In this class, learners will meet weekly to explore and expand skills in ukulele playing. A key component of this class will be discussion between learners about their experiences and preferences regarding playing the ukulele and music in relation to the ukulele. 

Each class meeting will feature three components:
 - The focus melody or technique
 - The focus concept, which can be theory, genre, or style
 - Discussion

Often these three activities will be interwoven, but the class structure will provide guidance to move students through the experiences. In addition, weekly activities will rotate through focusing on strumming chords (rhythm), picking chords (also rhythm) melodic playing (lead). All activities can be adapted for students to address individuals' levels of playing. However, ALL students should be comfortable with playing C, G, D, A minor, and F chords, and should be familiar with the idea of changing from one chord to another during a song.

Planned activities include the following: 

week of June 19:
 - Strum
 - Grandma Moses
 - rhythm
week of June 26:
 - Pick/accompaniment
 - Papa Get the Hammer
 - rhythm
week of July 3:
 - Pick/melody
 - Ravioli
 - Different ways a ukulele can look
week of July 10:
 - Strum
 - John Brown's Baby
 - rhythm pattern
week of July 17: 
 - Pick/accompaniment
 - Roll That Brown Jug Down to Town
 - three string rhythm pattern
week of July 24:
 - Strum
 - The Cutest Worm
 - Steady beat within a three-chord each song

Weekly discussions will spring from class activities. In the event there is a meeting when learners need support to initiate conversation, age-appropriate discussion prompts will be presented. Examples include:
 - What are some different ways people use music in their everyday lives?
 - Have you ever tried making your own music? What did you create?
 - How does music make you feel? Can you think of a song that makes you feel happy, sad, or excited?
 - Have you ever danced to music? What types of movements do you enjoy doing when you dance?
 - If you could create your own musical instrument, what would it look like and how would it sound?
Important notes: 

 - Students should have their cameras on during class. The instructor must be able to observe the hold of the instrument as well as hand and finger positions in order to provide helpful feedback and assistance in playing. Students who have completed Outschool's Child Learner Verification process (https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/4063624-learner-verification) will not be expected to turn on their cameras. However, parents should consider whether their learners will be able to obtain the most benefit from class. 

 - All learners will be offered oppotunities to play (microphones on) for individual feedback from the instructor. Being able to hear the learner play while seeing the use of hands and fingers gives important information to the instructor and is invaluable for providing feedback. However, no learner will ever be *required* to play in front of their peers; the opportunity to play individually with the microphone on is optional. 

 - All learners should be able to mute and unmute their microphones independently. Make music means generating sound. It is absolutly normal (and even desirable) that students want to try skills while first learning about them. However, the result of a class experimenting simultaneously can be chaotic. While learners are encouraged to have microphones on to ask questions and discuss, they should turn off their microphones (mute) temporarily to practice skills. 

 - Students should turn on "original sound for musicians" in Zoom. This is a two-step process. Parents will need to complete step 1. Learners can often handle step 2 after being shown the button by the parent. 
1. PRIOR to entering the class, configure Zoom to enable original sound. Here is a link to directions for desktops, laptops, mobile tablets, and mobile phones: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046244692-Configuring-professional-audio-settings-for-Zoom-Meetings
2. AFTER entering the Zoom class meeting, turn ON original sound. Once the setting is *enabled*, this allows the original sound function to be turned on and off after entering a meeting. The toggle button is present in the upper left hand corner of a Zoom meeting on desktop or laptop. This link may be helpful for toggling original sound on when using a mobile device: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115003279466-Configuring-audio-for-music-and-singing