It sounds like such a cool, interesting, and unique skill: playing the ukulele. I can't count all the times I've gotten an excited reaction when telling someone I play the ukulele, and have even been asked to give lessons. And while I wouldn't trade my abilities on my instrument of choice for the whole world, there are indeed some unforeseen pros and cons lurking within the wonderful world of the uke.
Pro: Simplicity
The ukulele is an incredibly simple instrument. With only four strings, you can stick a finger on nearly any fret, strum, and ta-da, you have a chord. It's especially an easy instrument to pick up for those already familiar with the guitar. Plus, the ukulele's small size and light weight make for easy travel. It's the perfect instrument for an on-the-go type of person who perhaps missed the boat of elementary school music lessons.
Con: Requests
Yes, I know how to play "Riptide" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Do I want to play them? No. Not because they're bad songs, or because they're hard (they're only about four chords each), but just because I get asked to play them so often. In fact, taking requests in general can be a little troublesome; the chance of me (or any other ukulele player) knowing the random song you want to hear is very slim, and that just results in five minutes of trying to decide on a mutually known song. In those five minutes, we could already be playing another song. Sure, maybe you're not familiar with it, but you're going to enjoy it anyway -- when a song's on a ukulele it's almost impossible not to enjoy it!
Pro: Respect
So many people are enamored with the ukulele. When they see a ukulele player, their face can light up in awe of the happy-sounding and yet mellow Hawaiian export. Playing the ukulele can set someone apart, for it's such a different instrument than that which the public is used to being exposed to. The celebrity endorsements have certainly helped: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Shimabukoro, Eddie Vedder, and Ryan Gosling are only a few of the ukuleleists who have found themselves in the limelight. Plus, many YouTubers have picked up the uke and started covering classic or popular songs, resulting in all of their audiences being exposed to the instrument.
Con: Popularity
However, as the popularity of the ukulele spreads, it can take away the novelty of playing the instrument. On multiple occasions I've seen or heard people who dislike the ukulele simply for its air of "attempted different-ness" and for being almost too simple of an instrument and getting perhaps more credit than it's due. Since it is such a simple instrument, it doesn't take a whole lot to learn songs on the ukulele. And thanks to its rapid spread of popularity, the ukulele could very soon replace or join the guitar as one of the standard in-home instruments. Just as "everybody plays guitar," eventually "everyone plays the ukulele." Unless you are really good, the impressiveness of the ukulele could diminish. Soon it may not be a guy playing "Wonderwall" on his guitar who is annoying you at the party, but a guy playing "Riptide" on his ukulele.
Pro: When you hear kids are learning to play the ukulele instead of the recorder, you couldn't be happier.
We all remember the hellish elementary school music days, where we would be assigned songs to learn and play on that plastic pipe of despair, the recorder. One slip of the finger, one wrong move, and suddenly the squeaks that emerged sounded like a high-pitched train engine being thrown through a windstorm all within seconds. For many, it left a bad taste in their mouth about learning to play an instrument. But now, some elementary schools are replacing recorders with ukuleles, and teaching Beatles instead of Beethoven. The chords, many requiring only a finger or two, are easy to learn, and the songs are more fun to play. Plus, with the ukulele's resemblance to a guitar, it can give young children a better feeling about the instrument they're learning to play. Even when you mess up on a ukulele, it can still sound cute and happy, unlike the recorder. And feeling a connection to instilling a love of playing music in a child is a great feeling indeed.
Despite the stigmas and occasional lack of respect, the ukulele is such a rewarding instrument to play. It's easy to learn, fun, and simply happy. The ukulele makes you smile. And if current trends continue, more and more people will be disregarding the cons and letting those happy ukulele smiles spread across their faces.
