You have the perfect person in mind. Maybe she’s your niece, or you have a grandson, or you think of your mother. You think they would enjoy learning how to play the ukulele. But where do you start? How do you know what kind of ukulele to buy? What else can you include with the gift?
I’ve put together my Holiday Guide for Ukulele Gift Giving. My goal is to help you navigate your options and I will outline three different scenarios:
A ukulele for a child
A ukulele for a big kid
A ukulele for an adult
Ukulele for a Child
Giving a ukulele to a child is exciting! Can you imagine their eyes lighting up when they see it?
For children in the 5 to 10 age range (give or take a year or two), I recommend this Enya Nova ukulele. I’ve owned this size and currently have the next largest size (a concert). It’s small and good for small hands, has a fun shape, and sounds great! It’s also made of carbon fiber, which is great for playing outdoors. You can also easily clean it! It comes with a high-quality case and a strap, too! Check out this video to watch a review and listen to it play.
A fun addition to the ukulele would be one of my children’s ukulele books. Two books are available from The Strumming Seahorse series, and Zoe’s Groovy Birthday Gift: A Ukulele Tale would be a great addition as well! It can be a lot of fun to introduce kids to the ukulele through storytelling.
Ukulele for a Big Kid
I recommend this Enya solid mahogany ukulele for a bigger kid above age 10. This concert size is one size bigger than the soprano above. It has more room for fingers and can be more comfortable to hold for someone bigger. Enya is a great company that makes high-quality instruments. Solid mahogany provides a very rich and full sound, too. I own this model in the tenor size and it is my most-played ukulele. The blue color is very striking! This model comes with a high-quality case as well. It’s important to take care of your instrument and using a case when transporting it or when it’s not in use is a good practice to get into. This ukulele is featured in this review video.
A great addition to this ukulele would be one of my ukulele-themed coloring books in the Ukulele Coloring Adventures series. Currently, there are six fun books in this series including the latest addition: In the Christmas Spirit with the Ukulele. Kids of all ages can have fun with these coloring books!
Ukulele for an Adult
For an adult, you may want to move to the next size up. This tenor size is a great option with a great price. It has more room for your fingers and can be more comfortable to play for an adult. This ukulele also has a pickup, which means you have the option of plugging it into an amplifier. This is great if you plan on performing in front of others someday! (You never know!) Check out this video to learn more.
You could pair this ukulele with any of the above books, especially since adults like to color too! I also have authored the Ukulele Expressions series, which focuses on music for only one hand. I have a couple of beautiful hardcover lined journals available featuring my ukulele watercolors.
This next book is a great way for new musicians to document their musical journey. I Am a Gifted Musician: Affirmations for New Players of Music is full of affirmations, journal prompts, and illustrations of various musicians with their instruments. I created this after realizing how important it is to have confidence in your musical abilities. By reading affirmations and journaling about your experience, you can leave negative thoughts behind and embrace the joy of learning music!
Accessories
A ukulele strap is a great accessory you won’t want to skip. Straps make it easier to hold the ukulele while you’re playing, which is important for new players. You can keep it closer to your body and focus on playing instead of keeping it steady and secure. If your ukulele does not come with a strap button, you will need to get these installed on the ukulele. This strap by Ernie Ball is a great option. I recommend this kind that hooks on strap buttons, as opposed to one that hooks around the sound hole. I just feel like it’s more secure and safe for the ukulele. You may need to have strap buttons installed on your ukulele, which any high-quality music shop can do (like the Terry Carter Music Store).
This Snark Tuner is also a great accessory to have if you do not have a tuner that came with the ukulele. It’s essential to have the instrument tuned correctly to GCEA so that it sounds as it should. It’s a simple tool that clips on the headstock. You match the sound of the string to the correct note on the tuner. It will show you when you are too sharp or too flat, and highlight when you are right in the middle, on the right note.
A general how-to book can be very useful as well. This ukulele book can be helpful for all ages.
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Give the Gift of Lessons
The above ukuleles can be purchased through the Terry Carter Music Store. Terry Carter also runs the Uke Like the Pros website, a comprehensive site for ukulele lessons. You can buy memberships at various price points and get instant access to video lessons for any part of your musical journey. I know I have learned a lot from Terry’s lessons. He even has a kid’s ukulele course! You’ll have access to a great community with other ukulele players, too!
Talk to the Experts
I highly recommend ordering a ukulele through a quality site like the Terry Carter Music Store. If you have any questions, their Customer Service is very helpful! They can even help you pick out the perfect ukulele based on any of your specific needs. They can customize your ukulele, add strap buttons, a pickup, etc. They can point you in the direction of perfect accessories like books, straps, amplifiers, instrument cables, tuners, and much more.
Have a Merry Ukulele Christmas
Giving the gift of music is very special. By ordering your ukulele through a high-quality store, you’ll have confidence knowing the ukulele won’t be disappointing. New players need to play on a quality instrument. It will help them enjoy it much more because it will sound so good, even for beginners. If you have any questions, you can contact the Terry Carter Music Store or send me an email to: Contact@CreatedBySusan.com.
I hope you have a joyous Christmas, full of merry music-making! Are you planning on buying a ukulele as a gift for someone? Let me know in the comments what kind and if you have any questions! Merry Christmas!