While ukuleles may have become fashionable during the Roaring Twenties and Tin Pan Alley’s penchant for Pacific kitsch-fueled songwriting, their practitioners never took them too seriously – not even Eddie Vedder who could often be seen sitting silently at Bass Concert Hall while holding onto one with his hands cradling it between songs.
Classical pieces often make an effective fit with the ukulele, though occasionally compromises are made that add an exciting dimension to otherwise low-resonant music.
1. “Hello Everybody”
No matter whether you use songs for morning meetings, closing circles, or as part of your music curricula, adding the ukulele can add another dynamic layer to the music that already exists. By adding simple chords to traditional early childhood songs, students gain more opportunities to explore sound patterns and rhythm. Example 1: “Hello Everybody” This song can help Pre-K students become part of the rhythm with actions such as clapping, patting knees, or swaying to keep the beat going each day in your classroom. Ukulele version of “Hello Everybody” makes learning easy for younger learners because chord changes happen only every few bars. Check out these tutorials below to see various ways you can play this classic. This tune can also be found in my Early Childhood Teacher’s Ukulele Songbook!
2. “Good Morning”
Many classrooms use songs to start and end their days; this one is perfect for both! Written in Pre-K teacher’s music, so young children will easily read its melody and chords. Also included are two ukulele melodies for “Hello Everyone” and “Good Morning,” plus a color chorded lead sheet designed to help quickly learn this song! Plus it introduces another instrument! This song makes a fun introduction of ukuleles into classroom settings!
3. “It’s a Beautiful Day”
Classrooms often use songs to open and close the school day, so why not add some ukulele morning music for students to play and sing! This song could easily become part of your preschool or pre-K classroom’s morning meeting or closing circle!
Rushawn Ewears of Jamaica has captured the hearts of millions with his rendition of “It’s a Beautiful Day,” yet his success hasn’t come easily or without controversy; many allege he is being exploited. As a result, he had to adjust his plans for college, deal with numerous online scams such as fake GoFundMe campaigns and experience significant physical discomfort related to online exploitation – something many claim should have happened earlier.
Is It A Beautiful Day was established during San Francisco’s Summer of Love, managed initially by Matthew Katz – known for working with Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape as well. At first, Matthew Katz forbade the band from performing publicly within San Francisco due to their unreadiness for primetime performances – however they eventually made their public debut at a club owned by Katz in Seattle, Washington.
At its premiere performance at San Francisco’s iconic Fillmore West during the summer of 1971, It’s A Beautiful Day was led by founder David LaFlamme with bassist Mitchell Holman and guitarist Hal Wagenet as core members. Later additions would include drummer Val Fuentes and keyboardist Tom Fowler (later of Frank Zappa’s band). Unfortunately, however, despite its recorded successes like Santana or the Grateful Dead.
4. “I’m Gonna Be Alright”
Ukuleles offer a fun way to introduce music into the classroom and give young students an outlet for expression through melody, rhythm and harmony. Collaborative performances among students create an amazing sense of community and are an excellent way to foster collaboration in learning. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the ukulele is a relatively delicate instrument which may sound thin if played improperly. To achieve a full and rich sound from your uke, it’s crucial that you play as close as possible to the fretboard with each string slapping against it, which could result in thin sounds. Furthermore, use crescendo until about three-fourths through your phrase before gradually tapering off with decrescendo for a seamless resolution to each song.
This upbeat song is perfect for any morning routine. The tune is easy to play and can be enhanced with actions such as clapping, swaying and patting knees. Preschool students will especially love singing this tune in the morning; it provides them with an invaluable foundation for future musical endeavors!
Jennifer Lopez appears in this music video as she addresses an unhealthy relationship in a residential neighborhood setting, visiting barber shops, record stores and coin laundries while also playing baseball with local men.
Harmonies are one of the key features that give this song its distinctive sound and atmosphere. Vocal harmonies sound best when performed by multiple singers and can add an intriguing layer to your song that captures listener attention. Harmonies may take practice to master, but it’s vital you learn to incorporate them into uke songs.
5. “Morning Glory”
Ukuleles can add an exciting and lively musical component to your classroom environment. Many classrooms utilize morning meeting and closing circle songs as an integral component of their morning/afternoon meetings/closes. By including ukuleles in these gatherings, ukuleles can enhance musicality while simultaneously developing rhythm amongst your students.
Ukes can also be an effective way to teach children about the science of weather, plants, and animals. Classic children’s musicians such as Raffi, Sarah Pirtle and Ella Jenkins all feature songs which introduce scientific concepts through songs; adding the ukulele can bring new life to words and phrases which might otherwise become repetitive with early childhood students.
Consider adding other instruments into the classroom beyond ukulele, like drums, keyboards, other strings, melodicas, whistles, or bass to enhance overall sound and create a more balanced musical ensemble.
Finally, don’t be afraid to increase the volume. Every instrument has a limit as to how loudly it can be played before distortion sets in. Try gradually raising and then decreasing intensity so as to create crescendo and decrescendo scenes that culminate in satisfying resolutions; these techniques will help create fuller and richer tones on your ukulele.