In light of the current Public Health Agency of Canada’s guidance on Covid-19, Cutie Circle volunteers (aka Cuties) deeply regret to announce that the Sixth Annual Ukulele Workshop Series for Absolute Beginners will be postponed indefinitely in order to help mitigate disease transmission in the community-at-large.

In the meantime, ukulele kits (including instruction books) are available for loan from your local Fraser Valley Regional Library locations should aspiring students seek to have an early start on their ukulele journey via self-study.

We hope to offer it again at a future date and it will be announced on our website. If you would like to be informed by email, please feel free to complete the “Join Us” form to be added to our mailing list.

We have included below the general details about our workshop series for information only.

Stay healthy, hydrated, happy and safe.

Intended for absolute beginners with little to no background in music, this workshop will give participants some basic knowledge to begin a journey into music using the happiest instrument on earth.

It was a fantastic experience for attendees and volunteers alike and we can hardly wait to meet everyone and spread the joy of ukulele this spring.

Many of our students have gone on to share music by volunteering their time to perform at municipal and regional events and/or to teach ukulele to other seniors and children in the community.

Photo Credit: Helena M.

We thank the City of Port Coquitlam for offering the beautiful Michael Wright Art Gallery at Leigh Square for this workshop free of charge.

Gathering Place, Leigh Square Community Arts Village

Date: Postponed Indefinitely
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Location: Michael Wright Art Gallery, Gathering Place, 2253 Leigh Square Place, Port Coquitlam
Admission: Free
Pre-registration is currently closed.

Courtesy of City of Port Coquitlam

Workshop Requirements

Participants are encouraged to bring their own ukulele, music stand, digital tuner and copy of the textbook, Ukulele for Dummies, 2nd Edition. (Please do not be offended by the title of this rather good publication.)

Ukulele Kits Loaning Program

We have acquired a few sets of ukuleles, music stands, digital tuners and textbooks (with our personal funds) for loaning to participants who do not own any equipment, upon receipt of a refundable deposit of $60. Please do not mark in (and/or damage) the loaner textbooks (otherwise the deposit will be forfeited). Participants can reserve a set when they register using the form below.

Ukulele Scholarship Initiative

We are in the process of establishing a small scholarship for a few keen students who might otherwise not be able to afford to buy their own ukuleles to continue their music journey upon conclusion of our ukulele workshop series. Those who would like to donate any ukulele in good condition (new or used) to this scholarship program are welcome to contact us. We will put you and the recipient in touch.

2019 Ukulele Scholarship Winners

Ukulele Lending, Rental and Sales in the Region

As some of you have asked about the availability of ukuleles in the region, we have made some inquiries at local stores.

• Empire Music has a selection of ukuleles available via its website. For pick-up orders only (with a 24-hour advance notice because the company is a warehouse not a store-front), our students can pick up their orders in person to save on shipping.
  Empire Music has generously offered us a discount on the ukuleles we purchased for this workshop.
• Long & McQuade (Port Coquitlam) has ukuleles for sale and can offer a payment plan. The store also offers special discounts on ukuleles for all Cuties. The discounts can range from 9% to 15% depending on the make and model of the ukulele. Mention Cutie Circle at time of purchase to receive the discount. Ask for Brandon Smith for further assistance. (Information current as of March 24, 2017.)
• Tom Lee Music (Coquitlam) has offered participants of this workshop a 10% discount on regular-priced ukuleles and music books. Please contact Dallas Todd or Adam Dean at the store and mention you are a participant of this workshop to receive a discount. (Information current as of March 14, 2017.)
• Tapestry Music has offered participants of this workshop store discounts on regular-priced ukuleles. Please contact Michael Sabourin at the store and mention you are a participant of this workshop.

Disclosure: We do not receive commission from any of these merchants. They are mentioned here as a service to the participants only.

Michael Wright Art Gallery, Gathering Place

Ukulele Lending Collection at the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL)

• Cutie Circle and Terry Fox Library collaborated in the Fall of 2016 to create the Uke ‘n Play ukulele public lending collection. The Cutie Circle, Empire Music, King’s Music, Ohana Music and our good friend, Linda Thiessen, collectively donated 50 ukulele kits (including ukuleles, gig bags and tuners) and the FVRL rounded out the collection with ukulele instruction books and plastic containers for each kit. Library patrons of the 25 FVRL branches (from Port Coquitlam to Boston Bar) can now borrow ukuleles for free. In fact, InterLink Library network cardholders in the surrounding region (e.g., Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) can borrow ukuleles in person at FVRL locations as well. A further 20 ukulele kits were donated to FVRL in the Fall of 2017 by King’s Music and the Cutie Circle.