Online ukulele lessons
live one-to-one, wherever you are in Canada
Bring your ukulele and you'll be strumming and singing a song by the end of your first session. I teach live and one-to-one on Zoom, anywhere in Canada and in the US too, or in person in Victoria, BC.
I'm Jessica Benini, a Canadian folk singer-songwriter and music teacher based in Victoria, British Columbia, and I've led ukulele workshops here for more than 10 years. The first step is to write to me about your first ukulele lesson.
“After just one class, I went from not knowing how to hold my ukulele to being able to play a song! Since then, I’ve been challenged and supported to grow my skills at my own pace. Jessica meets her students where they’re at and is kind and generous with her knowledge.”
Other students describe their lessons on my testimonials page.
Starting ukulele as an adult
Many of my students pick up the ukulele for the first time as adults, so starting from zero is normal. Ukulele is one of the friendliest instruments to start with, and I teach all ages and levels.
Beginner and intermediate players are my favourite students. If you've strummed the same few chords for years, you're welcome too. Lessons go at your pace, and they're welcoming to 2SLGBTQI+ and neurodivergent students.
Chords, strumming and the songs you want to play
I teach through your favourite songs, in pop, folk, rock, country, soul, blues or gospel, so each new technique arrives inside a song. Lessons cover:
Tuning
Open chords, and changing between them smoothly
Strumming patterns, fingerpicking and simple riffs
Playing and singing at the same time
Reading tablature, basic theory and playing by ear
What you need for an online ukulele lesson
You need your ukulele and a laptop, tablet or phone with a camera. No special microphone, no software to buy. I meet you on Zoom, or FaceTime if you'd rather, and on camera I can see your hands.
After each lesson I send a short recap with the week's practice, plus short demo clips you can replay. You pick 30, 45 or 60 minutes, on a day from Tuesday to Friday, Pacific time. For students in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, my afternoon slots fall in your evening. I also teach online guitar, singing and harmonica lessons.
If you've been learning from free videos
Free videos cost nothing, and they're a fine way to learn to play your first chords. Nobody watches your strumming hand or your chord shapes, though, so a habit can settle in unnoticed.
Apps and video courses are cheap, open at any hour and repeatable at your own speed, with the same blind spot. I teach group classes in Victoria too, which cost less per hour and put other players around you, though each person gets less of my attention. And if the timing feels wrong, waiting a while is a real option. A live lesson puts a second pair of eyes on your hands.
Lessons and group classes in Victoria, BC
If you live in Victoria, BC, I also teach in person, and I can come to you for a $30 travel fee. Semi-private lessons suit a couple or a parent and child learning together.
If you'd rather learn in a group, I run ukulele classes in Victoria at two levels, beginner and intermediate. Dates are on my workshops page.
I'm a former Artistic Director of the Victoria Ukulele Festival (2017) and an instructor at the Mayne Island Ukulele Festival (2026). There's more about my background on my about page.
Ukulele lesson prices (in Canadian dollars)
My private ukulele lessons are $50 for 30 minutes, $75 for 45 minutes and $100 for an hour. Online costs the same as in person, including for US students. Sharing a lesson costs my fee plus half for each extra student, which comes to $75, $112.50 or $150 for two people at 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
Lessons must be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance, or you're charged for the session. You'll find every option, semi-private lessons included, on my rates page. Once you've picked a length, tell me which songs you'd like to strum.
What ukulele beginners ask me before a first lesson
Do I need to read music to learn ukulele?
No, you can start without reading music. In my lessons you learn ukulele through chords, strumming and playing by ear, and reading standard notation stays optional. Tablature, a simple way of writing down where your fingers go, and some basic theory come in when they help with your songs.
What size ukulele should I buy?
A soprano or concert ukulele is a great place to start. If you're unsure which of the two suits you, or you already own a ukulele and want to know whether it will do, mention it when you write to me and I'll help you decide before your first lesson.
Can I learn ukulele online if I've never held one?
Yes, you can start ukulele from nothing online. All you need is your ukulele and a device with a camera. On camera I can see your hands, so I can show you where each finger goes and spot a strumming habit early. Afterwards, the recap and demo clips show you what to practise.
Can I switch between private lessons and group classes?
Yes, you can switch between my private lessons and group classes. Private lessons run online or in person in Victoria, and my group ukulele classes in Victoria have two levels, beginner and intermediate. You can take one, the other, or both.
How often should I have a lesson?
How often you have a lesson depends on your budget and your goals. Most adults who learn with me begin with one 45-minute lesson a week, which leaves time to work through the recap before the next one. You can adjust how often you come as you go.