Bryan Billhimer refers to the ukulele as "the gateway instrument." For him and his fellow teacher Ashley Shepherd, these tiny, four-stringed wonders represent a doorway to an ever-growing world of music—one that's accessible to anyone. The duo hosts online classes on the Center Stage Ukulele Academy website, gearing their lessons toward total beginners.

The academy's over 200 video seminars cover fundamental techniques as well as popular songs, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Wagon Wheel," and Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off." Additionally, students are encouraged to submit lesson requests for songs they'd like to learn. Each video aims for the utmost clarity with a split-screen setup and shots from multiple angles, enabling players to perfect their finger placement without so much as a dollop of superglue. The academy also supplements its classes with resources such as tabs and helpful diagrams. To find out more about the lessons, visit their free lessons page.