Jake Shimabukuro

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as a touring ukulele player.

Sometimes I can't think of a better way to end my day than coming home and just strumming my ukulele for a few minutes. I mean, I joke around and tell people that it's an entire yoga session in one strum, you know?

If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.

I thought I'd grow up to be a teacher, or maybe run for political office.

There's nothing I like better than talking to kids, just sharing the music with them. To relate to them, you need to play songs they're familiar with.

I'm not the kind of person that can do the same thing over and over and over, so that's why touring, playing in a different venue every night, in front of a different audience, is so rewarding, you know, because it always feels fresh.

You know, the ukulele itself is not a very loud instrument, all right? And, you know, compared to like a trumpet, right? A trumpet is really loud.

Bruce Lee loved all different styles of martial arts. He believed that you shouldn't limit yourself to one style, because martial arts is just another form of human expression.

I know a few chords on the guitar, but I wouldn't be able do a show or even be part of a jam session with one.

Classical music presents some of the world's most challenging pieces.

I still believe that music is healing to some extent.

I love the fact that people don't see the ukulele as a serious instrument. A lot of people see it as more of a toy, and I love that because it just proves that people aren't intimidated by the instrument. They aren't afraid to pick it up.