Ukulele Lessons in Wisconsin
What ukulele lessons cost across Wisconsin, and how to find the right teacher.
Ukulele lesson prices across Wisconsin
A one-hour ukulele lesson in Wisconsin typically costs $58 to $84, and a half hour $32 to $46. Most towns sit close to that range. The River Falls area runs highest, up to $96 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.
| Town | 30 minutes | One hour | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee area | |||
| Milwaukee | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Waukesha | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| West Allis | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Wauwatosa | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Brookfield | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| New Berlin | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Menomonee Falls | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Greenfield | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Oak Creek | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Franklin | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| West Bend | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Muskego | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Mequon | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Germantown | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| South Milwaukee | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Oconomowoc | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Cudahy | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Hartford | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Whitefish Bay | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Greendale | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Glendale | $32–$47 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Shorewood | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Port Washington | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Cedarburg | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Brown Deer | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Grafton | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Sussex | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Richfield | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Lisbon | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Madison area | |||
| Madison | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Sun Prairie | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Fitchburg | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Middleton | $32–$47 | $59–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Waunakee | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Verona | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Stoughton | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Oregon | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| DeForest | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Monroe | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Green Bay area | |||
| Green Bay | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| De Pere | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Howard | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Ashwaubenon | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Bellevue | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Allouez | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Suamico | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Hobart | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Appleton area | |||
| Appleton | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Kaukauna | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Harrison | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Greenville | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Little Chute | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Racine area | |||
| Racine | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Pleasant | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Caledonia | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Burlington | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Kenosha area | |||
| Kenosha | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Pleasant Prairie | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Salem Lakes | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Oshkosh area | |||
| Oshkosh | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Neenah | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Fox Crossing | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Menasha | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| La Crosse area | |||
| La Crosse | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Onalaska | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Holmen | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Eau Claire area | |||
| Eau Claire | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Chippewa Falls | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Janesville area | |||
| Janesville | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Beloit | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Wausau area | |||
| Wausau | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Weston | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Manitowoc area | |||
| Manitowoc | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Two Rivers | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| River Falls area | |||
| River Falls | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Hudson | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| New Richmond | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Stevens Point area | |||
| Stevens Point | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Plover | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Wisconsin Rapids area | |||
| Wisconsin Rapids | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Marshfield | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Watertown area | |||
| Watertown | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Fort Atkinson | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Beaver Dam area | |||
| Beaver Dam | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Waupun | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Wisconsin towns | |||
| Baraboo | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Fond du Lac | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Marinette | $32–$47 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Menomonie | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Platteville | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Sheboygan | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Superior | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Whitewater | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
No Wisconsin town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Wisconsin.
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- Meet your teacher in a free first lesson
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How ukulele learning works in Wisconsin
How does ukulele fit school music in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin schools provide general music rather than a standard ukulele track. State rules call for music instruction in kindergarten through grade 6, with general, vocal and instrumental music available in grades 7–12; districts set the time and curriculum, which includes playing instruments and reading music. In Oshkosh, band, choir and orchestra begin in sixth grade, while elementary strings start in grades 3–5, but those are not ukulele programs. You or your child can use ukulele in general music where it fits, while private lessons provide instrument-specific study.
Who runs what for Wisconsin ukulele players?
Two state organizations offer the clearest student routes, but neither operates a ukulele honors group. The Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) runs Solo & Ensemble Festivals for grades 6–12, with Class A starred first ratings advancing to the state festival. The Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA) sponsors district and state auditions for students in grades 1–12, including private-studio students, and its instrumental solo track can lead from district to state. Wisconsin music educators are also supported by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA), whose work includes advocacy and educational opportunities, rather than a ukulele competition.
Who runs what in Wisconsin
Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA)
- Runs
- Runs Solo & Ensemble Festivals and state advancement for qualifying Class A students.
- For
- Students in grades 6–12
Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA)
- Runs
- Sponsors district and state auditions, including a Vocal/Instrumental/Ensemble track.
- For
- District: all grades and adults; state: grades 4–12 and adults
Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA)
- Runs
- Supports music education through educator advocacy and educational opportunities.
- For
- Music educators and Wisconsin students
Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA)
- Runs
- Runs Singing in Wisconsin and director-nominated All-State Choir.
- For
- Singers in grades 4–12; All-State through college
Auditions and events in Wisconsin
How does an ukulele player reach Wisconsin's top student honors?
Wisconsin has no ukulele group in the WSMA State Honors Project, and the WMTA’s acoustic-guitar requirements do not establish that a ukulele qualifies for its Vocal/Instrumental/Ensemble track. A student can still enter a suitable WSMA Solo & Ensemble event if the instrument and selection meet the festival’s rules; students in grades 6–12 with a Class A starred first rating at district advance to the state festival. District festivals run from November and January through April, with state festivals in late April and early May. WMTA district auditions run February through April, but families should confirm instrument eligibility before treating that route as an option.
The ukulele route in Wisconsin, step by step
- WMTA district auditionEnter the Vocal/Instrumental/Ensemble track; district auditions run February through April.
- Qualify for stateEnter the State Track and earn performance scores of 5-5-4 plus at least 80% on the theory test.
