 |
|
|
Original Post By:
Warren Blazes
|
Date: 6/29/2009 6:39:05 PM |
| This afternoon I gave my first ukulele lessons for children. There were twenty kids and ten ukuleles. Still, it seemed to work. I started them out with the two easy chords, F and C. Then we did songs like DOWN IN THE VALLEY and HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS. At the end, half the class got to check out a uke and a copy of JUMPIN' JIM'S CAMP UKULELE song book for two weeks. I did have one dropout when an eight-year girl came up to me, with tears in her eyes, saying that she didn't want to do this. the next session is July 13. We'll see how many hang with it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Tonya
|
Date: 6/30/2009 11:27:12 AM |
My guess, Warren, is that the teary eight-year-old was rejecting a parent command to "be" at your ukulele class, not you or the ukulele, okay?
Good job with all the kids and the enthusiasm. Did you have all the ukes pre-tuned? Are tuners checked out with the ukuleles and the book? What age range (and what was the most common age)?
Two summers ago we had a single class "demonstration" at our local library--ages ranged from two-and-a-half (three of 'em!) to 12 years. Way too wide of an age spread! And, I too, chose, "He's Got the Whole World," but the librarian felt that was "too religious." Sigh...
When you get to add a G7 into their chord mix, I'd suggest "The MMcDonald's Song" over on DoctorUke's site:
http://doctoruke.com/songs.html
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Warren Blazes
|
Date: 6/30/2009 1:29:21 PM |
Tonya, I'm sure you are right about the eight-year-old. Probably a few of the others were there under pressure as well.
I spent a week going back to the library tuning up those ukes to get ready for this. This is something I will probably be doing for some time if this project continues.
The ages seemed to be mostly eight to ten years old. No tuners were available, but I did tell the kids to keep their hands off the knobs.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
franulele
|
Date: 7/1/2009 8:39:15 AM |
Hi Warren,
Uke class at the Library - a very cool idea! I have two school ukes on loan at the library in the town I teach in, and apparently folks are very interested! I already do ukulele units in music class from 3rd Grade & up, so there is an awareness.
But, I'd like to do what you are doing next summer by allowing kids to take ukes home. (Can't do that now because I have 260 kids & 20 ukes)
I've found that my 3rd graders prefer to pluck single note melodies (basic beginner tunes as in Lil Rev's book), and the 4th Graders enjoy playing 2 chord songs (F & C7 or C & G7). Most 5th & 6th Graders can do 3 chord songs. And my 8th graders really rocked! They played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" & "Build Me Up Buttercup". This was with 1 music class per week, and not taking the uke home.
I'd love to hear about what you do with your class & what works well for you. And I wouldn't worry about parents pushing their kid to take the class. AT least they're trying to get their kids into music. It seems like often the opposite is true where I live. Parents don't encourage their kids to pursue a musical instrument nearly enough.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Vicki
|
Date: 7/2/2009 7:49:48 AM |
Thanks for all the good basic info. I'm thinking of starting a uke class for kids this fall...and have decided to include a Kala soprano,
a tuner and Michelle Kiba's ukulele book/cd for kids..."Little 'Ukulele for Little Hands" ...Are there any lists or books of 2 chord songs anywhere?
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
franulele
|
Date: 7/2/2009 8:33:33 AM |
Dr Uke has a big website with a listing of 2 & 3 chord songs. Enjoy!
http://www.doctoruke.com/twoandthreechordsongs.pdf
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Warren Blazes
|
Date: 7/2/2009 3:06:06 PM
(Updated: 7/4/2009 6:27:49 PM)
|
My past experiences teaching ukulele to kids was more on a one to one basis. I had children as young as seven years old learn the uke and stick with it. I think that a smaller class with minimum age of ten years old would have been better, since too many kids in one room can lead to monkey business. I'll see after two weeks how many want to continue.
A few years back I started an informal class for kids at our church. If you have a copy of the "Uke Said It" newsletter, Summer 2002, there's an article and picture of that bunch. Some of them joined me playing shows at nursing homes. They're teenagers now and don't know me anymore.
I was recently contacted by someone in the area who is interested in starting a similiar program and will come and sit in on my next session on July 13.
There is some interest at the library for me to do an adult class this Fall.
|
|
|
|
