Upon returning to the Lansing area, Hassenger decided to form the Lansing Area Ukulele Group, or L.A.U.G.H., in effort to get the community involved. The group meets once a month and plays a selection of songs at Sir Pizza Grand Café, 201 E. Grand River Ave., in Lansing.

Hassenger said the event gives musicians of all levels a chance to lift their mood, get involved and form a bond with one another.

“Every time you see a ukulele, it involves a bunch of people playing together and singing and having a good time, and that’s just the ukulele way,” he said. “It brings people together of all political persuasions and talent levels.”

MSU alumni Ryan Hunt and Ben Fuhrman, who Hassenger calls “The Twin Towers of the Uke,” both began playing the ukulele in 2009 and have been members of L.A.U.G.H. since its first meeting that September.

Fuhrman, who plays in two local Lansing bands, said the group focuses on having fun and improving skills rather than performing for an audience.

“It’s kind of a no-pressure environment,” Fuhrman said. “No one has any expectation as to how (a ukulele) is going to sound, so you don’t have to worry about playing well.”

Hunt, who also has years of musical experience, said the instrument is so community-oriented because it’s simple for beginners to pick up.

“I play a lot of different instruments, and I find the ukulele is easier to play in a lot of ways,” he said. “It’s smaller, and there’s not as many strings, so you don’t have to worry about hitting as many wrong notes.”

Hassenger said the group, which recently has grown to nearly 30 members, will perform and help out with Mighty Uke Day, an event meant to celebrate the power of the instrument in Lansing, May 5 in Old Town.

“We expect to have upward of 300 people walking around Old Town with ukes,” he said. “There will be all sorts of performances, and even ukulele art. All sorts of people are coming together for the uke.”