Learn to Play Songs on the Ukulele: Class for Beginning Players (Ages 12-15)

This class is designed to teach beginning and lower intermediate ukulele players chords, chord progressions, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, ukulele percussion, and other ukulele techniques through learning a new song each class. Students should already be familiar with how to tune their ukulele (with parental assistance is okay) and have tried playing chords on the instrument.

Every class will begin by learning the simplest version of the song. Students will learn the basic chords and most basic strumming patterns to play the song. Then, more difficult chord progressions, strumming patterns, and styles will be layered in (unique to each song) to challenge each student further. The structure and design of the class is such that each student will be able to play the song through and be challenged appropriately for their level. The emphasis will be on playing the ukulele, but students will have the option to sing or hum along to the song after the song has been learned. At the end of each class, students will have an opportunity to perform a segment of the song to the class if they would like to share their progress.

Students will have access to the song sheet during class and the song sheet will be posted to the classroom at the conclusion of each meeting. Song sheets include the finger patterns for both right and left-handed ukuleles.

Here are some examples of the variety of songs that may be learned in this class:
Dance Monkey (Tones and I)
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
Hey Ya (Outkast)
Hakuna Matata (The Lion King)
8 (Billie Elish)
A Whole New World (Aladdin)
Hit the Road Jack (Ray Charles)
Lazy Song (Bruno Mars)
Riptide (Vance Joy)
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Für Elise (Beethoven)
You've Got a Friend in Me (Toy Story)
Stand By Me (Ben King)
Hotel California (The Eagles)

Students may request songs as well. 
Students do not need to already be familiar with the song before class.
Lyrics for all songs will be clean of any adult language and any references to drugs and alcohol.