Ukulele

The ukulele's origins began in Portugal with an instrument called a machete de braga or braguinha. Portuguese immigrants, who came to work on sugar plantations, brought it to Hawaii in the 1870s. Hawaiians redesigned this instrument and named it the ukulele. The name, in Hawaiian, means leaping or jumping flea which describes how the strumming hand looks when playing a lively tune. Adding to it's popularity, King Kalakaua, a patron of the arts, incorporated the ukulele into performances at royal gatherings. The ukulele got its first taste of mainland popularity in the early 1900s when the Panama Pacific International Exposition lured 17 million visitors to San Francisco to celebrate completion of the Panama Canal. The hula dance was a big hit and the ukulele was used for accompaniment. Traditionally made of Hawaiian koa wood, the ukulele is now also made of spruce and mahogany which are popular tone woods. The ukulele comes in four sizes from the smallest being soprano, and increasing in size to concert, tenor and baritone. In SRA, we just call it fun!

The ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn. So no musical experience is necessary.