Music Class with Ms. Hayashi
4th Grade
Ukulele Introduction
Spring 2019
So you want to learn ukulele?
You will learn the most with me by using your ears to hear different music p
atterns. The
following information will help you know parts of the ukulele and how you can improve your
technique. There may also be some activities to try out your ukulele skills.
Music from the inside out
Music is something that we do not see, but we hear.
Our work with the ukulele will be an expression of
music that we already have i nside u
s.
Using folk songs
Folk songs are a focus in our work because they
reflect our culture a
nd communities. These songs
can help us connect through games, melodies, and
relatable messages in our classes.
Let’s build our skills
For our music classes, this is the first time we are
formally using the ukuleles. Some students may transition s
moothly to this work and others may
find it challenging. All students are encouraged to make meaningful musical choices as they
practice. Remember, new skills may take lots of t ime to develop. Be courageous learners, and
embrace your m
istakes s
o that you can learn from them.
2
Parts of the instrument
Knowing the different parts of the instrument will help
you receive instruction and communicate your learning
with more precision and detail.
What do you notice about the ukulele?
Strings and Tuners
How many strings are on the ukulele? ______________
How many tuners are on the headstock? ___________
How do the tuners relate to the strings?
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Neck, Fretboard, and Frets
The frets on the fretboard indicate half step pitch
changes. True or False?
A fret makes the ukulele sound change. True or False?
Both the neck and the fretboard have the same
function for playing the ukulele? True or False?
In your own words...
Use vocabulary to describe where the sound hole is
located on the ukulele.
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3
Learning the Strings
Chordophones
The ukulele is a kind of c
hordophone. A chordophone is an instrument that makes sound
through vibrating strings stretched between two points. Other kinds of chordophones include
the harp, violin, banjo, and harpsichord. To make vibrations on the strings, we will pick the
strings. To p
ick t he string, we will lift the sound from the string as the tips of the fingers as they
move from the string and releases away from the s
ound h
ole.
Different kinds of strings
There are four strings on the ukulele: G, C, E, and A. Longer and t hicker
strings make lower sounds, and s
horter and thinner strings make high
sounds.
Explore the string pitches
Write the string names in pitch order from lowest pitch to highest pitch:
Change the string pitches
To change the string pitch, press down your finger on the string between the frets. When you
press down on a string, the string shortens and produces a higher pitch.
Pitch Matching Challenge: By pressing down with only one finger, make both strings match
pitch. Consider which string is lower in pitch for each challenge, and start with the lower pitch.
1) Use only the G and A strings
2) Use only the C and E strings
4
Goal Setting
Creating learning goals can help us focus during our work. Goals can keep us motivated and
remind us that we are not expected to know everything at once or quickly. Instead, goal setting
can help us construct questions about how to reach our goals. Actively working through these
questions can help us improve our skills and accomplish what we hope to learn from the
experience.
KWL Chart about the ukulele
My ukulele learning goal
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