The humble ukulele is stepping up in the music world. As the diminutive instrument continues to ditch its image as a Tiny Tim toy, music stores across America are selling thousands of ukes and ukulele virtuosos are selling out packed venues worldwide, from England to Japan.

Closer to home, Morgantown and its state of West Virginia hosts hundreds of serious players with regular jam sessions.

The West Virginia University (WVU) Ukulele Club meets every Monday from 5:00pm in the Mountainlair’s Sidepocket, the university’s student union building and the finest place for great food and cold beer.

WVU Ukulele Club, organized and attended by WVU students, welcomes just about anyone and everyone interested in playing the mighty ukulele. The group focuses solely on playing the uke (though those who play other instruments are welcome, too) and provides a relaxed environment for its members to practice, learn and play.

Unlike most ukulele clubs across America, WVU Ukulele Club boasts a pretty active and impressive social media feed to keep existing and prospective members up to date. Their handle, @WVUUkulele, can be found on Twitter.

If you’re not a university student, other fervent uke groups nearby involve a trip to West Virginia’s next-door neighbor, Pennsylvania – don’t worry, they all lie less than an hour and a half drive away.

The WPCA Ukulele Meetup welcomes anyone interested in learning to play the ukulele. The group usually meets once a month in Pittsburgh.

Allegheny North Uke Club also meets in Pittsburgh and welcomes players of all skill levels. Meetings are held every Monday.

Like its fellow clubs, the ever-popular Steel City Ukuleles also meets in Pittsburgh. The novice-friendly group has an impressive 488 members on Meetup, and it might have something to do with the fact that they’re so welcoming: The novice-friendly group encourages players of all level to join in on the fun and will even lend you a ukulele to try out if you’ve never played one before. The Steel City Ukuleles meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills on the first and third Mondays of each month.