Introduction to Playing the Ukulele, Ages 9 and Older

This class is intended for students who are brand new to learning to play the ukulele. While the class contains information that may be helpful to learners with more experience, the focus of class instruction will be to support students with no experience.

During the class meeting, we will cover the following:
 - Most common terms for the main parts of a ukulele 
 - Letter names (and common numbering) of strings

Tuning
 - What it is and why it is so important.
 - Steps to accurately tune your ukulele

Basic concepts in playing:
 - The difference between strumming and picking
 - Understanding of playing:
     - melody (individual notes) 
     - harmony (chords)
     - both

During the class meeting, students will learn the skills that will allow them to:
 - Pick the melody notes to a tune (Pickin’ and Stringing’)
 - Play a song by strumming chords to a folk song (Up Above My Head)

The role of "practice:" 
 - what it REALLY is 
 - why we do it
 - how it can help us achieve our goals

Other topics that may be addressed depending on the interests of enrolled learners and as time allows during the session:
 - the use of a pick (plectrum)
 - secondary parts of the ukulele (names and functions)
 - best practices when learning from apps
 - best practices when learning from YouTube

Important notes for parents:
 - Each learner should have a soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele (up to 26 inches). 
 - A baritone ukulele is *NOT* suitable for this class. Parents of learners with baritone ukuleles are encouraged to contact the instructor for an alternative class option.
 - This class will NOT require the use of a pick. Learners are encouraged - for THIS class - to use their fingers for picking and strumming. Playing with a pick is a separate skill set. For brand-new learners, there is plenty of information and physical skills to manage in class without having to address pick usage.  
 - Make sure that your learner has ORIGINAL SOUND FOR MUSICIANS enabled in Zoom. If your learner does not, the instructor will not be able to hear their instrument. If your learner does not have it enabled, the instructor will attempt to walk them through editing the Zoom settings in class. Please check out Zoom's directions for enabling ORIGINAL SOUND FOR MUSICIANS at this link: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0059985
 - Each learner should take the class on a desktop, laptop, or tablet (iPad). Because the instructor will be demonstrating hand and finger positions as well as screen sharing charts, the screen size of a smartphone will be too small for students to benefit fully from class. 
 - Materials (including sheet music and backing tracks) will be provided for download after the completion of the class meeting.