Which Ukulele Curriculum / Method Should I Use? (Part 4: Starting a Ukulele Program in Your Classroom)

Essential Elements for Ukulele Series

A Method with Audio Access

Hal Leonard applies the same concepts featured in their proven Essential Elements series for Ukulele.  This method begins with basic chords and strumming patterns for immediate student gratification.  Note reading, theory, and some advanced techniques are introduced later to round out the essentials of playing.  There is a large selection of recognizable folk and popular songs as well. Examples include Home on the Range, Hound Dog, La Bamba, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Rainbow Connection, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and much more!  This method also includes an access code for audio files in place of a CD.  Can be used as a resource to brush up your skills, to have as a reference for their classroom, or for each student to use for practice.

Book 2 of Essential Elements is available with more advanced strumming options and fingerpicking techniques.

Here is a link to the publisher’s site with an in-depth video summary from the author

Ukuleles on Board! Play and Sing Songs in the Music Class

Enhanced with Digital Lessons, Step-by-Step Projectable Lesson Slide

Ukuleles on Board! is a collection of sequential lessons that illustrate how teachers can use ukuleles along with other common classroom resources to create engaging, robust musical activities for students. Examples are provided for using ukuleles together with Orff instruments, recorders, a variety of percussion and even jug band instruments. Each unit includes digital access to step-by-step projectable lesson slides so you can project all the visual cues your students will need. In addition to being easy to learn and fun, the folk songs used throughout the book provide students with cultural and historical connections. The activities and concepts are based on the National Standards for Music Education. This is a valuable guide to using ukuleles to support and enhance the music curriculum in your school. Songs include: Are You Sleeping? (Frère Jacques!), Michael Finnegan, Buffalo Gals, Joe Turner Blues, Shalom Chaverim, I Love the Mountains, Little ‘Liza Jane, Hambone, One Bottle of Pop, Pay Me My Money Down, Let Us Chase the Squirrel, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, and Old Joe Clark. (Gr. 2-5)

Uke Can Do It! Developing Your School Ukulele Program

Classroom Instruction Guidebook

This ukulele method covers practical classroom applications for learning music theory, ear training, composition, popular and contemporary repertoire, and improvisation. Uke Can Do It provides everything music educators need to develop a ukulele program in their school. This includes a guide for first-time ukulele buyers, beginner instruction on 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 technique, ideas for classroom use and performance, scales and chord charts with fingering, and more!

Uke Can Do It 2! Classroom Ukulele Method

Classroom Method

“Uke Can Do It 2!” is a revolutionary beginning method, written with the music classroom in mind. This book combines popular and traditional music to teach the ukulele while developing music literacy. This method begins assuming students have not had any previous lessons on the ukulele. Content provides opportunities to track students’ progress and teachers to reward student’s achievements. Students will learn how to read and write music on the treble staff. This method also provides opportunities to follow chord charts, play by ear, and improvise. Many popular pieces are written and taught in the same keys as their familiar recordings, enabling students to play along. Singing parts use only symbols that have been introduced previously in the method. By encouraging students to develop transferable skills, “Uke Can Do It 2!” can provide an excellent foundation for any lifelong musician!

Easy Ukulele Songs series

Classroom Method/Supplement with Projectable CD, PDFs, and Online Video Links

This collection is part of a series of easy songs for ukulele will have students singing and playing in the first lesson!  The focus is on learning songs to sing and strum.  The first 15 songs are one-chord songs, followed by 15 easy two-chord songs.  Finally, the last two songs use three chords.  The enhanced CD also has projectable PDFs with links to easy pop songs on YouTube that use the same chords, as well as recordings of all songs.  The Easy Ukulele Songs Teacher’s Guide is 48 pages and includes reproducible lyrics pages and enhanced CD.  Student books are also available.  Advance to the next title in the series More Easy Ukulele Songs for even more one, two, and three-chord songs.

Strum It Up (21 Soprano Ukulele Pieces in Orff Style)

Teacher’s Book and Orchestrations with PDF Files and Online Resources

The Strum It Up ukulele method integrates ukuleles with other classroom instruments and has full Orff-style orchestrations for your Orff music classes.  Students will learn chord progressions, vocabulary, and how to accompany songs and melodies.  The unique timbre of the ukulele supports the child’s singing voice and allows students to hear and sing harmony accurately.

A FREE security code for online PDF files is included, along with lyric sheets (reproducible for student books, or for SMART board applications, videos, and other resource materials.  Movement/dance suggestions, Polynesian instrumental suggestions, Hawaiian Language guide, and Ukulele strumming techniques are also included.

Strum, Strike, Sing & Play: Artfully Adding Ukulele to the General Music Classroom

Supplemental Orchestrations with PDFs of Song Lyrics, Enlarged Chord Charts

This ensemble-based publication introduces students to the ukulele as a versatile instrument capable of spanning multiple musical genres.  The ensembles are appropriate for day to day teaching as well as performances.  The lessons represent a “seed” of an idea with the intention that educators will cultivate the repertoire to fit their environment.  Each lesson can be adapted, changed, or molded to fit your students’ needs.  Includes digital access for visuals. Learn More