Ukulele rockstars

First-grader ukulele stars of the Brook Avenue Elementary School Ukulele Club wowed the crowd during a performance on Wednesday, May 29.

The club members meet once a week after school under the tutelage of music teacher Kailey Carr, an enthusiastic member of the school’s staff, who teaches the students how to play the instrument, and have fun doing it.

Carr began the club two years ago.

“In my first year, I had Grade 2 students only, but this year and last, I changed it to a first-grade club,” shared Carr. “I teach the ukulele to all second graders in the building as a unit, so the students in this club in first grade end up helping their classmates out next year during the unit in music class.”

This year, the Ukulele Club ran from April 3 to May 29, and 25 students participated. The first-grade members attended seven rehearsals in total before their final performance for friends and family.

“The students devoted time outside their school day to embrace an instrument they came to love and enjoy. Their infectious enthusiasm was clearly evident to all who attended,” expressed Carr. “These beginner musicians have taken their first steps onto the Bay Shore stage, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future!”