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Ukulele Lessons in Michigan

What ukulele lessons cost across Michigan, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque - About Us - Lesson With You
Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 19 min read

Ukulele lesson prices across Michigan

A one-hour ukulele lesson in Michigan typically costs $61 to $96, and a half hour $33 to $53. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The Detroit area runs highest, up to $102 an hour.

Every town has two guides: an ukulele lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.

Town30 minutesOne hourGuides
Detroit area
Detroit$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
South Lyon$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Warren$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Sterling Heights$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Dearborn$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Livonia$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Troy$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Westland$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Farmington Hills$33–$53$61–$98LessonsCosts
Port Huron$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Rochester Hills$33–$53$61–$98LessonsCosts
Southfield$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Novi$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Pontiac$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Taylor$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Dearborn Heights$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
St. Clair Shores$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Royal Oak$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Roseville$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Lincoln Park$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Eastpointe$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Southgate$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Oak Park$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Madison Heights$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Allen Park$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Hamtramck$34–$56$64–$102LessonsCosts
Garden City$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Inkster$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Auburn Hills$33–$53$60–$96LessonsCosts
Romulus$33–$51$60–$94LessonsCosts
Wyandotte$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Birmingham$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Ferndale$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Trenton$33–$53$61–$96LessonsCosts
Wayne$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Wixom$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
Grosse Pointe Woods$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Mount Clemens$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Berkley$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Harper Woods$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Hazel Park$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Fraser$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Rochester$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Woodhaven$33–$52$60–$96LessonsCosts
Melvindale$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Riverview$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
New Baltimore$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Farmington$33–$54$63–$100LessonsCosts
Clawson$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Grosse Pointe Park$33–$54$62–$99LessonsCosts
Beverly Hills$33–$54$62–$98LessonsCosts
Grand Rapids area
Grand Rapids$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Holland$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Wyoming$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Kentwood$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Forest Hills$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Allendale$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Walker$31–$44$57–$80LessonsCosts
Cutlerville$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Jenison$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Grandville$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Northview$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Ionia$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
East Grand Rapids$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Grand Haven$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Comstock Park$32–$46$58–$84LessonsCosts
Lansing area
Lansing$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
East Lansing$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Okemos$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Holt$32–$47$59–$86LessonsCosts
Waverly$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Haslett$32–$48$59–$87LessonsCosts
Ann Arbor area
Ann Arbor$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Ypsilanti$34–$55$63–$101LessonsCosts
Flint area
Flint$32–$47$59–$86LessonsCosts
Burton$32–$46$58–$85LessonsCosts
Fenton$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Kalamazoo area
Kalamazoo$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Portage$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Muskegon area
Muskegon$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Norton Shores$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Other Michigan towns
Adrian$32–$50$59–$91LessonsCosts
Battle Creek$31–$44$58–$81LessonsCosts
Bay City$32–$45$58–$82LessonsCosts
Cadillac$32–$47$58–$85LessonsCosts
Coldwater$32–$49$59–$91LessonsCosts
Escanaba$32–$48$59–$89LessonsCosts
Jackson$32–$46$58–$85LessonsCosts
Marquette$32–$49$59–$91LessonsCosts
Midland$31–$43$57–$79LessonsCosts
Monroe$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts
Mount Pleasant$32–$45$58–$83LessonsCosts
Niles$31–$44$58–$80LessonsCosts
Owosso$32–$50$59–$92LessonsCosts
Saginaw$31–$44$57–$80LessonsCosts
Sault Ste. Marie$32–$48$59–$88LessonsCosts
Sturgis$32–$46$58–$83LessonsCosts
Traverse City$32–$47$58–$86LessonsCosts

Find Your Next Ukulele Teacher in Michigan

Browse ukulele teachers, compare availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in Michigan.

4 ukulele instructors available in the next 5 days
Will Orchard

Will Orchard

Top Rated 5.0
Bachelor’s in GuitarMulti-Genre SpecialistTheory ExpertiseStudent Favorite
Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Michigan via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Will
Gabriel Maia

Gabriel Maia

Top Rated 5.0
Master’s in GuitarTechnique ExpertVersatile RepertoireStudent Favorite
Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English, Portuguese, Spanish🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Michigan via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Gabriel
Jess Kerber

Jess Kerber

Top Rated 5.0
Bachelor’s in SingingFun & UpbeatWarm & EncouragingPopular
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 8 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Michigan via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Jess
Nick Prato

Nick Prato

Bachelor’s in GuitarProgress FocusedMulti-Genre SpecialistWarm & Encouraging
Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 8 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Michigan via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Nick

How ukulele learning works in Michigan

How does ukulele fit school music in Michigan?

