Describing a class by its skill level, such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced, doesn’t say enough about the content. By naming my courses after technique, e.g. strum, pick, pluck, bootcamp, and fingerstyle, I convey the how of playing the ukulele but not the why. Recently I began naming my classes after themes, such as holiday songs, Chinese songs, and SEUPMK (songs every ukulele player must know). This gives the what but still not the why. To answer any why question, one needs music theory.
How: technique
The image above shows a sequence of eight chords I assign my beginning students to practice using one strum pattern at a time. The numbers below the chords refer to the frets to press for each string, useful to call out when diagrams are not available to show.
Before strumming, I ask to first pluck each individual string to ensure none is muted or pressed on the wrong fret.
To ensure correct fingering, I ask to use a straight thumb to pluck each individual string from G to A string (4th to 1st strings) in a downward motion so that the strings vibrate from side to side, parallel to the body of the ukulele. With each pluck, the thumb lands on the next string (except the last or A-string).
Fingering chords requires paying attention to the fretting or chording hand, which is typically the left hand. I ask them to try different ways to approach the fingering of a new chord.
“Put your weakest finger on the fret board first, and then your next weakest finger, etc. This could be your ring finger, middle, and then index. Then adjust the hand and thumb. This gives more flexibility. If you cradle the neck of the ukulele first with your thumb and hand, you might feel secure holding the ukulele but the thumb and hand may restrict the movement of the rest of your fingers.”
Previously I had done exactly the opposite of the above, by putting my thumb and hand in position first, followed by the strongest finger – the index or pointer finger. These two ways are completely opposite approaches to fingering a chord. Which is correct?
What about switching from one chord to another? The fingers you use to “make” a chord depends on the next chord. It’s not always the fingers you typically use for that chord. Sometimes you have to “cheat” and not use the usual (typical) fingers for that particular chord to move more efficiently between chords.
The second sequence of chords (above) illustrates the following examples. If you are constantly switching between Am and D, for instance, it’s easier to put your index finger on the 2nd fret for the Am rather than the usual middle finger. Similarly, if you’re switching between D and A7 repeatedly, it makes sense to “cheat” by sliding your middle finger up to the 1st fret for the A7 rather than switch to the index finger. Switching between C and Em is less straight forward. One way is to use the index finger to play the C instead of the ring finger and use a sliding motion to switch between the two chords.
The above discussion relates to technique. To encourage regular and frequent practice, I assign familiar and easy songs that make use of such chords and/or accompaniment patterns. My bootcamp classes are intended to boot or boost their playing by introducing exercises such as these. Technique is the HOW of music.
What: themes
Alongside building technique, every ukulele player wants to enlarge his or her repertoire with songs that every ukulele player must know (SEUPMK) and songs that are fun and enjoyable to play by oneself and with others. That is one purpose of my weekly Three Chord Thursdays, an online song session in Zoom which is organised by theme. It’s entirely free to participate actively as a performer, commenting participant, or passively with web cam switched off. Depending on the time of the year and one’s religious leaning and cultural upbringing, different songs are sung or played. Application to songs is the WHAT of music.
Why: music theory
To answer the WHY of music, I introduce music theory. When I was asked to teach music theory at University of Hawaii Maui College, I thought there wouldn’t be enough students to fill a class. To my surprise, the class ran every term. Music theory explains why certain notes sound good together. Music theory providse formula for chords that follow each other in pop music. Learning music theory will help you transpose (to find better keys and chords for your voice and your skill level), arrange music (to your skill level and liking), and compose.
Bold typeface means class WILL DEFINITELY RUN. Bold Italic typeface means it will run but the time may be slightly changed after first class. Italic typeface means it needs more students. Normal typeface means it needs a lot more students to be scheduled. Updated @ 11/19/2020
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| 10:30 -11:30 am Pluck & Strum (11/23-12/21) | |||
| 1:15 – 2:15 pm Pick & Pluck (11/24-12/22) | |||
| 4:15 – 5:15 pm Bootcamp Level 2 (11/23-12/21) | 4:15 – 5:15 pm Bootcamp Level 1 (11/25-12/23) | 3 pm Three Chord Thursday | |
| 5:45 – 6:45 pm Music Theory (11/30 – 12/21) | 5:30 – 6:30 pm Hum & Strum (11/24-12/22) | 5:15 – 6:15 pm CCAE (11/12-12/10) | |
| 6:45 – 7:45 pm Music Theory (11/23) | 6:45 – 7:45 pm Holiday Songs (11/17-12/15) |
Register for free taster workshop or courses
To introduce the different kinds of ukulele courses I am offering for the remainder of the year, I will be giving a FREE ukulele taster workshop in Zoom on Tuesday November 10, 2020 at Noon EST and Tuesday November 17, 2020 from 8 to 9 pm EST. It’s an hour-long, with optional handouts and video recordings. Just register via the Google Form.
