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| Frequently Asked Questions
Teaching:
Instruments:
Tuning:
Dealing With Skeptics:
Teacher Support & Resources:
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At what age should students begin using the Ukulele in the Classroom books?
The Ukulele in the Classroom series contains a wealth of repertoire and exercises for ukulele students at any stage of their musical development. The material can be used in a wide variety of learning environments including in-school music classes, after-school interest groups, summer camps, adult ensembles, seniors' homes, hospitals, private lessons, and music academies / conservatories. The authors recommend that the series be used with students aged 9 and up.
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How many students should I be teaching at once?
An experienced teacher can handle a class of 30 students and stay on-task while making learning fun and exciting. Remember, part of the psychology of the classroom approach depends on student "politics" and the way they wish to be perceived by their peers. In other words, a "large-ish" class isn't always a bad thing!
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I have a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced students in a single class. What should I do?
Be prepared and know your material. That's the best way to keep all students involved at a level consistent with their abilities. Ukulele in the Classroom exercises and arrangements are carefully tailored to accommodate many levels of skill simultaneously.
For example, in Rocky Mountain (Book 1 Lesson 5), beginner-level students play Uke II (open-string notes only), intermediate-level students play Uke I (pentatonic scale notes only), and advanced-level students are challenged to sing the melody while picking the Uke II part (a musical version of rubbing your belly and tapping your head). To view Book 1 Lesson 5 go to this page and click on the Book 1 Sample Lesson. Many opportunities for this kind of "differentiated" instruction are embedded throughout the Student Editions and are discussed in detail in the Teacher Editions.
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How should I set up the chairs and stands in my classroom?
Chairs and stands should be set up two-by-two with one music stand per pair of chairs. Pairs of chairs should be set up in rows allowing enough room for the teacher to walk through. This way, you'll have quick and easy access to any student in the class at any time. Top ^
How fast should my class be progressing?
The rate at which a class progresses depends on many things including the amount of class time per week, the age of your students, your students' musical background, your own familiarity with the lesson material, and so on. That said, a consistent effort in the classroom and at home will see most classes complete Ukulele in the Classroom Book 1 in 6–8 months. That's around one arrangement per week.
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I understand that students begin Book 1 by working with single-string melodies. Does this mean they can't sing and have fun?
Students are singing and playing almost immediately. In fact, by Lesson 2 they're singing and accompanying more than half-a-dozen well-known songs. By the end of Book 1 they're singing, strumming, sight-reading, improvising, and part-playing in two keys. Sounds like fun... and it is!
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Is it true that chords aren't taught until Unit 4 of Book 1?
Not exactly. Unit 4 is a formal introduction to basic chords and strumming. However, chord symbols are included for nearly all the arrangements in Units 1, 2, and 3. This lets the teacher informally introduce chords in the early lessons as students develop facility with melodic techniques.
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Should I follow the sequence of lessons exactly as they are in the books?
More or less, but be flexible. The books are organized into units, each of which has a unique focus. Know your students' interests and aptitudes (also be aware of your own biases), and sequence the material accordingly. For example, you may want to teach the first two units of Book 1, then skip to Unit 4 and return to the songs in Unit 3 later. Whatever you do, try to include some singing, picking, strumming, note-reading, and ear-training in every lesson.
Top ^ I have a left-handed student – what should I do?
Keep in mind that at the beginner level, students tend to have the most difficulty with left-hand skills (pressing down strings, playing scales, holding chords, etc.). In a way, a left-handed student has an advantage over his right-handed classmates owing to the greater dexterity he has with his left hand!
Remind your student: in the end, the ukulele is like most other instruments: it takes two hands to play it. Think about it: have you ever seen a left-handed piano? Be gently insistent and, most importantly, get on with the lesson.
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I'm a teacher who's just starting a ukulele program. Can you recommend a good beginner ukulele?
For everyday classroom use by beginners, we recommend the Empire Music Classic Tenor ukulele (model CL500) – an inexpensive but well-made uke with a good sound. There's also a soprano model (model E755T) which has a smaller sound but which may be a better fit for very small hands.
Both ukes are available with machine heads (geared tuning pegs); these are more precise but also more difficult to replace if they break. Cases are a must. Teachers note that Empire Music has just released a koa wood version of the Classic - a nice (and relatively inexpensive) upgrade.
Other suitable instruments for beginners include the Flea and Fluke ukuleles made in the USA by the Magic Fluke Company. These are popular ukes that come in many colours, sound good and are very durable.
Beware of ukes that sell for less than $40 – they might look pretty but they will not give the students a fair chance to make music.
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Should students buy their own ukes?
Ideally, yes. The student will feel a much greater sense of responsibility and pride in her ukulele if he or she has purchased it (or at least contributed to its purchase). As opposed to using a uke belonging to a class set during school hours only. The student who can't take his or her uke home, on the bus, on camping trips, to the shopping mall, etc., won't learn nearly as much as the student who can.
If you do have a class set of ukes owned by a school or organization, consider having a "sign-out" system that allows students to take an instrument home to practise.
Also consider a "buy back" option whereby your school or department buys second-hand ukes from older students and sells them at a much-reduced price to those beginning students who can't afford a new instrument.
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How should I tune my classroom ukuleles?
