Makin' Whoopee!: Ukulele

This arrangement captures the playful wit of the original standard while scaling it perfectly for ukulele. The pairing of Nilsson's sensibility with John Hicks's arranging creates something that feels both respectful to the source material and genuinely fun to play, making it ideal for students who need exposure to jazz standards without getting bogged down in overly complex harmony.

Breezy and sophisticated. The melody sits comfortably on the ukulele, and there's an unmistakable wink in the song's delivery that invites the player to have fun rather than stress over perfection. It feels like a conversation between an old friend and a new one.

Ukulele students ready to explore jazz standards and Broadway repertoire beyond beginner folk arrangements. This works well for intermediate players who want to develop their sense of swing and phrasing in a manageable package.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic swing implied in the melody. Even on a two-page chart, the phrasing matters as much as the notes themselves.
• Let the ukulele's natural brightness work for you in the upper register. Resist the urge to apologize for the instrument's size.
• Listen closely to how the accompaniment supports the tune, then experiment with varying your attack and sustain to complement rather than compete with it.

Drop this into a casual recital or student showcase as a palette cleanser between heavier pieces. It also works as a bridge between rock and jazz units in a general music class, introducing students to the structure and feel of a standard without overwhelming them technically.

• Swung rhythm interpretation and jazz phrasing
• Navigating melodic chromaticism typical of jazz standards
• Accompanying yourself through chord changes
• Stylistic choices in dynamics and articulation
• Relating to a song's lyrical character while playing an instrumental version