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I'm really excited to offer our first online class! You can read all about it by clicking on the link so I'll just give a short synopsis here and then tell you why you should absolutely, definitely, enthusiastically add ukulele to your studio. The course contains 5 video lessons that you can watch and rewatch as needed. Each lesson comes with detailed notes to help you get started and I include a bunch of links to ukuleles that I recommend, ukulele players you should know, and a bonus video to help you get started with chords. This course is here to give you a solid foundation and to help you learn technique so that you can play and teach ukulele correctly. Ukulele is such a fun instrument and was an awesome addition to my studio 5 years ago. I had a guitar background which made it easy to pick up. I'm a multi-instrumentalist teacher and many of my students also play more than one instrument. It really makes a difference on their primary instrument and with retention in our studio.  Offering Ukulele Groups in Your Studio In addition to offering private uke lessons we currently have two full ukulele groups and are about to add a third. Every studio is different but, for us, we have found that 4 students is a really good number. We do a 30 minute lesson, charge two thirds as much as a private lesson, and include a free ukulele that students get to keep. On a business level, this is fantastic. We make almost three times as much money as we do during a standard 30 minute private lesson spot and students pay less. It really is a win win. It is really working well for our studio and kids love it!  Ready to sign up for Ukulele Basics for Teachers? |
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I regularly use ukulele during my piano lessons.
Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Accompany students while they play melodies. Most beginner books are in C, which is perfect for ukulele. You can learn a few chords and you're good to go! Playing along with students gives them the opportunity to "jam" with a different instrument and get used to playing along with different instruments.
2. Play melodies back to students. When correcting wrong notes I like to help students work on ear training. Instead of just telling them to move their fingers or correcting them verbally ("That's an F, not an E") I used to sing the melodies to them to help them hear the notes and think of them as more than just dots on a page. Similarly, playing the melody on a different instrument will help them to develop their ear and realize that a song isn't stuck on the piano but exists in a much bigger world. It also gives me the chance to sit back from the piano instead of always having to be right next to a student.
3. I use it as a bonus at the end of lessons from time to time. I can normally teach a student to strum and switch through 3 different chords within a couple of minutes. Then I'll either just let them play around on the instrument, play a melody or sing with them, or let them play the accompanying chords to a song they've been working on while I play the melody they've been playing. It's really cool to see them make the musical connections and I think that EVERYONE can benefit by learning at least a little on multiple instruments.
Here are a few ways to do that:
1. Accompany students while they play melodies. Most beginner books are in C, which is perfect for ukulele. You can learn a few chords and you're good to go! Playing along with students gives them the opportunity to "jam" with a different instrument and get used to playing along with different instruments.
2. Play melodies back to students. When correcting wrong notes I like to help students work on ear training. Instead of just telling them to move their fingers or correcting them verbally ("That's an F, not an E") I used to sing the melodies to them to help them hear the notes and think of them as more than just dots on a page. Similarly, playing the melody on a different instrument will help them to develop their ear and realize that a song isn't stuck on the piano but exists in a much bigger world. It also gives me the chance to sit back from the piano instead of always having to be right next to a student.
3. I use it as a bonus at the end of lessons from time to time. I can normally teach a student to strum and switch through 3 different chords within a couple of minutes. Then I'll either just let them play around on the instrument, play a melody or sing with them, or let them play the accompanying chords to a song they've been working on while I play the melody they've been playing. It's really cool to see them make the musical connections and I think that EVERYONE can benefit by learning at least a little on multiple instruments.
A little about me:
Guitar is my primary instrument and I have been playing guitar for almost 20 years. I started playing piano, bass, and drums shortly thereafter and began teaching private lessons in college. I have been teaching private lessons for almost 15 years and have taught private and group lessons in churches, music schools, my home, music stores, and currently in my own multi-teacher studio.
I picked up ukulele about 6 years ago when a piano student asked me if I could teach her. We learned it together over a summer and I've never looked back. Whether you want to play melodies, chords, or a combination of those the uke is such a versatile little instrument. I've included a few videos to give you an idea of what you can do with the ukulele.
The most common use in our studio is students that want to strum simple chords and sing, though I have had some students to some pretty complex and awesome things over the years. A current student is working on Jake Shimabukuro's Bohemian Rhapsody and we did his cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps last year.
Like many things, you get out of the ukulele whatever you put into it. Every time that I think I'm going to be tapped out and that I've reached the limit of what ukulele can do we discover something else and the journey begins anew.
Guitar is my primary instrument and I have been playing guitar for almost 20 years. I started playing piano, bass, and drums shortly thereafter and began teaching private lessons in college. I have been teaching private lessons for almost 15 years and have taught private and group lessons in churches, music schools, my home, music stores, and currently in my own multi-teacher studio.
I picked up ukulele about 6 years ago when a piano student asked me if I could teach her. We learned it together over a summer and I've never looked back. Whether you want to play melodies, chords, or a combination of those the uke is such a versatile little instrument. I've included a few videos to give you an idea of what you can do with the ukulele.
The most common use in our studio is students that want to strum simple chords and sing, though I have had some students to some pretty complex and awesome things over the years. A current student is working on Jake Shimabukuro's Bohemian Rhapsody and we did his cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps last year.
Like many things, you get out of the ukulele whatever you put into it. Every time that I think I'm going to be tapped out and that I've reached the limit of what ukulele can do we discover something else and the journey begins anew.
Ready to sign up for Ukulele Basics for Teachers?
Click Here to get started!
Why should you add ukulele to your studio?
Ukulele is a fun and easy instrument to add to your studio. To teach beginner ukulele classes you don't need a degree in Ukulele Pedagogy but it is extremely beneficial to have an understanding of proper ukulele technique, especially if you don't have a background in fretted instruments. Just like it is important to have proper technique with piano, it is crucial to have the right technique when approaching the ukulele.
Unlike piano, the ukulele is portable. This is easily overlooked but students have to be locked into their piano to practice and to make music. What you are doing is giving your students a way to make music wherever they are.
Picking up a second instrument will help your students to become better musicians and better pianists. Having a deeper understanding of multiple instruments gives students a better appreciation for music and opens up a new world of possibilities for them.
Ukulele is inexpensive. You can get a new ukulele for around $50. The ukuleles that we include in our group classes typically cost around $30.
Ukulele is a fun and easy instrument to add to your studio. To teach beginner ukulele classes you don't need a degree in Ukulele Pedagogy but it is extremely beneficial to have an understanding of proper ukulele technique, especially if you don't have a background in fretted instruments. Just like it is important to have proper technique with piano, it is crucial to have the right technique when approaching the ukulele.
Unlike piano, the ukulele is portable. This is easily overlooked but students have to be locked into their piano to practice and to make music. What you are doing is giving your students a way to make music wherever they are.
Picking up a second instrument will help your students to become better musicians and better pianists. Having a deeper understanding of multiple instruments gives students a better appreciation for music and opens up a new world of possibilities for them.
Ukulele is inexpensive. You can get a new ukulele for around $50. The ukuleles that we include in our group classes typically cost around $30.
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I'll leave you with a couple of students doing a really unique cover of Don't Stop Believing.
Ready to sign up for Ukulele Basics for Teachers?
Click Here to get started!
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