As this year's NZ Ukulele Trust ambassador, Bret McKenzie is on a mission to invest in a future of 'awesome bonfire singalongs' by encouraging children to play the ukulele.

"I grew up learning the recorder at school and I don’t see many of my friends sitting around jamming out on the recorder."

Bret is a founding member of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and is most famous for his international success as one half of musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords and winning an Academy Award in 2012 for his song Man or Muppet. He has also been involved in local acts; most recently starring in NZ feature film Two Little Boys, a cameo in Lord Of The Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring and has also toured as part of dub/funk band The Black Seeds.

In this interview, courtesy of NZ Ukulele Trust, Bret talks about his passion for music and the humble ukulele.

The 2013 NZ Ukulele Festival, the biggest of its kind in Australasia with more than 12,000 guests last year, is on at The Trusts Arena in Auckland on Saturday 30 November.

In your own words what role does music/learning a musical instrument play in children lives?

Playing and learning music has so many positive elements for children. It brings people together, it helps them express themselves, it’s a great educational tool, it’s a doorway to a metaphorical and poetic world, it’s food for the soul, and most importantly it teaches them how to do dance Gangnam Style.

What role does music play in your life?

I love playing and writing music and it’s become my full time job. I’m incredibly lucky to get paid to do it.

When did you begin playing music?

I think my parents sent me to music lessons when I was about six. I don’t remember. I know I was small and didn’t practice very much.

What was the first instrument you learnt?

The first instrument I learnt was the rattle. I don’t play that so much these days.

When did you begin playing the ukulele?

Not till I was thirty.

What are your favourite three things about the ukulele?

I love how the ukulele is so joyful. For some reason it immediately puts a smile on people’s faces. When I started playing with The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra I was astounded by how happy the audiences were after the show. I’d never seen anything like it.

What words of encouragement would you offer to any young people learning the ukulele?

Play songs you like, play with other people, ask your parents to sing with you and get your grandparents to do a rap.

What excites you most about the work the NZ Ukulele Trust are doing?

I love the idea of ukuleles being as standard as tomato sauce. I grew up learning the recorder at school and I don’t see many of my friends sitting around jamming out on the recorder. If we can teach children how to play the ukulele we’re investing in a future of awesome bonfire singalongs.

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About the NZ Ukulele Festival

The New Zealand Ukulele Festival is the biggest festival of its kind in Australasia. Offering a family friendly day of musical celebration and fun it  includes four stages with nonstop performances, free workshops, trade and food stalls, giveaways, prizes and surprises! Last year the festival attracted over 12,000 young people, families and professional and amateur performers from Auckland and beyond and this year is set to be even bigger and better! There is something for all ages and tastes, including a special guest  appearance by international ukulele superstar James Hill, "possibly the best ukulele player in the world", the fabulous Kiwileles (NZ's epic kids ukulele orchestra that keeps on growing and is this year set to tip 3000 players) a special show for little kids by Brisbane performance artist Tyrone ( bring your teddy and favourite grown up!) Sam and Lucy's Hawaiian Adventures (Melbourne), a grand parade and the annual great Kiwi Uke-Along.

About the NZ Ukulele Trust

The NZ Ukulele Trust aims to ensure that New Zealand children, no matter their circumstances, get to experience the many benefits of being engaged with music.

The programme is delivered through schools and enables teachers or community members to get children playing an instrument and singing at minimal cost to the school, and most importantly, no cost to families.

The children learn a skill they will have for the rest of their lives and the benefits go far beyond the obvious practical skills they gain. Children who are involved with music do better academically and socially. Research shows with even a small amount of music on a regular basis children will make gains in all other aspects of their education and wellbeing. The benefits of music early in life are numerous and too important to miss out on!

The NZ Ukulele Trust develops skills in song writing, playing and singing and stages an annual free Ukulele Festival in Auckland that now attracts a crowd of over 10,000.  The headline act is the Kiwileles, a massed ukulele orchestra of children (the largest in the world) that has grown exponentially and will this year tip 3000 players.

The trust also stages two competitions annually, one in partnership with APRA for songwriting, and Uke-Quest – to identify the nation’s top young ukulele players.