- WMTA state competitionQualified students in grades 4–12 and adults advance to the state Vocal/Instrumental/Ensemble competition.
- WSMA Solo & Ensemble optionStudents in grades 6–12 can enter a suitable event and pursue advancement through district performance.
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For WSMA Solo & Ensemble, choose a piece from its Festival Music List, which places music in Class C entry level, Class B experienced level, or Class A advanced level. An adjudicator gives written and verbal feedback and a rating, so the event can be useful even when advancing is not the goal. Accompaniment is encouraged for most solos but is not required, and recorded accompaniment is allowed. A focused event piece typically takes three to six months to prepare in weekly lessons, leaving time to settle chord changes, strumming and a confident performance.
What else is there to enter?
Beyond WSMA's Solo & Ensemble route, WMTA's district auditions offer a performance goal for students and adults, with a state competition for qualifying students. A player who prefers making music with peers rather than being judged can look to ukulele jams in Appleton or Madison, where the emphasis is shared playing. This gives a beginner room to build confidence first, while a more experienced player can work toward a formal solo audition.
Homeschool and private school students
Wisconsin homeschool students can participate in extracurricular music in their resident public school district on the same basis as district pupils, with the usual participation fees possible. WSMA also allows eligible homeschool students in grades 6–12 to register for District Solo & Ensemble through family membership; a Class A starred first rating can lead to state. WSMA high-school honors requires attendance at a member school and regular membership in a school ensemble, so that route is not open to homeschool students on the stated terms. ROCKONSIN is another statewide option for grades 7–12 bands formed outside school, including homeschool students.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on ukulele
Ukulele is a practical first string instrument for a child who can hold it comfortably and begin coordinating a fretting hand with a strumming hand; there is no Wisconsin school grade that sets the starting age. Since schools teach general music before most students enter band, choir or orchestra, private lessons let your child build chord shapes, steady strumming and music reading at their own pace. That foundation also helps a child take part when school music includes group instrument playing, without waiting for a ukulele-specific school ensemble.
A teen in Wisconsin
A Wisconsin teen can begin ukulele without needing to enter a school ensemble, since the state's school honors groups do not include ukulele. Students in grades 6–12 can still consider WSMA Solo & Ensemble, while WMTA's district auditions include students of all grades and its state competition is open from grade 4 through adulthood. Those routes have their own seasonal cycles, so weekly lessons give a teen a steady place to learn a solo or develop ensemble skills alongside school commitments.
Starting or coming back as an adult
It is not too late to begin or return to ukulele as an adult in Wisconsin. Mad City Ukes in Madison rehearses weekly and performs around Dane County, giving players a way to share music with others. For a more structured goal, an adult can enter the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association's district auditions, which are open to adults as well as students. Our teacher meets you where you are, whether you are learning your first chords or returning after time away.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good ukulele teacher do?
A good ukulele teacher helps you or your child build clean chord changes, a reliable strum and musical listening, then shapes those skills around a goal such as a WSMA solo or playing with a local ukulele group. Fit matters because a young beginner may need small, clear steps, while an adult returning to music may want room to reconnect with familiar songs. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, but the right match also depends on how you learn and what you hope to play. You can choose your teacher or ask us to recommend one.
How do live online ukulele lessons work?
In a live weekly Zoom lesson, your teacher hears your timing and tone and sees both hands, so they can correct a chord shape or strumming motion as it happens. A stable device view of the ukulele, good light on your fretting hand and a quiet room make that feedback clearer. Online lessons mean no commute and access to a teacher who fits, rather than only the closest option; the one-on-one rhythm is easier to keep when it starts at home. A student in Milwaukee and a student in Verona have the same teacher choice and the same lesson.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
Ukulele in Wisconsin
Where to hear ukulele
For live listening beyond ukulele gatherings, Madison offers opera and classical and jazz performances. Madison Opera presents three operas each year as well as Opera in the Park, with eligible students able to get rush tickets for under $21. The Wisconsin Union Theater presents classical and jazz performances at Memorial Union during its 2026–27 season. Hearing performers shape a melody and keep time with an ensemble gives you or your child musical ideas to bring back to ukulele practice.
Where to play with others
Ukulele players in Wisconsin can take part in formal solo opportunities through the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association’s district auditions, which are open to students and adults. For students in grades 6–12, WSMA Solo & Ensemble offers another performance setting. These are contest routes rather than recurring community ensembles, so a player whose goal is regular group playing can build toward shared songs and steady ensemble timing through ukulele jams or informal playing with other musicians.
Ukulele around Wisconsin, area by area
Milwaukee area
In Wauwatosa, the Milwaukee Choristers’ Roots apprenticeship waives annual membership dues for participating students, though it serves singers rather than ukulele players. For listening, Milwaukee's Festival City Symphony Saturday Classics concerts are free, with a suggested student donation, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra offers student rush tickets on concert day. These give a ukulele learner a chance to hear orchestral phrasing and rhythm in Milwaukee.
