Interview with the Author of Ukulele for Kids Book - Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters is a Grammy nominated full time music educator in the Chicago area. She has taught thousands of beginners on a variety of instruments during her many years of teaching. Jenny developed her unique beginner-friendly method of teaching ukulele when she learned to play in order to include ukulele to her fourth grade General Music classes. She has gone on to become a popular YouTube ukulele personality who owns seven different kinds of ukuleles!

Q&A

Reviewers of your book say they are surprised at how this book is one-of-a-kind-more of an activity book than a typical music book. What sparked the idea to specifically choose the ukulele as the instrument to introduce to young readers?

There are currently several kids' ukulele books on the market but most of them cover the same topics. My co-author, Mark Pereira, and I set out to offer parents a fresh alternative to a typical book. Anecdotal data shows that kids often lose interest in playing from a music book as motivation drops off just when practice and diligence matters. We chose to develop a fun book that is more like an activity book by adding coloring pages, fun parodies of the popular songs in the book, and write-in sections where kids can be creative. When kids write in a book, they make it their own. It's motivating and fun!

Your book uniquely combines music education with writing for children. What sparked the idea to specifically choose the ukulele as the instrument to introduce to young readers?"

As a Grammy-nominated music teacher, I've seen firsthand that the ukulele is one of the easiest and least expensive instruments for children to start with. Its small size, gentle sound, and simple four-string setup make it perfect for young beginners. I wanted to create a resource that would make this accessible instrument even more approachable through kid-friendly parody lyrics and interactive elements. I have seen it work in the many years of teaching children in school.

Research shows a strong connection between early music education and cognitive development. How did this influence your approach to musical instruction?

We structured the book with progressive complexity - starting with basic one-chord songs and gradually moving to three-chord compositions. This step-by-step approach builds confidence while developing musical skills. The write-in spaces for creating parodies also engage creative thinking, combining musical and linguistic development.

Music learning builds cognitive skills in many ways. Students develop the ability to concentrate for longer periods. They develop their ability to understand complex notation which leads to being able to read and understand what they're reading. Mathematical skills are developed with rhythm. Social skills are developed as children play music with others. Physical skills are developed as children work on the fine muscle coordination needed to play a musical instrument!

The ukulele has experienced a global resurgence in popularity. How does your book tap into this cultural phenomenon while making it accessible for young learners?

A: Simplicity, easy of playing, and quick early wins is what keeps our book accessible for young learners. The book transforms 30 recognizable songs with fun kid-friendly parody lyrics, making familiar tunes fresh and exciting. We've included QR codes linking to video tutorials and play-along tracks, embracing modern learning methods while keeping the core instruction accessible to complete beginners.

Many of our readers are grandparents who want to share their love of music with their grandchildren. What better way than with the ukulele and a kid-friendly book!

Your book includes interactive elements for both parents and children. What inspired this dual-learning approach, and how has it been received by families?

It is still too early for us to know as we published the book in late November 2024. Our Amazon reviews-now at a great rating of 4.6 Stars-shows parents and grandparents loving the book. Unlike most other ukulele books for kids, ours includes a section to guide adults who are helping kids learn. The section includes tuning guides, teaching tips, and troubleshooting advice, while children enjoy coloring pages and creative exercises. This dual approach ensures that grown-ups can effectively support their child's musical journey, while also using this as a way to bond with the child. Both parents and grandparents find that because this book has so many fun activities, practicing is fun rather than a struggle.

There's been increasing emphasis on arts education in schools. How do you envision your book supporting music programs or home-schooling curricula?

We believe our book can serve as the first important step to learning the ukulele. While a child will need far more than our book to play the ukulele well, we believe that a strong start can lead to good outcomes for follow-on books, course work and in person instruction. At our website at ukulele.io we have developed resources for kids and adults, for varying skill levels.

What challenges did you face in balancing entertainment value with educational content, and how did you overcome them?

AThe key was incorporating humor through parody lyrics while maintaining solid musical instruction. Creating original parodies was challenging but we are happy with the results. Parents like these parodies too. It gives a creative way to add repetitions to daily practice before moving on to harder material. Children are encouraged to write their own parodies too. They like the idea of creating their own songs!

Your book incorporates traditional songs with new lyrics. How did you select which pieces to include, and why was this approach important?

We chose 30 beloved songs that most families would recognize, then reimagined them with kid-friendly parody lyrics. This approach helps children connect with familiar melodies while enjoying fresh, never-before-heard, humorous content that makes practice more enjoyable.

We're seeing a trend of parents seeking creative ways to bond with their children. How does your book facilitate meaningful parent-child musical interactions?

Our book makes learning the ukulele a shared experience and promises to make fond memories for the parent and the child. We think that our write-in sections for new parodies is an exercise where parents and a child can interact. These shared activities create natural opportunities for bonding through music.

For more information about Jenny Peters and her book find her online at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UkuleleSisters
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LearnTheUkulele
Website: https://ukulele.io/

Ukulele for Kids Book is available for purchase on Amazon and other major retailers.
https://www.amazon.com/Ukulele-Kids-Book-Parodies-Coloring/dp/B0DNT4XCDC

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This release was published on openPR.