What's included
1 live meeting
20 mins in-class hours per weekAssessment
informal assessmentClass Experience
Welcome to my on-going ukulele class for kids ages 3 to 7 ! I welcome learners of all identities and backgrounds into my classes. This is an on-going class, so you are welcome to join on any week and you will not be behind. I will review the basics at each class, so your learner will not need to have attended any of the previous classes, in order to join in. In this class, your child will learn the basics of playing the ukulele in a fun and interactive way. Our activities will include singing and playing along with familiar children's songs and practicing rhythm and chord drills. and experimenting with different strumming patterns and melodies. The kids will have virtual jam sessions with their peers. We will also do story telling, while the students add musical accompaniment. Music concepts will be taught, such as tempo, dynamics, as well as musical form. They will practice playing and singing loud and soft. We will learn about tempo, by playing fast and slow. Rhymes are a great way to teach rhythms to children, so we will learn some rhymes and play along with them. They children will do clapping games, to practice rhythms and then strum the rhythm patterns on their instrument. We will learn about musical form, by doing a different action movement to each section of the song. For example, we may strum along with the A section, and then clap a steady beat to the B section. You are welcome to have rhythm sticks, and I will incorporate them into the lessons. I will privide you with a link to purchase rhythm sticks, but you can also use safe household items for your learner to play rhythm with. Please have your ukelele tuned for the class. You can use an electronic tuner, if you have one. I recommend Uke Buddy online tuner. I will provide you with a link to Uke Buddy. String instruments do not stay in tune for long, so you will need to tune it for each class and when they want to practice at home, in order for the chords to sound right. Weekly Breakdown - Week of January 1 : Introduction to the ukelele: Sing-a-Long and Strumming Students will learn about the different parts of the ukulele and how to hold it properly. We will practice finding the frets and playing some basic chords. This will be new or review for practice, depending on whether or not you are new to the class. Sing-along: Students will practice singing and playing along with simple children's songs such as "Are You Sleeping Brother John" and "Old McDonald had a Farm" We will learn about musical form, using the sond "Old McDonald had a Farm" by doing something different for the different parts of the song. Rhythm activities: Students will use rhythm stick or household objects, such as a drum or plastic spoon, to create a basic beat and then they will play that beast on their ukuleles. Movement games: Students will incorporate physical activity with a song, by dancing or marching along to the music. If your learner prefers not to stand up and dance, I will provide a seated movement activity for them to join along. Week of January 8 : Musical Form, Movement and Strumming Introduction to the ukulele, new or review : We will review how to hold the ukulele and how to find the frets, as well as what each hand will be doing, when they play along with the songs. Sing-along: Students will practice singing and playing along with simple children's songs such as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Row Row Row Your Boat" Movement Activity : The students will learn some movements to Row, Row, Row Your Boat and incorporate them along with the song, while I play and sing on my ukelele. Loud and Soft : The students will learn about dynamics in music, by singing and playing at different volumes. Chords: The students will pratice strumming the C major chord and practice finding the right fret to play the chord. Week of January 15 : Rhythm Patterns and Sing-a-long Introduction to the ukulele, new or review : We will review how to hold the ukulele and how to find the frets, as well as what each hand will be doing, when they play along with the songs. Sing-along: Students will practice singing and playing along with simple children's songs such as "This Old Man" and "Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush" Rhythm Activity: The students will learn a rhythm pattern that they will practice with their rhythm sticks. Then they will practice strumming that rhythm on their ukelele. Songwriting: Students will create their own lyrics and melodies for a song and practice playing along with one or two chords. Week of January 22 - Storytime music with chords Introduction to the ukulele, new or review : We will review how to hold the ukulele and how to find the frets, as well as what each hand will be doing, when they play along with the songs. Storytime: Students will play along with a story, and use different musical sounds for each character in the story. Rhythm Activity: The students will learn a rhythm pattern that they will practice with their rhythm sticks. Then they will practice strumming that rhythm on their ukelele. Freeze Game: We will play a freeze game to practice listening skills along with music. The students will strum a chord and listen carefully for when I say to freeze, and then restart again when I say to un-freeze. My teaching method is fun and relaxed. The students are all welcome to participate at their own level. Once your learner has learned all of the skills taught in this class, I can recommend the next level class for them. Since this is an on-going class, we will stick with the basic music skills and ukelele basics.
Learning Goals
1. The students will gain an appreciation for music and enjoy playing and singing
2. The students will understand how songs have different sections that chnage and repeat
3. They will be able to keep a steady beat
4. They will learn how music can represent different character in a story, with different music for each character
5. The students will develop musical listening skills
6. They will be able to respond and listen for loud and softer sections in music
7. The students will learn how music can help to tell a story and set the mood for a story
8. The students will be able to perform basic rhythm patterns
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Your ukelele will need to be tuned for each class. They do not stay in tune. They need to be re-tuned each time you play them.
Please have the ukelele tuned for each class. You can use an electronic tuner, if you have one. I will provide a link for Uke Buddy online tuner. This is the tuner that I recommend.
I like to have the students use rhythm sticks or a household item that you have available, for playing rhythms. I will provide you with a link for purchasing rhythm sticks, if you would like to purchase them
Third party tools
Uke Buddy - I will send you a link for Uke Buddy online tuner. No account is needed. You should be able to just open the link and tune your ukelele with Uke Buddy
Youtube - I may occasionally screen share a song, using Youtube, for the students to playn along with, or listen to before we learn the song. Usually I will play the songs myself, on my ukelele.
Supply List
Ukelele Electronic Tuner or Uke Buddy online tuner Rhythm Sticks or a safe household item that can function as rhythm sticks I will provide you with a link to purchase rhythm sticks on Amazon, after you join the class, by messaging you the link, if you like. If your learner has no rhythm sticks for class, that is okay. I can have them clap and pat the rhythms, in the mean time.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from Towson University
I have been an Outschool teacher since May of 2020. I love teaching on Outschool and sharing my love of music and art with the students.
I have 20+ years experience, as a music teacher. I have taught for a over a year on outschool as a piano and guitar teacher. My teaching experience includes piano, electric keyboard, guitar, and general music classes, in both the classroom and private settings.
I have taught preschool music, as well as older students.
My brick and mortar school teaching includes being head of the music department at a private high school in Maryland.
I taught private piano and guitar lessons at a guitar shop, for 5 years, in addition to my own private students in my studio.
I have a bachelor's degree in music education, from Towson University, plus graduate studies in music education.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$9
weekly1x per week
20 min
Completed by 37 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 3-6
3-5 learners per class