PREPARING TO PLAY THE UKULELE

Lesson 1

Teaching Artist: Juan Manuel Trujillo

This is the first lesson from the Strumming Through The Americas ukulele course. Students will be introduced to the basic components and functions of the ukulele. They will learn the names of each part of the instrument and explore basic techniques required to produce correct sounds.

SUMMARY

  • Students will be able to hold the ukulele properly and sit with correct posture.

  • Students will be able to recognize components of the ukulele.

  • Students will be able to play the ukulele using a basic strumming technique.

  • Students will be able to describe the purpose of the frets on the ukulele.

OBJECTIVE

MATERIALS

EXPLORE

  1. Engage students in a listening session. Play the song Despacito on the Ukulele without sharing the title of the song or instrument being played. Ask: What instrument do you hear? What do you know about the ukulele? 

  2. Tell students they will learn to hold and produce sound on the ukulele. This includes counting the strings and frets, and using a strum technique.

  3. Using the Parts of the Ukulele Diagram as a guide, introduce students to the ukulele and identify the instrument's parts. Ask: What do you recognize about the ukulele? Demonstrate and name the main structures of a ukulele: body (saddle, bridge, sound hole, strings), neck (frets, fretboard, nut), and headstock (tuning pegs).

LEARN

  1. Play the Holding the Ukulele video to introduce correct posture for playing the ukulele. Allow time for students to practice their posture. 

  2. Model how to identify and count the strings on a ukulele. Play The Strings video and allow time for students to practice counting the strings. To show understanding, students can turn and demonstrate for a peer or teacher.

  3. Explain the basic technique of strumming through the strings of the ukulele. Play the Strumming video to observe the correct hand position and the basics of sound production. 

  4. Play The Frets video to show the purpose of the frets on a ukulele. Ask students to hold their ukuleles, then point to the first fret and count the frets together. Ask students to identify the first three frets. Invite them to explore changing the sound of a string by pressing down their left-hand pointer finger while plucking it with their right-hand thumb.

PERFORM+SHARE

  1. Create a class instructional video about the ukulele called,  “About the Ukulele with (Teacher’s Name) Class.” Divide students into 5 groups to demonstrate what they learned about the ukulele. Record a short video of groups sharing about their assigned topic. 

    • Group 1: Identify the structure and a few parts of the ukulele.

    • Group 2: Demonstrate proper hand positioning on the ukulele.

    • Group 3: Demonstrate strumming on the ukulele.

    • Group 4: Identify the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings of the ukulele.

    • Group 5: Describe the purpose of the frets.

  2. Share your musical creations at S’Cool Sounds Padlet.