News: Make the World a More Peaceful Place: Play the Ukulele

Another TED speaker featured today: Ukulele guru Jake Shimabukuro shares his thoughts and incredible skill in the videos below.

Via CNN,

"Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro says his traditional, Hawaiian instrument, which he learned to play at age 4, can make the world a less violent place.

'I've always believed it's the instrument of peace,' he said, 'because if everyone played the ukulele, this would be a much more peaceful place.'

Shimabukuro says people can't help but smile when they hear the two-octave, stringed instrument. He likened its tone to the sound of children laughing."

Shimbaukuro also says (in the video above),

"The ukulele is the perfect instrument because it's not an instrument that requires five hours of practice a day... you can just sit with it for like ten minutes a week and you'll be able to play songs. It's that simple. It's the easiest instrument to learn."

If it's that easy and could save the world, why not? Here are 200+ tutorials on WonderHowTo to get you started.

• Previously, 10 Big Ideas From TED 2010.
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