Hundreds of little ukulele players got together for a Big Strum at Rothes Halls in Glenrothes on Monday.
Nearly 1,400 primary school pupils played multicoloured instruments as part of the Big Strum event organised by Fife Council’s Youth Music Initiative.
Primary music specialist and ukulele enthusiast Ann Rae led three groups throughout the day. The biggest strum saw 540 ukulele players in the hall at once.
Music coordinator Sandra Taylor said the ukulele was an ideal instrument for children.
“The ukulele is accessible in all sorts of ways,” she said. “It’s reasonably inexpensive, it’s small and portable, and it’s easy for children to pick up.
“It’s very much a real instrument and not a toy.”
Ukulele tuition has been delivered by primary teachers who were given lessons at the start of the school session.
More than 60 teachers from 35 schools have been involved.
Mrs Taylor is delighted with the children.
“They have made fantastic progress in all sorts of ways. The ukulele encourages them not just to learn to play but also musicianship skills such as singing.
“They have learned more chords than we thought they would. Teachers have remarked that the children’s confidence has increased, and they’ve taken the project to wider areas of the curriculum.
“There’s been an advent calendar shaped like a ukulele and a geography project about Hawaii.
“The great bonus is we have taught the teachers and the primary teachers themselves go and teach the children.
“It’s a sustainable way to teach music. If the funding stopped tomorrow, the ukulele playing wouldn’t stop.”
Having taken up the ukulele a year and a half ago, Mrs Taylor admits to being “hooked”.
She added: “The ukulele is having a resurgence nationally and all over the world. It just seems to have captured the imagination, particularly of young people.”
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is touring Europe and is set to perform at Rothes Halls on October 5.
Formed in 1985, the group has played sell-out shows around the globe.