A Kiss To Build A Dream On (from The Daily Ukulele) (arr. Jim Beloff): Ukulele

Jim Beloff's ukulele arrangement captures the ease and charm of Armstrong's original recording while making it genuinely playable on a four-string instrument. Your students will recognize the melody instantly, which means they can focus on the interpretive work of bringing warmth and swing to a short, manageable piece.

Warm, nostalgic, and full of possibility. This is a song about optimism and connection, and the ukulele arrangement preserves that intimate quality while allowing room for the player's own phrasing and feeling.

Ukulele students who have moved beyond absolute beginner material and want to explore jazz and pop standards with real musical substance. Teachers looking for a single-page solo piece that builds interpretive skills without overwhelming students with technical demands.

• Lean into the legato phrasing; this is a ballad that breathes. Avoid rushing the tempo, even if silence feels uncomfortable at first.
• Practice the rhythm as written before adding swing feel. Once you own the notation, the groove becomes organic rather than forced.
• Listen to Armstrong's original recording to internalize the vocal inflection. That kind of character-driven playing is the whole point here.

Include it in a concert spotlight on jazz standards or a program celebrating American songbook classics. It also works beautifully as a solo feature in a student recital where you want something with cross-genre appeal that audiences will genuinely enjoy.

• Swing phrasing and interpretation in a jazz context
• Legato playing and tone control on sustained melodic lines
• Understanding lyrical melody structure and vocal music translation to instrument
• Rubato and expressive timing within a notated framework