User:Richardh9965/Ukulele junction

Ukulele Junction

During the latter half of the first decade of the 21st Century, interest in the ukulele went through something of a renaissance in the United Kingdom.

The new found interest in the Hawaiian four stringed instrument was encouraged by the dogged enthusiasm of the eight members of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; the internet clips of virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro playing his ukulele interpretaion of the George Harrison classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”; and the UK Government's Wider Opportunities in Music initiative which gave primary school children the chance to learn about music in curriculum time through playing a musical instrument.

Several Local Authorities responsible for implementing the Wider Opportunities programme adopted the ukulele as a cost effective and child friendly instrument with which to teach entire classes of 8 to 11 year olds in primary schools.

Ukulele Junction was set up by Hampshire primary school headteacher Richard Hales in 2008 in order to promote the educational benefits of teaching the ukulele in Hampshire, Portsmouth and West Sussex.His approach is best summed-up as singing, playing and having fun. In September 2008 Richard Hales retired from headship in order to work for the Hampshire local authority Music Service as a specialist ukulele teacher. Richard's other work includes teaching ukulele for the Portsmouth Children's University, the New Theatre Royal and various schools in West Sussex and Slough. In addition to spreading the ukulele gospel in primary schools across central Southern England, Richard Hales supports pupil's learning through the Ukulele Junction website.