Don't Worry, Be Happy (arr. Jim Schustedt): Ukulele

This arrangement captures the infectious optimism of the original while scaling it perfectly for ukulele players at the intermediate level. The two-page format keeps rehearsal time manageable, yet the tune's earworm quality means students will leave class humming it for days.

Breeziness. Optimism. A little bit of playfulness without irony. The arrangement preserves the original's stripped-down vocal character, giving ukulele players a chance to convey genuine emotion through simplicity.

Intermediate ukulele students who want to explore pop arranging without drowning in complex voicings or extended technique. It's also ideal for ensemble work, whether pairing multiple ukuleles or layering this with other instruments in a school music program.

• Nail the rhythmic pocket early. The groove matters more than note perfection, so lock into a steady tempo and let the syncopation breathe naturally.
• Lean into dynamics. The song's charm lives in the contrast between laid-back verses and moments of brightness, so use that dynamic range to shape interest.
• Treat this as a confidence builder. There's no complex fingering or extended technique here, so focus on tone quality and musical expression instead.

Pair this with other accessible pop standards in a spring concert or end-of-year celebration. It works equally well as a confidence-boosting solo vehicle, a small ensemble piece, or the opening number in a mixed-instrument program.

• Rhythmic accuracy in syncopated passages
• Shaping phrasing across long melodic lines
• Translating vocal music to instrumental idiomatic writing
• Dynamic control and tonal expression