic ukulele practice, but if you seek amplification for practice, that may quickly become unwieldy.

Typical starter investment:

• Entry-level / rental: a decent starter ukulele will cost around $75 – $100. They can also be rented for very cheap, to the tune of $12/month. Definitely be mindful about spending less than $75 on a ukulele though, as you may end up with a toy rather than a proper instrument. Yes that’s right! There are toy ukulele’s that range around the $20-$70 price point, and they are patently not meant for dedicated practice (they don’t hold their tune, their strings break, and they may not even be able to be restrung at all!)
• Upgraded instruments (after a year or two): You can acquire fancier ukuleles with a pick-up or fancier wood for $250 – $500, but generally they don’t go much higher than that (without some real effort). You can always opt to buy from a local luthier, which is a person who has the wood and builds the instrument in their shop, if you decide you really want to get into it. For the most part though, the main distinguishing factors between a student model and one that can tour the world is the plug-in option (amplification) and nicer wood components or construction method

We’re always happy to recommend brands, local shops, or rental options so you don’t overspend or buy something that will hold you back.

How Lessons Work: Learn / Love / Live to Play

Learn to Play – Solid foundations

In our Learn to Play stream, we focus on building reliable technique and musicianship. Most folks fall into this category at some point. As you learn to play you’ll work on:

• Technique – hand positioning, finger picking, strumming, and scales
• Reading – Guitar tablature (shortened to “tab”) is often enough for ukulele players to learn most styles of music, but for some folk, jazz, or classical pieces learning standard music notation may come in handy for intermediate or advanced uke players
• Repertoire – from lilting folk songs, traditional hymns, iconic singer-songwriter ballads and modern pop jams, the ukulele features in a lot of places sonically that might not immediately be apparent to the uninitiated. That offers a good amount of music variety when learning to play this instrument

The Learn To Play stream is great for students who like structure, clear milestones, and/or who want to start or join a band, participate in school band class or ukulele ensembles, pursue songwriting, and/or post-secondary education.

Love to Play – Play for joy

In our Love to Play stream, we design lessons around where and why you actually want to play. That might include:

• Learning specifically your favourite song or style
• Playing along with backing tracks or jamming with friends
• Prepping for your annual ‘we’re getting the band back together’ jam session or show
• Providing you basic theory, as needed, to support your goals
• Diving into your own songwriting style
• Offering you low-pressure performance opportunities (only if you want them)

The Love to Play stream is perfect for students who want music as a creative outlet without the pressure of exams, competitions, or too many public performances.

Live to Play – Preparing for the professional path

For students ready to take things further, our Live to Play stream of study helps you move from “pretty good” to “gig-ready”. Live to Play students will master:

• Advanced technique and repertoire
• Audition and performance preparation
• Studio and session-recording skills (including actual studio experience)
• Songwriting, arranging, or improvisation (if relevant)
• Career guidance on next steps including: auditions, gigging/touring band life, recording, post-secondary studies, teaching the ukulele, and more.

Hear It in the Wild: Stars & Songs

Artists who put ukulele in the spotlight

• Eddie Vedder – The lead singer of Pearl Jam released a whole solo album of ukulele songs called Ukulele Songs
• Billie Eilish – One of the more recent examples of modern ukulele, Billie even had a signature edition uke made by Fender
• Jake Shimabukuro – A huge star in the ukulele world, Jake is often refereed to as “Jimi Hendrix of the Ukulele”

Songs where [instrument] really shines

• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole – Struck by inspiration at 3am, Iz called up his local recording studio and recorded this legendary track in one take. It’s an absolute must learn for any ukulele fan
• “Blue Red and Grey” – The Who – The Who took a break from their stadium rock to record this sweet song about enjoying all the times of day
• “I Don’t Know My Name” – Grace VanderWaal – Grace blew everyone away with this performance when she was just 12 years old. She went on to win America’s Got Talent and is still a force in music today

These are fun reference points you can explore at home, and great inspiration for setting lesson goals and jumping off points for your own unique music journey.

Meet Your Ukulele Instructors

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