If you’re a fan of spending leisurely days in quaint coffee shops and restaurants, watching the crowds go about their daily business, then Providence, Rhode Island is definitely the place to go. If you’re not already a local, that is. Founded in 1636 by a Mr Roger Williams, Providence made a name for itself back in the day by booming textile, jewellery and silverware industries. Today though this proud city is in the process of rebranding itself as the “Creative Capital” through focusing on its educational resources and arts community. Notable establishments are Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

So, how’s the uke scene in the smallest state, you ask? Not as small as you might think. For the guys out there, the Rhode Island Ukulele Armada might be well worth checking out. This merry group of “Robust gents whose love of the ukulele is only overshadowed by the comedic depths they’ll sink to” puts on performances in various venues across Rhode Island, and mainly Providence. If you feel like catching these cats live, have a look at their Facebook page listed below.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/The-Rhode-Island-Ukulele-Armada-114477491911162/posts/?ref=page_internal 

If private uke lessons sounds like more of your thing then hop in your Suburban and take a short, twenty-mile drive South West to Coventry. Here you’ll find The Rhody Center which offers Dance and music lessons, and you guessed it – Ukulele strum lessons. The Rhody Center focusses on providing the highest quality of instruction, whether in groups or one-on-one. With several positive testimonials from past and present students it sounds like you can’t go wrong with The Rhody Center. If you’d like to schedule your first lesson, contact them through their website which is listed below.

https://www.therhodycenter.org/private-lessons

While you’ve got your Bondi Uke on the road, why not check out Rudy D’Agostino’s Music Complex in either Smithfield or Pawtucket. This is about as diverse as music lesson establishments get and Instructor Sean Winbourne can help you with your strumming, chords and vocals. Tutorial are provided on an individual or group bases and once your skills are up and running, you can join in on one of the many events this group hosts to show off their abilities in developing musical talent. Rates vary and availability is year-round, so check them out at the website listed below.

http://www.themusiccomplexri.com/services/music-lessons-and-classes/

“In Bed by Ten” (wait for it) is a Ukulele Workshop founded in South Florida, which has expanded into a summer workshop to Rhode Island. This merry group of strummers’ mission is to bring the uke-message as far and wide as they can and if you’d like to be a part of the next summer workshop, catch up with them on the website listed below.

https://ukuleleri.weebly.com/about.html 

Rhode Island might be one of the smaller states but it sure sounds like the people have a knack for expanding their minds and are not sitting around waiting for it to happen, especially as far as our beloved ukulele is concerned. Outstanding news.

Keep strumming, all!