7th & 8th Grade General Music

Ukulele Introduction
Grade Level: 7th & 8th
Objective(s):
1.
2.
3.
4.

Students will be able to learn the Ukulele Unit classroom procedures.

Students will be able to learn some Ukulele history.
Students will be able to play ukulele with proper holding and strumming technique.
Students will be able to play and write down 3 chords C, F, G7

Materials:
Ukuleles
Blankchordchartsheets
ChordchartpostersforC,F,G7
Procedures:
1. TeacherwillexplainUkuleleprocedures:

Ukuleleswillbeinacardboardbox,takeoneasyouwalkin.
Removeukulelesfromcasescarefullybytheneck,headcomesoutfirst,bodysecond.
Casesgounderneathchairs,desksarealwaysbehindchairs.
WhenIsay,FLIP,ukulelesmustimmediatelybeflippedoveronlaps,stringsfacingdown.
Iwillonlysayittwice.Ifukuleleisstillbeingplayedafterthesecondtime,thatstudentwill
puttheirukuleleawayandmakeupthelessonwithmeafterschool.
Cleanupisbyteacherscall.

2. Teacherwillexplainparts&history:

18thCenturystringed,frettedinstrumentsalreadyhavealonghistory
19thCenturyPortugueseguitarhadshrunktobecomeacavaquinho
1879PortuguesecabinetmakerswenttoHawaiitoselltheirfurniture,buttherewasnta
marketforfurnitureonlyinstruments.
Hawaiianslikedthecabinetmakersversionofacavaquinho,sotheyrenameditUkulele.
UkuleleisaHawaiianreferenceforflea.ThestrummingmotionremindedHawaiians
ofthejumpingmotionoffleas.

3. Teacherwillexplaintuning:
MyDogHasFleas
4. Teacherwillexplainholdingposition:
Leftthumbbehindfretboard
Rightforearmonbodyofukulele
Bottomofbodyonrightthigh
Ukuleletiltsupward
5. Teacherwillexplainstrumming:
Wraplefthandaroundfretboard&strings
Placerightpalmoversoundhole
Pointtowardsyourselfwithyourpointerfinger
Rotatewristsothatyourpointerfingerispointingdown
Rotatewriteupsothatyourpointerfingerispointingatyourself
Keepingyourlefthandaroundthestrings,trythisstrummingmotiononthestrings
6. Teacherwillexplainbasicchords:
Leftthumbstaysbehindfretboard
USUALfingerplacements=pointeronfirstfret,middleonsecondfret,ringonthirdfret
C=ringfingeronA(bottom)string,thirdfret
Writethisonyourchordchart
F=pointerfingeronEstring,firstfret
middlefingeronG(top)string,secondfret
Writethisonyourchordchart
PlayCandFbackandforth,1+2+3+4+foreachchord
G7=pointerfingeronEstring,firstfret
middlefingeronCstring,secondfret
ringfingeronAstring,secondfret
Writethisonyourchordchart
PlayFandG7backandforth,1+2+3+4+foreachchord
PlayC,F,G7,C,1+2+3+4+foreachchord
7. Teacherwillexplainhowtowritedownchordsonachordchart:
Showwhatpartoftheukuleleisshownonachordchart(firstfourfrets,facingup
anddowninthiscase)
ShowclasswhatstringandfretyourfingerisonforaCchordwiththeukuleleheld
upright
Compareyourfingerplacementontheukuleletoyourlargechordchartvisual
Havestudentswritedowntheirchordsandwalkaroundtocheckforaccuracy
Assessment:
Teacher will observe for proper execution of classroom ukulele procedures. (group assessment)
Teacher will observe for proper execution of holding/playing technique and
understanding of history by asking critical thinking questions. (group assessment)
Teacher will assess student chord charts and finger positions. (individual assessment)

Teacher will give a Ukulele Quiz at the end of the unit to assess learning. (individual assessment)
Evaluation:
1. Were students able to execute the Ukulele Unit classroom procedures?
Indicate accuracy level for class:
Novice

Competent

75-85%

86-94%

95-100%

86-94%

95-100%

Mastery

2. Were students able to learn some Ukulele history?

Indicate accuracy level for class:
Novice

Competent

75-85%

Mastery

3. Were students able to play ukulele with proper holding and strumming technique?
Indicate accuracy level for class:
Novice

Competent

75-85%

86-94%

95-100%

Mastery

4. Were students able to play and write down 3 chords C, F, G7?

Indicate accuracy level for class:
Novice

75-85%

86-94%

Competent

Mastery

95-100%

NAfME National Standards addressed:

AnchorStandard#1.Generateandconceptualizeartisticideasandwork.
AnchorStandard#2.Organizeanddevelopartisticideasandwork.
AnchorStandard#3.Refineandcompleteartisticwork.

AnchorStandard#4.Analyze,interpret,andselectartisticworkforpresentation.
AnchorStandard#5.Developandrefineartisticworkforpresentation.
AnchorStandard#11.Relateartisticideasandworkswithsocietal,culturalandhistoricalcontexttodeepen
understanding.

New Hampshire Framework for the Arts addressed:

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.