![3 photos: Ukulele players Byron Yasui and Mika Kane, Chansoo Kim's Bambell Ukestra, and Vinicius Vivas leading the Orquestra de Ukuleles da UFRJ](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ukulele-Higher-Education-byron-vinicious-changsoo-kim-e1694724618984.jpg?fit=768%2C352&ssl=1)
Making music with the ukulele is accessible and social, but what if you want study the instrument at the degree level in university?
![Henry Kailimai illustration](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Henry-Kailimai.jpg?fit=750%2C450&ssl=1)
One day at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the sweet sounds produced by the Hawaiian Quintet caught the ear of another Henry—Henry Ford
![chris strachwitz with arhoolie records hawaiian music albums](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Arhoolie-Records-Chris-Strachwitz-Hawiiani.jpg?fit=768%2C458&ssl=1)
Significant compilations of early music featured ukulele and steel guitar
![](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Amy-Kucharik-portrait-ukulele-e1692293906159.jpg?fit=768%2C407&ssl=1)
Kerrville Folk Songwriting Competition winner combines swing, jazz, blues, vaudeville, country, and clever writing
![the Las Cruces Ukes perform at Ukefest Las Cruces](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UkeFest-Las-Cruces-New-Mexico.jpg?fit=768%2C542&ssl=1)
For the 4-piece band the Smoking Jackets, seeing how Las Cruces Ukes nourished its members—even while they were just tiny boxes on a screen—made this year’s festival feel so triumphant.
![Young Margaux, with her purple hair](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UkeTales-Margaux.jpg?fit=768%2C474&ssl=1)
In this round of Uke Tales, the ukulele leads to a hair-changing experience; a 1930s Martin Soprano helps memories live on; and ukulele groupies can be found in all ages.
![Jeff Peterson Maui Ukulele](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Jeff-Peterson-Maui-Ukulele-Patures.jpg?fit=768%2C428&ssl=1)
The ukulele and slack-key guitar virtuoso is dazzling in almost any genre
![1920s marquetry ukulele](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Marquetry-Uke-SS02.jpg?fit=768%2C1150&ssl=1)
Sometimes ukes with the exact same features and brand or model names may have been produced by two or more different manufacturers
![Vinícius Vivas with ukulele](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/vinicious-vivas-1.jpg?fit=768%2C513&ssl=1)
Vivas’ musical prowess and teaching skills has led to invitations to ukulele festivals worldwide
![ukebox band photo](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ukebox-Liver-3-e1685547105640.jpg?fit=768%2C532&ssl=1)
This fun-loving quartet has been known to play medleys by that other band that exploded out of Liverpool 60 years ago