The 16th Line Strummers came with their ukuleles last week to be part of the Buckhorn School Music Program.

The ukulele has been their instrument of choice for two years and they were busy planning a program for this audience. They wanted songs that would appeal to children from ages four to 12. They wanted songs that would appeal to the children as the ukulele will be available to them to learn.

One song that got everyone to sing was “Happy Birthday” and there were birthdays that day.

“Kookaburra” was another familiar song to some of the children. Many children joined in on “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” The refrain was a good one for many to sing. These young singers made their biggest contribution to John Denver’s “Country Roads.”

There were arms interlocked among some and swaying back and forth. The music was enjoyed.

The Strummers were playing four different kinds of ukuleles. The soprano ukulele is 21-inches long. The concert ukulele is 23-inches long. The tenor is 26-inches long. The baritone was the newest ukulele to join the group. It is 30-inches long. The baritone is five notes deeper than the tenor. It is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar and is very often called a junior guitar. It has different fingering than the others to form the same chords.

The music teacher, Marissa Kidd, had presented the concept of sound stating the longer the instrument the lower the sound to the children. When the baritone was compared to the soprano and the question was asked which produced lower tones the children answered “longer makes lower.”

Ukuleles are the latest instrument in the variety of instruments bring presented to the students. A storage rack was in the process of being built before March break for the ukuleles. Recorders have already been introduced to the children. Ukuleles are next. A supply of band instruments is available to the older students.

Their music education has been started on these country roads. The 16th Line Strummers are supported by the Wesley United Church.

© Peterborough Examiner