The ukulele is one of my favorite instruments because of its captivating, relaxing, and joyful sound. It is my goal to help students learn to make music that they and their families will enjoy. In this class, students will learn to play the C major scale, compose their very first song using music notes and rhythms, and play "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". We will also learn how to read music notation and become proficient at various strumming patterns including the "Island strum". 
       This class is for students who have already taken a beginning ukulele course before. If your child has no experience playing the ukulele, you can enroll them in my "Beginning Ukulele Level 1" class. In this class, the students will learn more advanced, technical aspects of ukulele playing through modeling, call and response, and interaction with the teacher. Students will interact with the teacher and each other through in-class performances, group exercises, and group discussions. Students will need a ukulele (soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele), and I also recommend having a music stand to facilitate holding up their music scores.
        By the end of the course, students will be able to fingerpick all notes on all the strings (including high C, D, E notes), and strum the C, F, G7, G, Am, Em, and E7 chords—the class goal being able to perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
          Class time is structured as follows: tuning, a short review, a new topic/technique of the day, mastering of pieces, spotlight time, and homework assignment. If you are left wondering what "spotlight time" is all about, it is a time for students to play for their peers and show what they have learned. Students will only play if they wish to do so. The homework assignments will be to practice the designated pieces or exercises for that week, and I will also assign exercises from the theory book. 

WEEK 1: Review / Tuning / The C Major Scale  
WEEK 2: Fingerpicking the "Happy Birthday Song" / Music notes composition
WEEK 3: The G-Chord Family / Strumming Patterns
WEEK 4: The Waltz Strum and 3/4-Time
WEEK 5: "Amazing Grace"
WEEK 6: Counting in 3/4 time / Fingerpicking "Amazing Grace"
WEEK 7: Sight-reading music notes and rhythms.
WEEK 8: The "Island strum" in "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
WEEK 9: Continuation of  "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
WEEK 10: Strumming and singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
WEEK 11: Review
WEEK 12: Performance