Ukulele Lessons in Grants Pass
With a compact size and simple chord structure, the ukulele is often regarded as one of the easiest instruments to learn. It's a popular choice for beginners and seasoned musicians alike. Thanks to its portability and charming sound, the ukulele has gained widespread popularity worldwide. Here at Southern Oregon School of Music, whether you join a group class or work with a private teacher, you’ll be strumming chords and playing melodies in no time!
What you Will Learn in Ukulele Lessons:
Our beginner students start by focusing on learning chords and strumming patterns. They also learn to read ukulele tablature to play melodies. Your teacher will learn your interests and include songs that you will love to play.
A Little Info About the Ukulele:
The ukulele is a small, guitar-like instrument that originated in the 19th century in Hawaii. It has its roots in the Portuguese instrument called the machete, which was brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century. It was adapted and modified by Hawaiians to create the ukulele. Types of Ukuleles: -Soprano: This is the smallest and most traditional type of ukulele. It's known for its bright and cheerful tone. -Concert: Slightly larger than the soprano, it is played exactly the same way while offering a bit more fret space and a slightly fuller sound. -Tenor: Larger still, the tenor ukulele provides even more fret space and a deeper, richer tone. -Baritone: The biggest of the standard ukuleles, the baritone is tuned like the highest four strings on the guitar making it very easy to transfer what is learned to the guitar by adding the fingering of the two additional strings.
FAQs:
What type of ukulele will my child need?
Your child will need a soprano or concert-sized ukulele. Be sure it is not a toy ukulele. You should expect to pay anywhere from $50 on up for a good ukulele. We recommend Great Northwest Music here in Grants Pass if you need to purchase one. They have a fantastic selection and are reasonably priced. It is important to learn on a quality instrument because cheap or toy ukuleles are more difficult to play and will not create a sound that is satisfying to listen to. Your child will stay more motivated when playing on a quality instrument.
What accesories do I need?
-A tuner or tuner app on your phone -If you have young children in the house, a wall mount for home is recommended so the ukulele can be kept out of the reach of the little ones (it will stay in tune longer that way!). Keeping the ukulele out and ready on the wall hanger will help you practice regularly.
How much will I need to practice?
To make progress in lessons you'll needs to play regularly. We recommend that beginners practice 15-30 minutes every day. Playing the ukulele can result in sore fingers at the beginning, so it is best to split practice time into two sessions a day for 10 minutes with several hours in between to give sore fingers time to rest. As you practice regularly, you will eventually develop callouses on your fingers so that they no longer hurt. At that point, you can play for longer periods of time. The more time a musician plays, the faster they progress in both technique and the number of favorite songs they are able to learn.
Is it possible to schedule lessons every other week (biweekly)?
It could possibly work during the school day, but not after 2:00 pm since these times are in such high demand. Also in our experience, we have found that although it can work for adults, biweekly lessons with children are generally not successful. They need the consistency of weekly support from their teacher. The classical guitar with nylon strings is the most common to find in smaller sizes and It is also best for young beginners since it is easier on their fingers. After your child has built up some callouses and is ready to move up a size, they can change to a steel string guitar if that is their preference. GUITAR SIZE HEIGHT 1/4 Size Guitar - up to 3'9" tall 1/2 Size Guitar - up to 4'3" tall 3/4 Size Guitar - up to 4'11" tall 7/8 Size Guitar - up to 5'1" tall Full Size Guitar - 5'2 and taller When you invest in guitar lessons for your child it is very important that you also invest in a quality guitar. Inexpensive guitars often have a higher action (distance from string to the fretboard) that makes the guitar difficult to play. A quality guitar will be much easier to play, and your child will be proud of the beautiful sound it makes. Since it will be more fun to play, your child will enjoy practicing more and make better progress in their lessons.
"It's almost impossible not to be happy when you play the ukulele."
~Kina Grannis
