JHUI is not a "learn to play ukulele" course but, rather, a learn to teach ukulele course. To get the most from JHUI, you should already be familiar with the following skills before your program begins.

Start teaching! There's no better way to learn the craft of teaching than by jumping in and getting your feet wet. Offer free lessons to your friends and family or volunteer at a community centre. Once you have some experience, the strategies in the JHUI program will be even more meaningful and useful to you.

Open-string melodies,  simple chords, the pentatonic scale and engaging songs. These form the basis of a well-rounded beginner ukulele method. In JHUI Level 1 you will learn how to include each of these areas of skill in your introductory lessons, creating a musical foundation that can last a lifetime.

By incorporating both structure and creativity into your lessons. In the JHUI program you will learn how to teach in a methodical way that leaves room for expression and fun.

We recommend a tenor-sized ukulele for teachers. The reason? Volume! The larger neck and body of the tenor uke means your students will be able to see your fingers and hear your instrument more clearly.

The JHUI ukulele teacher program began in 2010 as the "James Hill Ukulele Initiative" but that was just too much of a mouthful! Over the years, students have shortened the name to JHUI (pronounced "Jay-HOOEY"). It's serendipitous that "hui" is a Hawaiian word meaning club, association, society or band (it also means the chorus of a song).

Yes. Regardless of experience or training, everyone in the JHUI Program must complete Level 1. Even if you're a good musician or an experienced ukulele teacher you may not yet have an expert understanding of Ukulele in the Classroom and the pedagogical approach embedded within it. That's what a JHUI certificate indicates.

Yes! There are two approaches to the JHUI program:

1. Reference and community: log in to look up strategies, get inspiration, download materials and connect with fellow teachers.
2. Certification: pursue a JHUI certificate by registering for both the course materials and assessment add-on. If you choose this path, you're still welcome to set your own pace but we recommend that you complete one unit of the course per month to keep a sense of positive momentum.

No, you will have access to your course materials (lectures, assignments, resources, community) for as long as Uketropolis exists... which we hope is forever. :)

You can work at your own pace but we recommend taking 5-6 months to complete each level. Based on prior student feedback, it takes 3-5 hours per week to stay on-pace if this is your desired timeline. That includes practice time, time to complete your journal and time to watch video lectures. Of course, this varies from person to person but 3-5 hours a week is the recommended time commitment if you're pursuing certification.

Absolutely. The JHUI Program is open to everyone, not just teachers. That said, JHUI is a course on how to teach ukulele, not how to play ukulele. You will need at least one student to "test drive" the techniques you learn in the course. Not sure what to do? Offer a friend, spouse or neighbour free ukulele lessons while you work through your program. You will learn to teach while they learn to play!

All Uketropolis.com courses have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Once your course begins you have 30 days to decide if it's right for you. If you decide that it's not, contact us and we'll give you a full refund. Simple as that.

The JHUI Teacher Certification Program is primarily for adults but musically inclined teenagers may apply. Acceptance will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Teenagers must have parental approval to participate. If you are between the ages of 13 and 19, please contact us before you register.

Yes. You can split your registration fee into five equal monthly payments if you wish. When you get to the payment page, scroll down and click on the link "Switch to monthly payment."

Yes! We offer full and partial scholarships to deserving applicants. Click here to apply.