A ukulele teacher from Ham has spoken about the success of her beginner's ukulele project with Age UK

Tara Maysey has taught the ukulele for five years at the Ritz Music and Tuition Centre in Sheen Road. She has taught a range of students, with the youngest students starting at two-and-a-half years old to her oldest student, who is 87. 

She said: “I have witnessed first hand the ukulele's accessibility, size and ease of learning and the confidence this can give to people. 

"I have also had the privilege of witnessing, with my group classes, the friendships and communities the ukulele has helped to build. Even if you have nothing in common the ukulele unites you.”

Since the project was launched last year, those who have completed the course have performed at The Cabbage Patch Pub, Woodville Centre and will be performing as part of the Wandsworth Fringe Festival in May. 

Another part of the London Ukulele Project is the founding of the London Youth Ukulele Orchestra. There are two squads, one for 10-16-year-olds and the other for 17-22-year-olds. 

They are currently accepting applications to join. 

It was important to Tara to be able to offer a space for school-aged students to enhance their ukulele skills as many workshops and ukulele events are in pubs and therefore aimed at adults. It was also important to include 17-22-year-olds as recent studies have shown them to be the loneliest demographic. 

She also hopes that orchestra might change people’s perception of the ukulele.

“I had a 10-year-old student recently apply for a music scholarship and was told that the ukulele wasn’t sophisticated enough," she added.

"I hasten to add that she bravely auditioned at another school in a room of violin players and the School Music Director’s response to her performance was ‘I didn’t know that the ukulele could do that.'’’

Their aim next year is to encourage and support businesses to offer after work or lunchtime ukulele clubs using the ukulele as a tool to promote well-being. 

For more information or to get involved please visit www.londonukuleleproject.co.uk