Ukulele for Beginners

Learn the fundamentals of playing the ukulele, a fun and portable way to make music on your own or with others. The course will cover the basic techniques of playing the ukulele, such as finger positioning, hand coordination, and rhythm.

You’ll learn how to hold the ukulele properly to produce clear and accurate sound, in addition to how to tune it. Through a combination of demonstrations, exercises, and practice sessions, you’ll develop a solid foundation in various aspects of ukulele playing, including popular chord progressions, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, and reading TAB notation so that you can learn the music you want to play.

The course features a range of fun, familiar songs, as well as original music written specifically for teaching learners. The goal is to give you a range of approaches to playing the ukulele, so that you can expand your playing ability and develop your own style. With its focus on foundational skills, technical mastery, and engaging content, the course provides a comprehensive introduction to the ukulele and sets you up for a lifetime of music making.

What you will learn:

✔ Hold the ukulele properly and tune it             
✔ Play chord progressions commonly found in songs that feature the ukulele             
✔ Perform popular strumming patterns, in addition to fingerpicking styles             
✔ Read TAB as a tool for learning new songs              
✔ Write your own songs that feature strumming and fingerpicking

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What you need to participate:

• Computer or mobile device with Internet. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
• A concert ukulele (a soprano or tenor size ukulele is acceptable; a baritone ukulele should not be used)
• A clip-on tuner, such as the Snark SN6
• Optional: a capo

How the course works:

Interlochen Online courses are designed to be inspiring and flexible with weekly learning units that combine video segments and guided instruction that you can complete on your own schedule during the week. You will interact regularly with your teacher and peers inside the learning environment. 

You can also participate in an optional weekly hour-long video class meeting, where you can learn from the teacher and interact with your classmates in real-time. At the beginning of the course, you will complete a survey indicating your preferred times for the class meeting. The teacher will make every best effort to identify a meeting time that works for everyone. The teacher will also post recordings of the meetings and you can view them when it is convenient. 

The goal is that you walk away not only with practical skills and friendships but that you are inspired and motivated to pursue your art and realize your potential.