Our Year 5 and Year 6 students have been working hard in the past couple of lessons on the Ukulele unit. This term they will learn tuning, strumming/rhythm, accompaniment, melody, singing, hand coordination, sight-reading, and many other skills while learning the ukulele.
Here are just a few reasons why teaching ukulele in primary schools is a great idea:
1. The small size of the ukulele makes it accessible for young children to hold and play, helping to develop fine motor skills and coordination.
2. Playing the ukulele can help to improve memory, concentration and focus, as students learn to read music and play chords.
3. Learning to play an instrument can boost self-confidence and self-esteem, and can be a great way for students to express themselves creatively.
4. The ukulele is a fun and engaging instrument that can be played solo or in a group, making it a great choice for classroom music programmes.
5. Playing ukulele can help to improve listening skills, as students learn to play along with others and to hear the individual parts of a song.
6. Ukulele is a great way to introduce students to different cultures and styles of music.
7. The ukulele is a perfect instrument to introduce children to the world of music.
8. It’s easy to learn and fun to play, making it an enjoyable activity for children to take part in.
9. Learning to play the ukulele can be a lifelong hobby that brings joy and creativity to the student’s life.
In the Hawaiian language, "ukulele" can mean two things: either "jumping flea", inspired by the rapid dance of a player's fingers over the strings; or "the gift that came here", since the the instrument was adapted from a similar Portuguese instrument called the "machete de braga" that was brought to Hawaii by sailors from the island of Madeira in 1879.