- Town guides
- Milwaukee, Waukesha, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Brookfield, New Berlin, Menomonee Falls, Greenfield
Madison area
Madison's listening options include student rush tickets at Madison Symphony Orchestra concerts for $15 and free Friday Musicales noon-hour recitals at First Unitarian Society, mostly from October through April. Mad City Ukes is a local option for making music with other ukulele players. These different settings let you or your child hear live performance and find a community connection to the instrument in Madison.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 10, 38 lesson weeks (Madison Metropolitan School District)
Green Bay area
Green Bay's free 6:30 Concert Series at the Weidner Center offers an accessible way to hear live music. The Civic Symphony of Green Bay's Music for Young Listeners concert is designed for young audiences, with scholarships available to reduce or cover student admission. These are listening opportunities rather than ukulele ensembles, so they work well for families building a child's interest in live performance.
- School year
- Aug 31 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Green Bay Area Public School District)
Appleton area
Appleton offers student day-of-concert rush tickets for Fox Valley Symphony performances, while downtown's Mile of Music brings free live original music to official venues, including all-ages venues. The Northeast Wisconsin Ukulele Society gives players a place to meet for ukulele jams. Together, these options let a learner hear local performers and connect with others who play the instrument.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 4, 38 lesson weeks (Appleton Area School District)
- Town guides
- Appleton, Kaukauna, Harrison, Greenville, Little Chute
Racine area
Racine's Orchestral Blockbusters concert gives students ages 12–18 a low-cost way to hear the Racine Symphony Orchestra, with children under 12 admitted free when tickets are requested by phone or email. First Presbyterian Church's Music & More adds free summer Thursday noon concerts. Neither is a ukulele group, but both offer a chance to listen closely to live music in Racine.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Racine Unified School District)
- Town guides
- Racine, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Burlington
Kenosha area
Kenosha County has free concerts and recitals by Carthage College faculty and students, and UW–Parkside presents free Friday noon concerts during fall and spring semesters. A student learning ukulele can use these performances to hear different instruments and musical styles. They are listening opportunities, not dedicated ukulele ensembles, so a player seeking to perform with other ukulele players will need a different route.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 3, 37 lesson weeks (Kenosha Unified School District)
- Town guides
- Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Salem Lakes
La Crosse area
La Crosse offers free summer listening at Riverside Park: Moon Tunes brings a concert series, and La Crosse Concert Band performs most Wednesday evenings in June and July. The band is for winds, brass and percussion rather than ukulele, but its regular outdoor performances give families a simple way to make live music part of the season. Ukulele players can listen for steady pulse and ensemble balance.
- School year
- Aug 20 to May 28, 39 lesson weeks (School District of La Crosse)
Eau Claire area
Eau Claire's free Tuesday Night Blues runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and welcomes all ages, while Sounds Like Summer presents local bands at Phoenix Park on summer Thursdays. Both offer a ukulele student chances to hear live playing in different styles. These are listening events rather than ukulele meetups, so they are useful for building musical ideas before practicing with others.
- School year
- Sep 1 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Eau Claire Area School District)
- Town guides
- Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls
A little ukulele history in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a small but specific ukulele history. Eau Claire luthier Gordy Bischoff built tenor ukuleles and founded the Ukulele Klub of Eau Claire, whose members perform around the area; Madison maker Steve Pollack also builds cigar box ukuleles. In southeastern Wisconsin, Nā Hale Cultural Arts Center includes ukulele within Polynesian cultural arts alongside hula, Tahitian dance and drumming, and Hawaiian chant. These roots show that the instrument here is both a handmade craft and part of living cultural practice, giving a student more than one way to connect with it.
Start Ukulele Lessons in Wisconsin with a Free First Lesson
- One teacher, one student, one personalized plan
- Weekly options for changing family calendars
- Develop chord changes, strumming, songs, and confidence
- Meet your teacher in a free first lesson
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher who can help you meet your specific goal, whether that is learning basic chords, preparing a solo, or playing with a group. Lesson With You offers a free first 30-minute lesson, so you can meet the teacher and decide if the fit feels right.
Yes, a teacher can see your fretting and strumming hands and give real-time feedback on chord changes, timing and tone. A clear camera view and steady weekly practice make the online format work well without a commute.
Wisconsin has no WSMA State Honors ukulele group, but a ukulele player can pursue WMTA's Vocal/Instrumental/Ensemble district audition and qualify for its state competition. WSMA Solo & Ensemble is another student route if the entry is eligible, with Class A starred first ratings advancing from district to state.
Yes, eligible homeschool students in grades 6–12 can register for WSMA District Solo & Ensemble through family membership, and may advance to state after a Class A starred first rating. They can also participate in their resident public district's extracurricular music activities on the same basis as district pupils.
A child can start when they can comfortably hold the instrument and coordinate simple fretting and strumming motions; Wisconsin does not set a school-based ukulele starting grade. Private lessons can begin before a child joins a school band, choir or orchestra.
No, adults can begin or return to ukulele at any age. Appleton's Northeast Wisconsin Ukulele Society and Madison's Mad City Ukes offer ways to play with other ukulele enthusiasts, while weekly lessons give you individual support.
Ukulele lessons in Wisconsin typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $46 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.
