The Holidays are better with music! In this 6-week Flexible Schedule class, students will learn how to play 5 of the most popular and beloved Holiday/Christmas songs: "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Jingle Bell Rock." 
        Students of all levels are welcome to join the class, but they must have taken a beginning ukulele course. If your child is new to the ukulele, I recommend taking one of my live ukulele classes before enrolling in this class. Although this class is taught via pre-recorded videos, peer-to-peer interaction and peer-to-teacher interactions will play an important role in the class via classroom discussion, peer-directed projects, and games.      
       Every week, I will post the pre-recorded videos for that week (each ranging from 30-45 minutes in length), as well as the assignments. Students will interact with me and each other through weekly playing and written assignments. Every week, students will post a video of themselves playing the song of the week (whether the whole thing or just their favorite part) and turn in their written assignments as well. I will provide feedback on both types of assignments in written, audio, or video format, and encourage students to give their peers their positive feedback as well. 
        Students will collaborate in pairs on two assignments: 
- Students will post their favorite rendition of the song of the week and explain the reason why they both chose it in writing.
- Students will go on a scavenger hunt to find the missing music symbols in the sheet music they were given.
        In the last week of class, students will post a video of themselves playing their favorite song learned in class. This is a fun class for students to celebrate the Holidays learning their favorite Christmas/Holiday songs and then sharing them with their loved ones during such a beautiful season.
        Class time is structured as follows: a short review, a new topic/technique of the day, learning the song of the day, and practicing tips. The topics covered are:

WEEK 1: Review of basic notes/chords/strumming patterns used in the songs. Composition of an original song based on these notes and chords using MuseScore notation software, which students will be using in class constantly. 

WEEK 2: Students will learn to play "Jingle Bells," both with the chords and fingerpicking. Students are paired up to find their favorite rendition of this song and explain their choice with a written paragraph.

WEEK 3: "Silent Night" and 3/4 time signature. Students will be introduced to "vibrato," a sound effect produced by making the strings vibrate with the fingers. The teacher will provide detailed exercises to practice this new, advanced technique. Students will be paired up to find the missing music symbols.

WEEK 4: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" and learning to transition smoothly in between chords.

WEEK 5: "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer." Students will encounter new rhythms, and create their own rhythmic pattern using them.

WEEK 6: Through "Jingle Bell Rock," students will be introduced to the music genre of "Jazz," which influenced Rock & Roll, and to the concept of "swing." Students are paired up to find their favorite rendition of this song and explain their choice with a written paragraph.