Michigan schools do not generally place ukulele in band or orchestra, so it is usually a personal instrument alongside school music rather than a school ensemble track. The state requires one arts credit for graduation, but music is only one way to meet it and local boards decide how students earn the credit. Troy begins instrumental study through band or orchestra in fifth grade, while Jenison starts orchestra in fifth grade and band in sixth; Birmingham begins instrumental music in fifth grade. These routes teach ensemble skills, while private ukulele lessons build chord and strumming fluency.

When school music starts in Michigan districts

Troy School DistrictBand or orchestra instrumental study5
Jenison Public SchoolsOrchestra5
Jenison Public SchoolsBand6
Birmingham Public SchoolsInstrumental music5

Who runs what for Michigan ukulele players?

Michigan has several student music organizations, but their programs serve different instruments and school settings. The Michigan Music Teachers Association (Michigan MTA) runs assessments, festivals and competitions, while the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) serves students from member schools through Solo & Ensemble and school ensembles. The Michigan Music Association (MMA) holds a student competition in Kalamazoo for ages 5–18 whose teacher is a member. These routes do not name ukulele divisions, so a ukulele player should distinguish opportunities for individual performance from school band and orchestra honors.

Who runs what in Michigan

Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA)

Runs
Sanctions marching-band contests and a state championship.
For
Member Michigan high school marching bands.

Michigan Music Teachers Association (Michigan MTA)

Runs
Runs student assessments, festivals and competitions.
For
Students in eligible events; membership required for most state events.

Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA)

Runs
Runs Solo & Ensemble Festivals and school music honors.
For
Individual students from member schools.

Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MASTA)

Runs
Runs a chamber music festival and competition with coaching and adjudication.
For
Student chamber ensembles.

Auditions and events in Michigan

How does an ukulele player reach Michigan's top student honors?

For a Michigan ukulele player, the clearest school-based route to a state-level performance honor is Solo & Ensemble, rather than an all-state audition. A student begins at a district festival, where a selected piece is evaluated; a Superior rating makes the student eligible to continue to the state festival in March. District festivals run from late January through mid-February, so families can plan the winter around that first performance. This route suits a student who wants an adjudicated solo experience, even though ukulele is not part of the state’s audition-selected band, orchestra or jazz ensembles. The 2027 state festival is in March, giving a qualifying student a next step after the district performance.

The ukulele route in Michigan, step by step

  1. District Solo & EnsembleStudents from MSBOA member schools take part in district festivals from late January through mid-February.
  2. Prepare an individual selectionChoose a solo piece that shows your playing clearly and confirm the festival's participation requirements with your school.
  3. State festival eligibilityA Superior district rating makes a high school student eligible for the March state festival.

The Michigan ukulele year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

MSBOA Solo & Ensemble FestivalMichigan School Band and Orchestra AssociationStart the piece Jul to Oct

Start the piece Jul to OctJan

MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble FestivalMichigan School Band and Orchestra AssociationStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

For an individual festival performance, choose a piece that lets you show secure chord changes, an even strum, and a clear melody or vocal accompaniment. A well-chosen song is stronger than one whose rhythm or transitions are still uncertain, so your teacher can help match the music to your current playing and shape it into a polished performance. In weekly lessons, allow three to six months to prepare an event piece, especially when it introduces new chords or a more demanding rhythm.

What else is there to enter?

Michigan Music Teachers Association (Michigan MTA) offers student achievement assessments and festivals beyond its performance competition, giving a student a way to receive structured feedback without making a contest the goal. A ukulele player should confirm the particular event accepts the instrument before preparing. For a less formal option, community ukulele groups in Marquette, Ann Arbor and Mt. Pleasant let players share songs with others, where the focus is playing together rather than adjudication.

