ʻUkulele workshop
Overview
Get ready to strum with our summer ʻukulele program! Expect to have a lot of fun while learning to get the most out of this tiny instrument.
Our program is designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to learn and improve their ʻukulele skills in a fun and supportive environment.
What will students learn in the 6-day workshop?
- Fretboard navigation
- Achieving a Good Tone
- Rhythm & Strumming
- Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, & Dynamics in Music
- How to Practice
- Basic Music Theory Concepts
2026 Faculty
‘Ukulele Workshop will be led by Abe Lagrimas, Jr., a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator who has performed and recorded with artists including Jake Shimabukuro, Kamasi Washington, Eric Marienthal, and Lalo Schifrin. A Berklee College of Music graduate and competitor in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition, Abe remains an in-demand session musician in Los Angeles.
As a solo ʻukulele artist, Abe is a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient and has released multiple albums distributed throughout the United States, Japan, and South Korea. He has headlined ʻukulele festivals across the globe, including events in Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Germany, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia.
An active educator, Abe conducts workshops, teaches private lessons, is an instructor for the Fender Play series, and teaches with Honolulu Music4Kids through Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony. He is the author of Jazz Ukulele: Comping, Soloing, Chord Melodies (Berklee Press & Hal Leonard), available worldwide. After a 15-year stint in Los Angeles, Abe has returned home and is currently based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
July 6-11, 2026
Eligibility Requirements
PMI ʻUkulele Workshop is open to students entering 6-12th grade. Graduating high school seniors are also welcome.
Students should be able to hold and tune their own ʻukulele independently. They should be comfortable forming basic chords, playing common strumming patterns, reading tablature, and picking out a simple melody.
Applicants should be able to understand and perform the example provided below.
'Ukulele Workshop
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Advance technique, including fingerpicking, chord voicings, and rhythmic precision
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Strengthen musicality through repertoire that expands stylistic range
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Perform in ensemble settings that build confidence and collaborative skills
More from ‘Ukulele Workshop
‘Ukulele Workshop is an opportunity for students to learn from accomplished local artists who are topping the charts for island music. Past faculty have included award-winning musicians such as Jake Shimabukuro, Bruce Shimabukuro, Mika Kane, Kalaʻe Camarillo, Kamaka Camarillo, Craig Chee, and Sarah Maisel!
Check out the archives to learn more.
