Local News: Kensington’s own beginner-friendly ukulele club

What started as one dad’s mission to teach his daughter the ukulele has grown into a thriving musical community in Kensington, celebrating its 10th anniversary in November this year.

The Melbourne Ukulele Community was founded in 2015 by local resident Fi, who discovered a love for the instrument after buying one for his four-year-old daughter.

“In order to teach her the instrument, I had to learn it myself. I soon found out that it was a very versatile instrument, not just Hawaiian music,” Fi said.

After struggling to find a club that welcomed beginners, Fi took matters into his own hands.

“I was looking around for ukulele groups to join, but all of them were quite advanced and focused on performing, whereas I wanted a group for beginners who only wanted to play for themselves,” he told North West City News.

The first session at the Flemington-Kensington Bowling Club drew just seven attendees, but the group quickly gained momentum.

Within two years, they relocated to the Flemington-Kensington RSL to accommodate growing numbers.

Today, 30 to 35 players gather every Thursday at 6pm, with members travelling from across Melbourne and Geelong.

“Our group is a diverse mix of ages and musical abilities, from absolute beginners to more seasoned players,” Fi said.

We enjoy playing a wide range of genres – pop, rock, jazz, blues – and we play new songs too. Songs from Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift. It helps when the group learns that Billie, Olivia and Taylor also play the ukulele very well.

The group also gives back to the community, performing twice a year at a local nursing home.

“In the middle of the performance, we hand over our ukes to the residents and teach them to play one simple song – it's lovely to see the smiles on their faces.”

During the COVID lockdowns, the club moved online and exploded in popularity.

“We now have 2866 members on Meetup.com and 2304 followers on our Facebook page,” Fi said.

He continues to run Monday night Zoom sessions, regularly attracting more than 50 participants from around the country and overseas.

“For many of our members, it's not just about learning an instrument; it's about finding a supportive social outlet, making new friends, and discovering a shared passion,” Fi said.

“I'd like to think that we have become a vibrant, welcoming space where everyone feels like they belong – a community.” •