Group Ukulele for Beginners - Level 6 and 7 - Weekly Lessons (Ages 7-8)

This class is for high-level beginner ukulele students who have already participated in my Level 1 - 5 classes OR for beginner students who already know the basics of how to hold the ukulele, the string names, the parts of the ukulele, some beginner strumming patterns and how to play the chords C, F, G, Am, Dm, and A with confidence.

Classes begin with warmups and exercises which encourage the development of excellent technique.  Warmups include finger isolation exercises to develop strength in the left-hand and strumming exercises to develop right-hand technique.

Students will continue practicing strumming patterns on easy chord progressions learned in Levels 1 - 5.
Students will begin learning to play melodies.
Students will begin learning to play bar chords.
Students will begin learning longer song forms.
New songs in this class include: Just The Way You Are, One Love, Riptide, and Hey Soul Sister

Students will learn the chords A7 and Em

Students will review songs learned in the previous levels.

Students will continue learning how to read chord charts.

Students will continue to learn how to clap and count rhythmic patterns.

Students will begin practicing the finger-picking style of playing.

Students will practice how to switch from one chord to another.

Students will be encouraged to develop excellent technical skills (wrist position, holding the ukulele properly, rounded fingers on the fretboard, strumming arm technique)
Students will be encouraged (but not required) to perform in the 7th and 14th classes.


At this level, students should practice 15 - 30 minutes daily in order to maintain everything they have learned so far and to continue building on the new skills learned in class.
Slideshows will become available to the students after class to use for practicing at home.

Breakdown
Lesson 1 -
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Warmup Song 
New - Learn how to position the fingers on the strings for fingerpicking.  Play pattern 1
Practice - Let's Read Music - Students will practice reading simple chord charts
New song- Just The Way You Are - students will learn the chords and practice fingerpicking and strumming (d du udu) over the chord changes



Lesson 2
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Review - Fingerpicking
Review - Song - practice fingerpicking and strumming over the chords of Just The Way You Are
Practice - Let's Read Music - Students will practice reading simple chord charts
New - Reggae strumming pattern - students will learn to count out loud, clap and strum the new pattern
New Song - students will learn the chords of section A of 'One Love' and practice the new strumming pattern with these chords


Lesson 3
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Review - Reggae strumming pattern - students will learn to count out loud, clap and strum the new pattern
New Song - students review section A of 'One Love' and learn section B.  
New - Let's Read Tab - students will be introduced to reading Tablature
Review - Song - practice fingerpicking and strumming over the chords of Just The Way You Are




Lesson 4 - Level 6 Graduation
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Review - all songs and skills learned in Level 6
Performance - students are encouraged to perform (not required)


Lesson 5 - Begin Level 7
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
New - strumming pattern - (d dududu)
New - Intro to Bar Chords - students will learn a simple exercise to begin developing finger strength to play bar chords
New song - Hey Soul Sister - students will learn the chords and strumming of the VERSE

Lesson 6
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Warmup Song/Song Review - Just The Way You Are
Let's Read Tab/Intro to bar chords  - review and discussion of how to read tab and how to play bar chords - teacher will check in with each student individually to ensure understanding
New Song - Hey Soul Sister - students will review playing the chords and strumming of the VERSE and learn the chords of the CHORUS


Lesson 7
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Let's Read Tab - students will review reading tab and learn the 1st part of the RIFF to Brown Eyed Girl by reading tab
Intro to Bar Chords 2 - students will learn to add a finger to their bar chords to make 7th chords
Song - Hey Soul Sister - students will learn where the strumming pattern is different in the chorus section
Song - Hey Soul Sister - students will review strumming the chords for the verse and chorus


Lesson 8
Left hand warmup - Fingers 1234 on every string ascending and 4321 descending
Strumming warmup 
Bar chord exercise
Let's Read Tab - students will review the 1st part of the RIFF and learn the 2nd part of the RIFF to Brown Eyed Girl by reading tab
Review  - Hey Soul Sister - students will review where the strumming pattern is different in the chorus section
Song - Hey Soul Sister - students will review strumming the chords for the verse and chorus
Full Song - students will be shown the full song with chords and lyrics and discuss how to read/play the full song
Play the full song (time permitting)


Lesson 9 - Level 7 Graduation
-Warmup
-Go over Level 7 songs and skills
-Students perform for the class (optional)