Mrs Moulds from the NYCC Music Service has been visiting Class 2 every Friday to teach the children how to play the ukulele and reports on the children’s learning progression here.
“The class have learned to play each string on the ukulele, and know how to make more notes by pressing their fingers between the frets. They have learned to listen carefully to distinguish different rhythms and particularly enjoyed the game ‘Don’t clap this one back’! Recently, they have been learning to read rhythm notation and can copy and compose simple rhythm patterns on a ukulele string. They have done particularly well with their rhythm reading, a useful skill which can be transferred to any musical instrument.
They have also been learning how to strum chords and have learned C, C7, F and G7. G7 is more difficult as it requires three fingers, but several children have managed to learn it. We have learned a range of instrumental pieces including Rock Those Chords, Fanfare and Spider Walk.
When we are performing a song, some of the class choose one chord and follow the words carefully to strum their chord at the correct time. Other children in the class are confident to change from one chord to the next and play all the chords in a song.
Some of the songs we have learned are:
Lime in the coconut, Kookaburra, Frere Jacques, There ain’t no bugs on me, Polly Wolly Doodle, Molly Malone, Hush Little Baby, The Mango Walk and Lavender’s Blue.
The children have been a lovely, polite and enthusiastic class to work with, and I hope many will go on to learn to play musical instruments in the future.” Mrs Moulds