Courses and classes in Zoom
All courses are one-hour workshops in Zoom, over 5 consecutive weeks, with video recording of the workshop and PDF handouts e-mailed after the class for review and reference during the week. $125. (Early bird registration by 15th Nov 2020 at $99.)
Bootcamp Level 1 or Level 2: learn skills through weekly exercises to boost your playing; application to a song. Pre-requisite: have taken a complete beginner course somewhere. See blog post about the course. Monday and Wednesday late afternoons.
Pick & Pluck: learn to read tablature, use fingers to pluck scales and basic pluck patterns and recognizable melodic riffs in songs. No pre-requisite. Tuesday afternoons, from 11/24.
Pluck & Strum: authentic replication of a song through plucking riffs and strumming accompaniments and rhythms. Pre-requisite: already know how to read tabs, pluck, and strum. See blog post about the course, songs, and blog post and video. Monday mornings from 11/23.
Hum & Strum: tune your voice to the ukulele, sing in tune, find your most comfortable voice range for each song, learn to transpose (switch to the right key and chords to accompany yourself), learn strum patterns and techniques to keep the tempo and rhythm so you will be in sync when humming or singing. Pre-requisite: have taken a complete beginner course somewhere. Mondays & Tuesdays.
Thematic (application to songs): Holiday Songs. Pre-requisite: have taken a complete beginner course somewhere. Tuesday evening starts 11/17/2020.
Thematic (application to songs): SEUPMK – Songs Every Ukulele Player Must Know. Pre-requisite: have taken a complete beginner course somewhere.
Music Theory for Ukulele: learn to read notes for the ukulele, create scales, intervals, chords, circle of fifths, moveable chord shapes. No pre-requisite. Monday evenings.
Feedback & Testimonials
I really appreciated the follow-up information sent to us after every session and videos so we can go back and review it again. Anne was easy to follow, and did a good job helping each person even though we were all doing it long distance. Encouraging, supportive, and enthusiastic!
Thank you Anne for a great class. Your knowledge, teaching skills, prepared materials, and most of all your encouragement made the boot camp a grade A learning experience.
If you want to play music and go beyond the kazoo, try ukulele with Anne Ku. While taking your beginner class- you can also attend her online music jams and sing along without being heard on Zoom. It’s a wonderful way to enhance one’s love of music.
Beginning Ukulele is an excellent course for those just starting on their ukulele journey. You will learn Anne’s marvelous techniques and exercises right from the beginning, but you will always have the fun of applying these techniques to song. You will find that Anne is a wonderful, encouraging, yet logical and precise teacher. You will be amazed at how much you will learn in this course! —Dr. Andrea B. Reiter
Anne’s class is inclusive and encouraging. In addition to the technique, she offers terrific tricks for upping our style, jazzing it up, and makes all of it approachable, even for beginners.
Anne Ku is a wonderful and fun Zoom ukulele instructor. She tailored the class to the students needs and kept the pace appropriate. She also provided resources to be used after the class to help beginners like me with materials and videos to use for practice. I highly recommend taking a class with Anne. You will not be disappointed.
I found online instruction to be helpful- especially with the materials and recordings being emailed after. The one thing I didn’t anticipate was finding a community of fellow uke players which has been fun!
I highly recommend Anne as a passionate, excellent teacher. The zoom class went surprisingly well. I liked the class participation which did not happen in the person-to-person class. I also like the fact that we could review the class on a video which you cannot do in a person-to-person class.The class was not overly instructive but also fun. I highly recommend it
Anne’s love of ukulele is contagious. Not only does she inspire us with her knowledge, but her love of music and community creation. It is a pleasure to study with her.
What a great online bootcamp series! It was just the boost I needed to embrace this instrument and grow in confidence. Anne Ku provided a unique learning sequence that is grounded in theory, tips, playful challenges and instructor feedback. The lesson mix was excellent, and I continue to find guidance for my personal practice in each of the lessons. This experience has fueled my interest in the ukulele as a life-long, socially-oriented instrument. — Rita Stevens
Pingback: Ukulele Taster Workshops: educate, engage, experience – Anne Ku