Ukulele Lessons in Dayton, MD

Have you always wanted to play those Rebecca Sugar songs? Don't know how Jake Shimabukuro does it? Well, I can teach you!

See how easy it is to learn how to play the Ukulele!

With one to one instruction, you'll learn to play chords, scales, note reading, tablature, finger picking, strum patterns and improvisation. Within just a few lessons, students will begin learning how to play their favorite songs, including, "Somewhere over the Rainbow" ," I'm Yours", "Hey Soul Sister" and many more. Also, students will learn how to play various styles of music like, Blues, Pop, Classical and Rock.

This class is intended for those who have never played a `ukulele, a beginner or continuing student. Yao will learn how to hold, tune, and play the `ukulele for sing-alongs. Basic theory such as rhythmic values (whole, half, quarter, eighth notes), time signatures, etc. will be introduced. You should be able to play several different basic strumming styles, read and understand `ukulele chord charts, transpose songs into other keys, and play along to a large selection of songs, or play at least one song all the way through!

For intermediate students, you will work on more advanced arrangements of songs, strumming styles, increase your chord vocabulary and generally gain a greater knowledge of the `ukulele. You will also learn how to read tablature to play simple melody lines. It will help if you are familiar with the following music theory concepts: key signature (especially the keys of C, F, and G), time signature (3/4, 4/4 and 6/8), and rhythmic values including whole, half, ...

I believe that learning music should be as fun and inspiring as it can be to play, and the Ukulele is a great first instrument for people interested in learning to play any stringed instrument.
Its small size makes it easier for little fingers to handle, and the low-tension nylon strings are more comfortable for beginners to press against the fretboard. Plus, it's portable, so you can take it just about anywhere!

We all have a vast wellspring of creative energy within us, and the goal of the relationship between the student and the teacher is to help nurture and develop that latent talent. For this reason, my approach to teaching music is highly individualized. I start out with the premise that the student has unique gifts and my job is to help them discover what those are, and develop and refine them in order to make beautiful and deeply satisfying music, through whatever instrument and in whatever style they are drawn towards.

Depending on one's starting level of ...

Ukulele students start with five subjects.

1) