Rock Around The Clock (from The Daily Ukulele) (arr. Liz and Jim Beloff): Ukulele

This Beloff arrangement captures the infectious momentum of the original while making it entirely accessible on a single ukulele. Students get to play a genuine rock and roll classic that their families will recognize immediately, which means genuine enthusiasm at home and in recitals.

Pure, unbridled energy from the opening note. There's a swagger in this arrangement that feels like you're part of something genuinely fun and slightly rebellious. The piece bounces with the kind of joy that defined early rock and roll.

Ukulele students who want to play something with real historical weight and immediate appeal. This works equally well for beginners building confidence with a recognizable tune and intermediate players looking to add an iconic piece to their repertoire.

• Keep the rhythm driving forward without rushing; the groove lives in consistent pulse, not speed
• Emphasize the backbeat on beats two and four to nail that rock and roll feel
• Balance melody notes with the rhythmic accompaniment so neither overwhelms the other

Open a spring concert with this to get the audience engaged from the first second, or use it as the finale if you want students and audience members alike leaving with a smile. It pairs beautifully alongside other popular music selections as part of a retrospective set or all-ages performance.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in a rock and roll context
• Maintaining a steady groove while switching between melody and rhythm patterns
• Understanding backbeat emphasis and how it shapes style
• Building confidence with a widely recognized song