First Steps Ukulele

summer 2025 Registration is open

Overview

Let your child explore the joy of music in First Steps Ukulele! This lively group class introduces children to the ukulele in a fun and interactive way, using singing, movement, and rhythm to create a strong foundation for musical growth. This class is open to students ages 6-8. Class size is limited to 8 students.

Children will learn to play by ear, experiment with simple chords, and explore melodies while developing a natural sense of rhythm and tonality. Through creative activities and improvisation, students will build confidence in their musical abilities before reading notation, allowing them to experience music as a fun, hands-on adventure.

Students will:

Learn to strum and play simple chords
Improvise, play by ear, and harmonize
Sing, play, and accompany themselves and others
Build rhythmic and tonal awareness
Gain confidence in performing with ease

Schedule (two options)

Summer Session 1 (6 classes)
- June 3-July 8
- Tuesdays, 4:00-4:45pm
Summer Session 2 (6 classes)
- July 15-August 19
- Tuesdays, 4:00-4:45pm

Tuition

Early Bird Registration – $100 per session
- Session 1 deadline – May 1
- Session 2 deadline – June 1
Regular Registration – $120 per session

Materials Needed

Ukulele (soprano size recommended)
All other materials will be provided.

Register Here

Meet the Teacher

Jeremy Hiniker is a classical guitarist from southern Minnesota with 20 years of experience performing and teaching. Over the course of his music career, Jeremy has been fortunate to study with many gifted guitarists including world-renowned guitar virtuoso and pedagogue Rene Izquierdo, and Minneapolis Guitar Quartet members Wade Oden and Maja Radovanlija.

Throughout his education, Jeremy earned top marks as he received his AFA in Music with guitar emphasis at Normandale Community College, BFA in Classical Guitar Performance from UW-Milwaukee, and Master of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Jeremy has had the opportunity to perform for and learn from many notable and prizewinning guitarists such as Marcin Dylla, Zoran Dukic, Odair Assad, Shin-Ichi Fukuda, Anton Baranov, Denis Azabagic and many more.

Aside from his educational pursuits, Jeremy also is an avid performer, performing solo and chamber music concerts as well as weddings, events and even yoga classes. These serve his mission in advocating for awareness, appreciation, and education for the classical guitar; a mission he began as a major partner in the Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society’s “Guitar Ambassador” program by performing and presenting in schools throughout Milwaukee.

As an educator, Jeremy specializes in teaching beginner and intermediate students, leading them through an approach that develops music fundamentals including reading music (standard notation), rhythm, music theory, as well as incorporating proper technique to allow for ease of playing in whatever style they are interested in.