Session Topics

Possible Sessions to be offered:
Level 1 • 12 Essential Chords that go beyond the "beginners three" • Basic Note Reading from a simple scale to easy tunes • Essential Strumming Patterns • Basic "signposts" in music scores (repeat signs, time signature, etc.) and more!
Level 2 • Major, Minor, and 7th chords • "Picking" melodies and reading music notation as a solo or in a group • Playing a song in a different key and modulating to a different key • Alternate chord shapes • Introduction to playing the "Blues" • Introduction to playing the BASS and more!
Level 3 • Advanced Chord positions on the fretboard • Introduction to Chord - Melody solos • Introduction to Strum - Melody solos • Blues Scale and Pentatonic Scales • Diminished 7th chords, 6th chords • Advanced strumming patterns (Latin, Hawaiian, Finger-Thumb) and more!
Other • "Instant" vocal harmony • Playing "percussion" on the ukulele • Teaching ukulele to young children • Individual playing versus group playing • Playing by ear

CHOOSING YOUR LEVEL
To assist you in your level selections the following guidelines are suggested:

Level 1 (Raw Beginner)
• You are completely new to playing the ukulele and would like to start your journey into learning how to play the instrument.

Level 1 (beginner)
• You are familiar with a handful of basic chords and can switch from one chord to another with a certain level of ease.
• You might have some difficulty with the Bb (or C chord for D6 people) chord shape.
• You are familiar with the basic strum patterns and can strum through simple three or four chord songs.
• You may or may not have some basic note-reading ability.

Level 2 (intermediate)
• You are familiar with a greater variety of chords such as: (example: A, Am, A7, C, C7, D, Dm, E7, Em, G, and G7) or
(B, Bm, B7, D, D7, E, Em, F#7, F#m, A, and A7 for D6 people).
• You are familiar with basic chord progressions such as (I, IV, V chord progressions).
• You can sing and strum smoothly at the same time.
• You can learn chords to tunes and move fairly quickly between them.

Level 3 (Advanced)
• You can identify and hear I, IV, V or I, ii, IV, V chord changes.
• You are familiar with several different or alternate chord positions on the fretboard.
• You can sometimes use a bar chord when necessary.
• You are able to read music reasonably well and can "pick" out a basic melody on your own.
• You are wanting a challenge in new styles and techniques.
• You are wanting to learn about solo techniques (chord-melody, strum-melody, etc.)

Please note that the above are just guidelines and generalizations and are not prerequisites to any level. We run a fairly fluid workshop and if you find that the material being presented is either too easy or too difficult at this time, feel free to slip into another session where you will feel more comfortable. We won't be offended. Honest.

Have fun, and enjoy yourselves !!