This depends on a couple of things. The options are (from lowest- to highest-sounding string): a, d, f#, b (known as "D6" tuning) or g, c, e, a (known as C6 tuning). For more details read this article: Ukulele Tunings Made Simple. If you're still not sure which tuning is right for you, please contact us.
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What's the difference between "D6 tuning" and "C6 tuning"?
D6 tuning and C6 tuning are short-hand names for the two most popular ways to tune the ukulele. The strings in D6 tuning are, from 4th to 1st: a, d, f#, b (a D6 chord). The strings in C6 tuning are, from 4th to 1st: g, c, e, a (a C6 chord). The D6 tuning is popular in Europe, Canada, and on the east coast of the U.S.A. while the C6 tuning is popular in Hawaii, Japan, and on the west coast of the U.S.A.
For the past 40 years, Canadian schools have used the D6 tuning for classroom ukulele because of its brighter sound and greater projection. Also, a ukulele tuned to D6 matches particularly well with the developing range of young singing voices and has the same "easy" keys as the guitar (D, G, and A). For more details read this article: Ukulele Tunings Made Simple.
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What is "low fourth string" tuning and why do you recommend it for use in classroom settings?
Historically, the fourth string of the ukulele (the one closest to your face as you hold the instrument) is tuned an octave higher than you might expect (hence the familiar "my dog has fleas" tune). "Low fourth string " (a.k.a."linear") tuning means tuning the fourth string down an octave. Why? Because there's a big difference between teaching ukulele and teaching music. Given that we're using the ukulele as a vehicle for music literacy and general musicianship, there are lots of reasons why the low fourth string makes the most sense. For example:
- The melodic range in the "home position" (i.e. the first five frets) is significantly increased.
- An increased accessible range makes part-playing more interesting, enjoyable and rewarding.
- The structure of scales and chords can be more clearly demonstrated and understood in linear tuning.
The "high fourth string" tuning (also called "re-entrant" tuning) has unique qualities that students should be encouraged to explore, particularly once they move beyond the material in Book 3. At the outset, however, a ukulele with a low fourth string is better suited to classroom use.
For more details read this article: Ukulele Tunings Made Simple.
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What brand and thickness of string do you recommend for the low fourth string?
The best way to stock up on low fourth strings is to scour your local music store for nylon classical guitar G strings. These are usually at a thickness of about 0.040" and cost less than a dollar. Cut them in half to get two uke-ready A strings for the price of one!
Remember: changing the fourth string is a reversible procedure that doesn't permanently alter the instrument.
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My friends and/or colleagues are skeptical about the ukulele - what can I do?
First, you must learn to play well enough (one or two songs can suffice) to demonstrate that the ukulele is an instrument capable of making "real music." Your own playing must be exciting enough to inspire your students. Play recordings of ukulele artists and ensembles in your classroom, invite ukulele musicians to perform at your school – get your students excited about making music with the ukulele.
As for your peers and superiors, let them know the simple truth: the ukulele is unmatched as a vehicle for music literacy in our schools. Here are just some of the many reasons why:
- It's inexpensive
- It's portable
- It can play any type of music from anywhere in the world
- It sounds good
- It's a solo instrument
- It's an ensemble instrument
- It's an ideal tool for developing the ear
- it's an excellent way to learn harmony and theory
- You can sing and strum at the same time
- And of course... it's fun!
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| "It makes no difference what instrument you choose – recorder, trumpet, piano, bass, guitar, mandolin; none can compare with the ukulele as a means of music education in our schools." |
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- J. Chalmers Doane
Teacher's Guide to Classroom Ukulele, 1977
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Are there conferences and/or workshops for ukulele teachers?
Yes, and there are more in the planning stages. Watch this website for news of upcoming workshops and conferences for ukulele educators.
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I want to get a better uke for myself – any suggestions?
When you're ready to invest in a high quality, hand-made instrument, we highly recommend the GString Ukulele Company and the Kamaka Ukulele Company, both based in Hawaii.
Other fine uke makers to consider include: DaSilva Ukulele Co., KoAloha Ukulele, Ko'olau Ukulele & Guitar Co., Talsma String Instruments, and Tony Graziano Ukuleles.
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Besides the Ukulele in the Classroom series, are there other books that you recommend for classroom instruction?
The Doane Ukulele Method series has been the cornerstone of the Canadian `ukulele program for 40 years. It is published by Waterloo Music and is still available from Empire Music (follow the links below). The method includes three books for students:
Note: There is very little overlap between the material in the Doane Ukulele Method series and the material in the Hill/Doane Ukulele in the Classroom series; the Waterloo materials are still a valuable, relevant resource for classroom ukulele teachers.
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What about books specifically for teachers?
A companion teacher edition (co-authored by Hill and Doane) is available for each of the three books in the Ukulele in the Classroom series. With a helpful lesson plan, enrichment level exercises and key points for each lesson, these detailed guidebooks are a highly recommended resource for teachers. Click here for more information.
Also, Teacher's Guide to Classroom Ukulele by Chalmers Doane is essential reading and reference for classroom teachers. First published in 1977, it's organized into two sections: 1) a lesson-by-lesson guide to Doane's Classroom Ukulele Method and 2) a priceless collection of practical tips for making your ukulele program a success.
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