Did you know that elementary school children of be.Living can take acoustic guitar lessons, and now ukulele lessons too? Two instruments that we can say that are related but have their own unique characteristics. To learn a little more about each instrument, we talked to guitar teacher Daniel Farina Moreno, and ukelele teacher Marcelo Farina Moura.

They explained that the main differences between the instruments are the size, the number of strings and the tuning. They explained that, while there are small guitars and even children’s guitars, the ukulele is smaller because it has 4 strings, while a traditional guitar has 6 strings.

“We can say that ukulele can be a natural introduction to the guitar, because it is easier to learn, smaller, and has less strings. But ukulele is not a children’s instrument, it is an instrument that can be played by people of all ages, including professionally,” said Daniel.

He mentioned that there is a difference with regard to sound, with the ukulele having a brighter and louder sound, with more treble. On the other hand, an acoustic guitar has  thicker strings, and therefore a wider range from bass to the treble notes.

“We can also say that the Ukulele, because of its softer and smoother strings, requires less finger strength and grip than the guitar and its thicker strings. We believe this helps in the learning process for younger students, as in the case of Year 1,” added Daniel.

Ukelele teacher Marcelo explained that the name “ukulele” originates from Hawaii, and was given to an instrument known as “manchete,” originally created on the Island of Madeira, Portugal. According to him, the manchete is a direct descendant of other stringed instruments from the old continent and was taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants around 1800.

The word “ukulele” means bouncy flea. “One of several legends about this name says that when the European boat arrived in the Port of Honolulu, after 4 months at high sea, there was a passenger who was so happy that he jumped off the ship and began to touch the wood desperately. The Hawaiians saw the Portuguese playing that instrument frantically and soon assimilated his quick movements to that of a jumping flea!,” said Marcelo.

In practice, the ukulele and acoustic guitar classes move at each child’s pace, with a focus on collective development. “The exchange between students is constantly encouraged, since observing our neighboor is another form of learning,” explained Daniel.

The musical references are diverse. The lessons cover topics and various musical styles, such as rock n’ roll, pop, MPB, movie theme songs, folk songs and even fun references from the world of games and the internet.

The classes use modern, light and playful language. There is always room for small games and interaction challenges, proposed to stimulate overcoming challenges.

“It is also during these moments that musical sensitivity and creativity emerge, making the learning routine pleasurable, fun and enjoyable.”

The benefits of playing a musical instrument are numerous, ranging from a child’s motor development to their mental and emotional health.

“We can point to the development of their hearing and brain function, better motor skills, social and emotional development, discipline and unlocking their creativity. When children learn an instrument, they also develops self-confidence and, consequently, self-esteem. In short, learning to play a musical instrument in childhood offers great joy and is extremely valuable for a child’s holistic development,” said Daniel.