Even though I do not believe technique is the most important thing I should cover in a general education music classroom, I really do see the need for it sometimes on the ukulele! If the students will ever want to move forward with a stringed instrument, like ukulele or guitar, it is important that they understand how to use the best fingers for a chord, and it is important that they can cleanly and quickly move their fingers from one chord to another.
Therefore, we have been spending one more week focusing on exercising the three chords for the playing in the key of G...G, C, D7. Once the kids get these chords down, they will be ready for any song!!!! Here are some pics of the kids practicing these three chords, D7 being the most challenging! We did actually start the song, "In the Jungle" this week, but more info will come next week about that!
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We are working hard at playing three-chord progressions on the ukulele! Therefore, we have been doing a lot of exercises to train new fingers (like the stubborn ring finger) and to feel comfortable going back and forth between all the chords. We also had to learn two new chords this week, the G and D7 chords. These chords are used along with the C chord. When G, D7, and C are used together, G is considered the home chord, while C is the resting, and D7 is the away chord. We will be starting our first song with three chords next week, when we are feeling more comfortable!
We have put the ukuleles aside for a moment...we have more to learn about chords! We've already learned that two chords go really well together, the home and away, but another chord comes in at a close third....the resting chord! The resting chord is a very comfortable chord, but it doesn't quite feel like home. We may want to stay on the resting chord for some time in a song, but we cannot end a song on the resting chord if we want the song to feel finished. To experience this chord, we studied the song "Happy Birthday." I asked the kids to listen for the chords in the song, and they eventually realized that the two chords we already knew were not enough for the song. During the part where we sing the name of the Birthday girl/boy, both the home and away did not sound right. It must be the resting chord! After learning a little more about the chord, we played all three chords with the song on xylophones! Next up...three chords on the ukulele!
Because Mrs. Guy's class comes on Mondays and Thursdays....we've missed a lot of music! Cold days, snow days, mid-winter break, etc.... Therefore, Mrs. Guy's class has finally made it to "Down in the Valley"! They are doing a great job, and are slowly catching back up to the other classes! Next up, "Skip to My Lou!"
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