Ukulele ~ Mrs.

Orr
Course Description

Learn the basics on ukulele. We will learn to read music and play
chords and melodies on the ukulele. Students will be allowed to move
at their own pace if they have prior experience with this instrument.

Resource Requirements

School will supply a ukulele, although students will not be allowed

to take it home to practice. Students will be provided with a
lesson booklet that contains the ukulele program. Guitar picks
are not required.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: The Open Strings and Open String Melodies

Lesson 2: The Pentatonic Scale and Safari (2-part song)

Lesson 3: Rocky Mountain (2-part song)

Lesson 4: Acadian Lullaby (2-part song)

Lesson 5: Oh! Susanna (2-part song)

Lesson 6: Up on the Housetop (2-part song)

Lesson 7: The C Scale and All Night Long (3-part song)

Lesson 8: Lavenders Blue (2-part song)

Lesson 9: Carnival of Venice (2-part song)

Lesson 10: Scale Intervals (assignment)

Lesson 11: Oh! Susanna and Up on the Housetop (2-part songs)

Lesson 12: Wiegenlied Lullaby (2-part song)

Grading Policy and Scale

Overall Course Rubric

Exceeding Proficient Basic Not Yet

MASTERING ADVANCING EMERGING LIMITED

Can play multiple Can play more Can play songs Does not yet
strumming patterns rhythmically using a basic strum understand the
and change chords complicated pattern and two basic skills required
quickly and easily strumming patterns chords. Can to play the ukulele,
without stopping. and alternate alternate between how to hold, strum
Can play songs between three chord the chords with ease and proper posture.
utilizing all four songs while singing. while singing.
chords we have
learned so far and PROGRESSING BEGINNING
can accompany
themselves singing. Can play a basic Is beginning to
strum pattern and understand how to
change between strum the ukulele,
three chord songs can hold the
while singing. instrument correctly
and can play one
finger chords.

Ukulele Performance Rubric

4 - Exceeding 3 - Proficient 2 - Basic 1 - Not Yet

Notation All notes are Most notes are Several notes Most notes are
accurate and accurate are not not accurate
played with accurate
confidence

Rhythm All rhythms are Most rhythms Several Many incorrect

precise, with a are precise, incorrect rhythms,
constant steady beat changes rhythms, frequent pauses
beat occasionally, a several pauses
few pauses

Progress Player has Player has Player has Player has not
made excellent made good made average made very good
progress stays progress progress not progress often
on task for each occasionally always on task off task
class gets off task
 Technique Checklist (1 point per item)

Player is sitting Feet are flat and Left hand is Right forearm Ukulele body is
up straight on ukulele is curved, thumb crosses the lowered in the
edge of chair cradled in the rests gently ukulele so that right arm, neck
right arm behind the neck strumming is is high
where the body
& neck meet
Curriculum Outcomes

The outcomes from the Alberta Curriculum that will be met throughout this
program include:

Listening

o Identify and compare sounds (musical and non-musical): high-low,

loud-soft, short-long, slow-fast, up-down

o Distinguish among the sounds of common musical instruments

o Detect the contour (shape) of melody

o Identify differences in tempo, timbre, and dynamics

o Identify the difference in sound between songs in major and minor

keys

o Identify repetition and contrast

Playing Instruments

o Play simple rhythm patterns (the beat and divisions of the beat)

o Follow simple rhythm scores

o Ukulele learn basic chords and rhythms to accompany many

songs; proceed to plucking melody notes

Reading and Writing

o Recognize whole, half, quarter, eighth notes and the whole, half,
quarter, eighth rests

o Recognize 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures

o Recognize the musical staff and treble clef sign

o Recognize like and unlike phrases

o Recognize the dotted half note, the concept of the dot, and fermata

o Interpret chord symbols using ukuleles

Student Checkpoint Checkpoint Checkpoint Overall
Name 1 2 3 Mark
Date: Date: Date: Date:
 Ukulele Performance Rubric Name: ________________ Date:
_________Score: _____

4 - Exceeding 3 - Proficient 2 - Basic 1 - Not Yet

Notation All notes are Most notes are Several notes Most notes are
accurate and accurate are not not accurate
played with accurate
confidence

Rhythm All rhythms are Most rhythms Several Many incorrect

precise, with a are precise, incorrect rhythms,
constant steady beat changes rhythms, frequent pauses
beat occasionally, a several pauses
few pauses

Progress Player has Player has Player has Player has not
made excellent made good made average made very good
progress stays progress progress not progress often
on task for each occasionally always on task off task
class gets off task

Technique Checklist (1 point per item)

Player is sitting Feet are flat and Left hand is Right forearm Ukulele body is
up straight on ukulele is curved, thumb crosses the lowered in the
edge of chair cradled in the rests gently ukulele so that right arm, neck
right arm behind the neck strumming is is high
where the body
& neck meet

Ukulele Performance Rubric Name: ________________ Date:

_________Score: _____

4 - Exceeding 3 - Proficient 2 - Basic 1 - Not Yet

Notation All notes are Most notes are Several notes Most notes are
accurate and accurate are not not accurate
played with accurate
confidence

Rhythm All rhythms are Most rhythms Several Many incorrect

precise, with a are precise, incorrect rhythms,
constant steady beat changes rhythms, frequent pauses
beat occasionally, a several pauses
few pauses

Progress Player has Player has Player has Player has not
 made excellent made good made average made very good
progress stays progress progress not progress often
on task for each occasionally always on task off task
class gets off task

Technique Checklist (1 point per item)

Player is sitting Feet are flat and Left hand is Right forearm Ukulele body is
up straight on ukulele is curved, thumb crosses the lowered in the
edge of chair cradled in the rests gently ukulele so that right arm, neck
right arm behind the neck strumming is is high
where the body
& neck meet