A City With A Name As Sweet As The Sounds Of A Uke

Overlooking the Fox River, Appleton is known for many things: It’s the place where magician Harry Houdini and literary giant Edna Ferber grew up, and its 1882 Hearthstone Historic House Museum holds some of Thomas Edison’s original light fixtures. But there’s more to this Wisconsin city than celebrity fame. Just as the popularity of the ukulele has grown, the uke community in Appleton, Wisconsin has, too.

Appleton is fast becoming a hub for the mighty instrument, and its numerous clubs are shining a light on the little uke and all it has to offer.

The North East Wisconsin Ukulele Club – or, N.E.W Ukes, for short – are a group of ukulele enthusiasts of various levels of skill who meet regularly to play, sing and have a good time. The club was informally formed back in 2012 by just a few ukulele-loving North East Wisconsin locals, but over the years, N.E.W Ukes has grown to meet semi-regularly with a broad group of members, performing in various locations including downtown Appleton, the Neenah Public Library, and even to open the concert at the 2015 Milwaukee Uke Fest. But you don’t have to be a professional to join in on the fun. As long as you love music and the ukulele, this group is for you. For new and returning members, N.E.W Ukes will post meetings on its website or Facebook page.  

If you’re passion lies in performing with others, The Green Bay Ukulele Club lies just a half hour drive from Appleton, and often performs downtown. With an emphasis is on duets, trios and larger ensembles, the club’s mission is to make any enthusiast a better player and a better person. As they state on their website, there are thousands of ukulele clubs and websites on the internet today. What sets them apart is their focus on getting their members from a beginner to intermediate level of musicianship as quickly and painlessly as possible.

To prove it, they offer some of the best free sheet music and ukulele resources; free club events open to the public, including meetings, open jams, workshops and clinics; private and public performances; and individual and group lessons.

Group ukulele lessons are 45 minutes long and held once a week at Heid Music, 2605 S. Oneida St. in Green Bay. Tuition for a three-month session currently stands at $210 plus a $25 registration fee. Individual lessons are held at the same location and cost $25 per half-hour. A $25 registration fee is also required.

Whether you’re a beginner player or a seasoned veteran looking to dip your toes in every ukulele club you can find, Appleton’s ukulele community is where you should be.