Ukulele events in Michigan, 2026–27

MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Festival

Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

When
March 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
High school students who qualify with a Superior rating at district festival

MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival

Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

When
Late January through mid-February 2027
Entry
Ask the organizer
Who
Students from MSBOA member schools; district participation is for middle and high school students

Homeschool and private school students

Homeschool and private-school students do not have a separate statewide ukulele honor route identified through MSBOA: Solo & Ensemble is for individual students from member schools, and advancement depends on the festival’s school participation rules. Private-school students may have access when their school is an MSBOA member. Homeschool musicians in Lansing and Oakland County have broader school-style music ensemble options, but those choir, band and strings groups are not ukulele-specific. For ukulele, community playing and individual study remain practical ways to build experience.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on ukulele

Ukulele is a comfortable first instrument for many children once they can hold it securely and coordinate both hands; its small size and chord-based playing let a beginner make music early. Michigan school instrumental programs in places such as Troy, Jenison and Birmingham begin in fifth or sixth grade, but ukulele study does not need to wait for that school entry point. A private teacher can build steady strumming, chord changes and rhythm before school ensembles begin, then keep ukulele as a separate musical outlet alongside them.

A teen in Michigan

For a Michigan teen, ukulele is usually a personal study path rather than an instrument in school band or orchestra. Lessons can support a teen who wants to sing while accompanying themselves, develop rhythm and chords, or prepare a solo selection for an eligible individual event. Weekly one-on-one online lessons keep that work connected to the school calendar without asking the student to give up other music commitments.

Starting or coming back as an adult

It is not too late to begin ukulele as an adult in Michigan; the instrument gives you a direct way to play songs and accompany your own singing. Marquette Ukulele Group in Marquette and Tree Town Ukes in Ann Arbor welcome community players, while the Isabella County Commission on Aging lists a Friday ukulele group in Mt. Pleasant. A weekly teacher can meet you at your current level, whether you are learning your first chords or returning after time away, and help you arrive ready to join in with confidence.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good ukulele teacher do?

A good ukulele teacher helps you or your child make clean chord changes, keep a reliable strum and connect singing with accompaniment when that is the goal. In Michigan, that matters because school honors commonly center on band, orchestra and jazz instruments rather than ukulele, so lessons should reflect the student's own aims instead of promising a school audition track. A patient teacher suits a young beginner, while a teen or adult may want song choices that match their interests. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher or ask us to recommend one, and every teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar.

How do live online ukulele lessons work?

In a live Zoom ukulele lesson, the teacher listens to your timing and chord transitions and watches your hands, then gives real-time feedback on strumming, fingering and tone. Set the camera so both hands and the instrument are visible, and keep the ukulele tuned and music within reach. There is no commute, and you can choose a teacher who fits your goals rather than being limited to the closest option. In Detroit or Harper Woods, you or your child gets the same choice of teacher and the same weekly one-on-one lesson, making it easier to keep a steady rhythm of learning.

What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You

A teacher with a degree in guitarEvery Lesson With You ukulele teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar.
Gabriel MaiaGabrielMaster’s in GuitarWill OrchardWillBachelor’s in GuitarJess KerberJessBachelor’s in Singing
Meet the teachers below
The same teacher every weekLive, one-on-one lessons with one teacher who knows your goals.
Practice goals every weekEach lesson ends with what to practice before the next one.
Switch or pause anytimeSwitch teachers at no cost, or pause with 24 hours' notice. There's no term to sign up for.

Ukulele in Michigan

Where to hear ukulele

Michigan offers many kinds of live music to hear, even when a concert is not centered on ukulele. In Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra gives classical and pops concerts, with half-price 2026–27 tickets for students and children under 18; The Ark presents folk and other live music, including free monthly Artist Spotlight concerts. Detroit’s Jazz Festival includes jazz performances, while St. Clair County Community College’s free Noon and Night Concert Series in Port Huron spans jazz, folk, Americana, ragtime and classical music. Listening across styles helps a ukulele student hear rhythm and phrasing in context.

Where to play with others

Ukulele players looking for other musicians can also explore broader community music-making. National Homeschool Music Ensembles rehearses in Tecumseh and serves students from Lenawee County, while the Home School Music Association in Lansing offers choir, band, and strings for homeschool students. These are not ukulele groups, but they give a young player ways to share music with others; private lessons can keep ukulele as a personal instrument and strengthen the rhythm and song skills that carry into ensemble playing.

