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Teaching Ukulele in the General Music Classroom – Online Learning

Online Learning

Online Learning

Ukulele

Teaching Ukulele in the General Music Classroom

Register Anytime| Course format: Online, Asynchronous, Self-Paced

The learner is expected to finish the course within 8 weeks of registering.

SKU: GUGM-012024

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Plan your curriculum and get graduate credit simultaneously!  Teaching Ukulele in the General Music Classroom is an asynchronous class designed and taught by a general music teacher.  Each reading and assignment is relevant and designed for your teaching situation. You will leave this class with a customized ukulele curriculum designed specifically for your students, including an implementation plan, classroom visuals, and talking points for your administrators and community. 

Course Credit / Code: ED 501 2 credit hours
Student workload is approximately 75 hours minimum.

Prerequisites
Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate in the area of music

Required Materials

  • Uke Can Do It!: Developing Your School Ukulele Program by Philip Tamberino   ISBN: 978-1475804164 
  • One curriculum method book from the list in Lesson Module 6 (student’s choice). 

Course Format and Requirements: 

Our courses utilize a custom Learning Management System (LMS).  Our Music ConstructEd Online Courses are asynchronous and self-paced.  You can correspond with your instructor and submit all assignments within the LMS. A syllabus with a suggested pacing guide will be emailed to you at the start of the class.  Teaching Ukulele in the General Music Classroom is a fourteen-week course. 

  • Teachers will need their own devices with a stable internet connection to access the digital Learning Management System (LMS) which is provided by Music ConstructED. 
  • Access to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint or Google Docs and Google Slides (you can register for a free Google account if you do not already have one). 

Online Activities will include: 

  1. Videos demonstrating skills, techniques, and suggestions for student engagement.  Please actively watch the videos, take notes, and practice the designated skill. 
  1. Readings will include articles, book chapters, and blog posts.  
  1. Online Assignments and Projects Each assignment will assist you in solidifying a curriculum model introducing the ukulele to your students and advocating for a ukulele program with your administration. Your final project will be built using weekly assignments focused on your individual teaching situation. 

Course Objectives
After this course, students will:

  • Explain the historical and cultural significance of the ukulele. 
  • Develop functional playing skills on the ukulele.  
  • Develop pedagogical skills for teaching the ukulele to beginning players.
  • Create a ukulele curriculum with supporting materials. 
  • Understand how to differentiate content for students with different educational needs.
  • Develop a philosophy regarding the inclusion of ukulele in the general music program, for the purpose of advocacy, curriculum development, parental/administrative communication, and funding of programs.

Refund Policy for Music ConstructED Graduate Courses    

Within 14 days: For a period of 14 days before the start of the course, a full refund will be given on the total amount of tuition fees paid, less processing fees and registrar fees, at the time of cancellation. The student must notify Music ConstructED in writing via email or letter received on or before the 14-day period. If you apply for a refund within 14 days of the course start date, our refund policy does not apply. However, you can transfer to a different MCED course by paying the registration fee of $55 per graduate credit.   

Teaching Ukulele in the General Music Classroom: Introduction

This introductory module will ensure you are able to navigate the course with ease and inspire you to create the perfect ukulele curriculum to fit your specific teaching situation. This lesson module requires approximately 15 hours to complete.

Lessons

Navigating the LMS Syllabus and Course Overview Assignments and Rubrics Registration with CSU Uke Can Do It!

The History

Learn about the history of the ukulele and it’s rise to popularity in the music classroom. Next, meet the musicians who have influenced the popularity of this versatile instrument. Finally, weigh in on one of the most charged arguments surrounding the instrument – how to pronounce and spell ukulele. This lesson module requires approximately 12 hours to complete.

Lessons

Origin Story Influential Ukulele Musicians The Pronunciation Debate

The Basics

Whether you are a novice or an expert, this module will ensure that you have the skills needed to teach your students the basics of the ukulele. This lesson module requires approximately 10 hours to complete.

Lessons

The Anatomy of the Ukulele Ukulele Tuning Options Tuning a Ukulele Holding a Ukulele Strumming

Chords and Charts

Practice makes perfect, this module introduces you chord charts, familiarizes your with the fretboard and fingerpicking, and refreshes your chord progression knowledge. At the same time you are improving your skills, spend time reflecting on how to reinforce practice skills with your students. This lesson module requires approximately 15 hours to complete.

Lessons

Finger Numbers Strings and Frets Chord Charts Introducing Chords Individual Practice Time Student Practice Sites

Reaching All Learners

Every student is unique. Anticipating the accommodations you will need to make to ensure every student is successful will make your classes run smoothly. This module will help you process some of the different situations you may encounter in your classroom. This lesson module requires approximately 3 hours to complete.

Lessons

Differentiation Strategies Fretboard Stickers Left Handed Players Chord Helpers Picks or No Picks

Teacher Talk

The instructor will share her experience building a ukulele program from scratch for a public school general music classroom in this module. The student will also have time to reflect on their learning progress and anticipate struggles they may encounter as they build their program. This lesson module requires approximately 3 hours to complete.

Lessons

Building a Ukulele Program Implementation Plan Reflection & Strategy

Final Project

Finding additional resources to supplement your teaching can sometimes prove challenging. In this module you will choose ukulele resource book to review and embed into the curricular materials your have created throughout this course. The result, a completed ukulele curriculum! This lesson module requires approximately 15 hours to complete.

Lessons

Ukulele Curriculum Final Project

Kate Hagen

Kate Hagen currently teaches in the Iowa City Community School District. She has 20 years of experience working with K-6 students in public schools. Kate has a license in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa, and a Masters of Music Education from University of Northern Iowa. She holds a National Board Certification in Music for Early and Middle Childhood and has completed certifications in Kodály, World Music Drumming, and Levels I, II, and III Orff-Schulwerk. Kate has presented at several state conferences and workshops and is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Iowa for undergraduate music education students. She co-authored the book Strum, Strike, Sing & Play – Artfully Adding Ukulele in the General Music Classroom in 2017 and is the past-president of First Iowa Orff. Kate has three children, enjoys flower gardening, and in her spare time she and her husband remodel and flip houses.