Uke Can Do It!

Developing Your School Ukulele Program

By (author) Philip Tamberino

Not available to order

Publication date:

15 April 2014

Length of book:

130 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781475804171

Affordable, versatile, portable, and popular once again, the ukulele is an ideal instrument for lifelong music making that can also be an engaging component of school music programs. At the elementary or secondary level, students can use the ukulele to explore everything from music theory, improvisation, composition, and ear training, to repertoire that includes contemporary popular music. At a lesser expense than any other instrument which can do as much, the ukulele is perfect for breathing fresh air into any music program.

Uke Can Do It provides everything music educators need to develop a ukulele program in their school, including:

* A guide for first-time ukulele buyers
* Beginner instruction in how to play the ukulele
* Playlists of ukulele music by top performers
* Strategies for proposing and outfitting a ukulele program
* Classroom management tips
* Support for use with special learners
* Learning sequences in ukulele technique
* Ideas for classroom use and performance
* Scales and chord charts with fingering

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I: Getting Started
1. Overview
What is the Ukulele?
Where Can the Ukulele Fit In Schools?
Why Include the Ukulele in Music Education?
2. Becoming Ukulele Literate
Getting Your Own Ukulele
Basics of Playing the Ukulele
Listening Guide
Who’s Who?
Next Steps
3. Starting a School Program
What is Your Goal?
Making a Pitch
Funding and Parental Involvement
Guidelines for Student Instruments
PART II: Up and Running
4. Classroom Management
Setting Up the Room

Using Shared Instruments
Tuning Instruments
Language and Terminology
Managing Student Behavior
Promoting Home Practice
Maintenance and Repairs
5. Introducing Students to the Ukulele
Accommodating (Special) Learners
First Session with Instruments
6. Technical Sequence
Strumming and Picking
Fretting and Related Techniques
7. Applications in Classroom Music
Reading Rhythms
Reading Treble Staff Pitches
Matching Pitch While Singing
Analyzing Harmony
Recognizing Intervals, Chords, and Chord Changes by Ear
Improvising
Composing
Illustrating Acoustic Principles and Music Theory Concepts
Accompanying Students in Dalcroze/Music-and-Movement Activities
Incorporating Ukulele into Orff Schulwerk Activities

8. Ukuleles in Performance
Choosing Repertoire
Arranging Music
Chord “Tricks”
Accompaniment
Promoting the Program
Appendix
One- and Two-Chord Songs
Beginner Chords
Beginner Chords (modified)
Scales
150 Chords Diagrams with Fingering
Glossary
Index

Uke Can Do It will prove to be an invaluable resource to anyone who is thinking of starting a ukulele program at their school. Phil has thought of everything—from gathering support and funding to accessible repertoire to final performances—and presented it in a friendly guide that will be useful to teachers just starting a program and to those who are already enjoying the instrument with their students. Starting a uke program is a big undertaking with even bigger rewards; Uke Can Do It makes it a manageable, guaranteed-to-succeed project for anyone who wants to give it a try.