Ukulele around Michigan, area by area

Detroit area

Dearborn college students can buy Dearborn Symphony tickets for $5, plus any applicable card fees, making an orchestra concert a practical listening outing for a student. In Grosse Pointe Farms, The War Memorial’s SummerFest concerts are free to the public, with optional VIP tickets. These events offer contrasting settings for hearing ensemble and live performance while a ukulele player develops rhythm and listens for how accompaniment supports a larger sound.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 7, 39 lesson weeks (Detroit Public Schools Community District)

Grand Rapids area

In Grand Rapids, students and educators can buy up to two Grand Rapids Symphony tickets for $12 each for eligible concerts. Aquinas College’s music department also hosts concerts and events that are free and open to the public unless noted otherwise. A ukulele student can hear both orchestral and varied campus performances, then bring ideas about pulse, phrasing and melody back to song playing.

Ann Arbor area

Ann Arbor Civic Band concerts at Burns Park are free on Wednesdays in June and July, and First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor hosts free AD LIBITUM concerts on Fridays at noon during the fall-to-spring season. The settings give a student opportunities to hear live ensemble music across the year. A ukulele player can listen for how steady rhythm supports a tune, even when the featured instruments differ from their own.

Town guides
Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti

Flint area

Flint’s live performance options include student access: people age 13 and older can buy up to two FIM Student Rush tickets for $13 to $26 on the day of many performances. That makes a concert an accessible way for a ukulele student to hear a range of live music and follow how performers shape rhythm and phrasing. In Flint, broad listening can inform a player’s own work on songs and accompaniment.

School year
Aug 31 to Jun 10, 38 lesson weeks (Flint Community Schools)
Town guides
Flint, Burton, Fenton

Kalamazoo area

College students in Kalamazoo can buy Kalamazoo Symphony tickets for $10 plus a $2 ticket fee for most concerts. Kalamazoo County’s Summertime Live Concert Series brings free, family-friendly concerts to venues across the area. Together, these options let ukulele students hear both symphonic performance and summer live music, building a wider sense of how rhythm and melody work across styles.

School year
Aug 31 to Jun 11, 38 lesson weeks (Kalamazoo Public Schools)
Town guides
Kalamazoo, Portage

Saginaw area

In Saginaw, Roethke Park in Thomas Township hosts free summer picnic concerts on Tuesdays, and Jazz in the Garden offers free outdoor jazz for four consecutive Wednesdays in July. The events make it easy for a student to hear live music in different settings. A ukulele player can listen closely to the rhythmic patterns and melodic lines that give a song its character.

School year
Aug 31 to Jun 10, 38 lesson weeks (Saginaw Public School District)
Town guides
Saginaw

Jackson area

Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Pops concert at Horace Blackman Park is free, with student VIP tickets available for $15. In Albion, Swingin’ at the Shell presents free live concerts on Sunday evenings during summer. These performances give a ukulele player a chance to hear ensemble sound and song-based music, then carry ideas about keeping time and supporting a melody into personal playing.

Town guides
Jackson

A little ukulele history in Michigan

Michigan has an active community interest in ukulele, with Music is the Foundation administering the annual Mighty Uke Day Festival in Lansing. The organization also lists ukulele programs and lending programs at libraries and schools in places including Marquette, Munising, Portland, Jackson and Charlevoix. For a student, that means the instrument is not limited to private practice: local programs and lending efforts give families ways to encounter ukulele in different parts of the state, while lessons help a player turn that interest into confident song playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a teacher who can help you reach your own goal, such as changing chords smoothly, accompanying singing or preparing a solo performance. Lesson With You offers a free first 30-minute lesson, and you can select a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one.

Yes, a live lesson lets a teacher hear your rhythm and see your hands while you play, so feedback on strumming and chord changes happens in real time. You also avoid a commute and can learn with a teacher who fits, wherever you are in Michigan.

Some opportunities are tied to a school’s membership: MSBOA Solo & Ensemble is for students from member schools, and private-school students may take part through a member school. Homeschool students can also pursue community ukulele playing, while broader homeschool ensembles in Lansing and Oakland County focus on choir, band and strings.

A child can begin once they can hold a ukulele comfortably and coordinate both hands, often before Michigan school instrumental programs begin in fifth or sixth grade. A teacher can build simple chord and rhythm skills at a pace that suits the child.

No, adults can begin at any experience level and work toward playing songs or joining a community group. Marquette Ukulele Group, Tree Town Ukes in Ann Arbor and a ukulele group in Mt. Pleasant offer ways to play with others.

Ukulele lessons in Michigan typically cost about $72 an hour, or $33 to $53 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.