Semi-Private Ukulele for Young Beginners - Levels 11 and 12 - (Ages 6-7)

This class is for young beginner ukulele students who have already participated in my Level 1 - 10 classes OR for beginner students who already know the basics of how to hold the ukulele, the string names, the parts of the ukulele, the island strum (d du udu) and how to play the chords C, F, G, Am, G7 and Dm with confidence.

If you are not sure if this class is the right fit for your child, send me a message outlining their experience so far and I will help you find the right class.

New songs in this class include: Apples and Bananas (island strum), Charlie Brown Theme (melody), One Love (riff and strumming) and Hit The Road Jack

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 beginner strumming patterns (island strum - d du udu, easy strum - d d d d and one strum - d) to gain confidence and groove.  

Students will continue reading chord diagrams
Students will continue reading chord charts
Students will practice how to switch from one chord to another.
Students will begin learning how to read tablature
Students will learn more about rhythmic values for notes and rests
Students will continue reviewing songs learned in earlier levels
Students will learn a new strumming pattern (d du d du)
Students will learn new chord - Gmi
Finger Strength Building - Barre chord exercise 1
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 15th class.

At this level, students should practice 10 - 15 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 
Level 11 - Week 1 - 7
Song Review - Week 8
Level 12 - Week 9 - 15



Lesson 1 -
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!


Review - Back to Basics Discussion
Posture
String names
Part names
Strumming techniques

 
SONG 1 -  Apples and Bananas - Easy chords and focus on grooving the island strum


Lesson 2
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!

Review/Reading Music - Level 7 song 2 - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

NEW SKILL - Reading Tab - Discussion
Read Tab Riff - Shave and A Haircut

SONG 1 - Apples and Bananas - review the chords, practice chord drills, counting and island strum.  


Lesson 3
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Introduce new strumming pattern - d du d du

Review/Reading Music - Level 8 Song 1 - Old MacDonald Section A

NEW SKILL - Reading Tab - Discussion
Read Tab Riff - Shave and A Haircut

SONG 2 - Charlie Brown Theme - learn by reading tab

SONG 1 - Apples and Bananas - review the chords, practice chord drills, counting and island strum.  


Lesson 4
Left hand warmup 
Strumming warmup 
Rhythm reading - clap and count
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du

Review/Reading Music - Level 8 Song 2 - Lava - Verse

SONG 2 - Charlie Brown Theme - learn by reading tab

SONG 1 - Apples and Bananas - review the chords, practice chord drills, counting and island strum.  
*add the metronome

Lesson 5
Left hand warmup 
Strumming warmup 
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Rhythm reading - clap and count
Barre Chord Exercise 1
.
Review/Reading Music - Level 8 Song 2 - Lava - Chorus

SONG 2 - Charlie Brown Theme - learn by reading tab
*add the metronome

SONG 1 - Apples and Bananas - review the chords, practice chord drills, counting and island strum.  

Lesson 6 
Left hand warmup 
Strumming warmup 
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Rhythm reading - clap and count
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 8 Song 3 - Twist and Shout 

SONG 2 - Charlie Brown Theme - learn by reading tab
*add the metronome

SONG 1 - Apples and Bananas - review the chords, practice chord drills, counting and island strum.  


Lesson 7 - Level 11 Graduation

-Warmup
-Go over Level 11 songs and skills
-Students perform for the class (optional)


Lesson 8 - Song Review Class
-warmup
-review songs 


Lesson 9 - Begin Level 12
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!

Discussion - What have you learned?

SONG 1 - One Love - learn the chord progression for the verse using the one strum and easy strum.  Count out loud to learn when to change chords.

Lesson 10
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Tab reading exercise
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 8 Song 3 - Twist and Shout 

Reggae Strumming Pattern - Learn how to count the pattern and how to mute the strings.

SONG 1 - One Love -add the reggae strum to the verse. Learn the chord progression for the chorus using the reggae strum.  Count out loud to learn when to change chords.


Lesson 11
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Rhythm reading - clap and count
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 9 Song 1 - She’ll Be Comin Round The Mountain

Reggae Strumming Pattern - Learn how to count the pattern and how to mute the strings.

SONG 1 - One Love -SONG 1 - One Love - Play through verse and chorus with the reggae strum

SONG 2 - Hit The Road Jack - Go over the chords and chord drills.

Lesson 12
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Tab reading exercise
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 9 Song 1 - She’ll Be Comin Round The Mountain

SONG 1 - One Love -add the reggae strum to the verse. Learn the chord progression for the chorus using the reggae strum.  Count out loud to learn when to change chords.

SONG 2 - Hit The Road Jack - Go over the chords. Count through the chord progression. Play with the easy strum

Lesson 13
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Rhythm reading - clap and count
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 9 Song 2 - You Are My Sunshine melody

SONG 2 - Hit The Road Jack - Go over the chords and Chord drills. Count through the chord progression. Add the strumming pattern (d du d du)

*time permitting
SONG 1 - One Love - Play through verse and chorus with the reggae strum

Lesson 14
Left hand warmup - with metronome!
Strumming warmup - with metronome!
Practice new strumming pattern - d du d du
Tab reading exercise
Barre Chord Exercise 1

Review/Reading Music - Level 9 Song 2 - You Are My Sunshine melody

Song 1 - One Love - Learn the riff by reading tab

SONG 2 - Hit The Road Jack - Go over the chords and Chord drills. Count through the chord progression. Add the strumming pattern (d du d du)

Lesson 15 - Level 12 Graduation Class
-Warmup
-Go over Level 12 songs and skills
-Students perform for the class (optional)