Learning music together at Dr. Phillips High’s Ukulele Club

DR. PHILLIPS Every Thursday at 2:15 p.m., about a dozen students meet up in music room 806 at Dr. Phillips High School. 

Some of them are friends, while others are strangers. But what they all have in common is their love for the ukulele. 

“I like being able to hang out and play ukulele with my friends,” said senior Zoe Crocker. “I like sharing music with friends.”

This is the second year that the Ukulele Club has been in operation at Dr. Phillips High, and the goal, according to the founding members, is to learn and enjoy playing the instrument.

“It’s a fun, safe musical space for the kids to come learn,” said piano and music theory teacher Jennifer Omundson, who supervises the club each week.

Last year, several students approached Omundson with the idea of starting a ukulele club.

“We wanted to have another way to express ourselves,” said junior Lenore Walker.

In addition to learning ukulele, several of the founding members wanted to expand their artistic abilities, because they are part of the high school’s visual arts magnet program.

“Music is an important thing to have in your life,” said Brooke Watanabe. “And a well-rounded art background is good to have in the long run.”

In addition to learning a new skill, several students found that music and art often go hand-in-hand.

“I use music as a coping tool for a lot of stuff, and I use art as a coping tool,” Watanabe said. “I listen to music when I draw or paint. It gives life to what I paint.”

The group is led by three juniors - Walker, Hallie Martin and Orlando Guadalupe - and sophomore Watanabe, and they’ve recently noticed an uptick in attendance as the ukulele has grown in popularity.

“Before Youtubers, it was ‘Over the Rainbow’ all the time,” said Martin. “Now, with all the people on Youtube (playing the ukulele), it’s a good time to do this club, because they’re changing the game for this instrument.”

Because of the growing interest in the ukulele, the club often attracts new faces to its weekly gatherings.

“The growing popularity is very interesting,” Watanabe said. “It’s interesting the crowd it brings.”

The Thursday meetings are fairly casual, allowing participants to grab a ukulele and strum at their own level, while the four leaders help newbies learn the basics of the instruments and answer questions.

“It’s the easiest instrument to teach to someone else,” Martin said. “Once you know the basics, you can do it by yourself.”

Having watched the group grow since last year, Omundson said she has been impressed with the club’s progress.

“They’ve definitely grown a lot overall,” she said. “I’m proud with how much initiative they had to bring this club to life.”

Last spring, the club held a concert to raise money for charity. This year, they plan to continue that tradition. But until then, participants are having fun making music every week.

So what does everyone especially love about the ukulele? 

“It has such a bright nice tone,” Martin said. “On the ukulele, everything you play sounds bright and happy.”