The Magic of Ukulele Clubs, According to You!

The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers."

- Roy Ayers, The “Godfather of Neo-Soul”

There’s something magical that happens when you play music together with other people. Studies show that a shared musical experience increases endorphin and dopamine levels, and it promotes a sense of social closeness and identity—and if you’ve ever strummed with a group, you know it’s true. While every instrument has its community, and its own magic, what sets the Ukulele community apart is its uniquely collaborative spirit. There are hundreds of Ukulele clubs and circles throughout the world, all with a friendly energy that allows people to connect, make friends, and improve their playing.

Playing music with others is, of course, incredibly important to us at Kala, which is one of the reasons we’ve introduced the Ukulele Club Directory! To celebrate the launch, we went straight to the heart of the community, asking club leaders and members to share what makes their groups so special. Here’s what they had to say!

What inspired your club’s formation, and how has the club evolved since its beginning?

I had taken a couple of adult classes through James Hill's Ukulele in the Classroom series and wanted to continue their – and my – journeys. I began arranging for ensemble. Over the years both my students and I have grown musically and still continue to improve over 10 yrs since our formation.”

- Kevin, of Austin Ukestra

All the big cities in Europe have a Ukulele club,  and I decided to put Porto in the ukulele map. It's a small group but our community has already 30 members and that is amazing for a club that started in June 2025."

- João, of Portukuele

We were a product of opportunity! I was teaching 'ukulele and running a small gathering for the students who had finished my classes, [and] a large farmers market contacted us and asked if we'd be interested in performing. Eight years later, it's been a heck of a ride… We fundraise for the Ukulele Kids Club, and co-host the brand-new New England Ukulele Festival as a benefit for their terrific work with music therapy for hospitalized children.”

- Cindy, of The Unlikely Strummers

What is the most challenging aspect of organizing a ukulele club?

...Striking the balance between wanting to be the best and most inclusive ukulele session out there. We have a very diverse community of players, from absolute beginners to near professionals, so we need to cater for different skill levels and expectations. Some people just want to come along for the fun, others want to get better at playing.”

- Beatrice, of Ukulele Tuesday

There are plenty of lone players out there. The hardest part is getting them to understand it doesn't matter how well they play, that we all started on a C chord and will not judge them during a jam. I would urge prospective organizers to start by marketing through the local music shops and newspapers, and direct people to a website...”

- Clarice, of Petalukes

What is the most rewarding part of leading this community?

Making new friends who are also motivated by the joy of playing.”

- Jeanne, of Chapala Ukulele Club

... It's amazing to see people discovering the ukulele just because they stumbled in one Tuesday by accident. Many of them then become regulars and start leading songs or playing solos. It's incredibly rewarding to see that process. Some international folks have even started their own groups back home, much like our founders once did.”

- Beatrice, of Ukulele Tuesday

It is most rewarding and heart warming to see those who never had the privilege of learning music finally getting an opportunity to express themselves through playing the ukulele. It's an amazing joy to see when people finally find their voice and share it with others.”

- Jen & Harvey, of Cutie Circle

What’s a memorable story or moment that has happened at one of your club meeting or events?

Our founder’s mom was in a rehabilitation center for 7 weeks after [a leg injury] and we performed at her facility. She was very emotional and thankful to us for uplifting her.”

- Karen, of Tigard Ukulele Group

An older man from Chile wanted to play ‘Africa’ by Toto, it is very difficult to play in a large group. He went to Chile to visit his family and we worked hard to play this song when he came back to Madrid. He came and by surprise we started to play ‘Africa!’”

- Sergio, of Club Ukulele Madrid

Our open mic moment is amazing!! We have some excellent singers and it's always fascinating to see”

- João, of Portukuele

What’s the biggest benefit you’ve seen come from a player joining a ukulele club, and how has it helped them grow?

...it's one thing to play by yourself, but learning to listen, play and blend sounds is moving toward mastery.”

- Kevin, of Austin Ukestra

The social interaction and the joy they experience as they learn to play and interact with others.”

- Henk, of Gold Coast Strummers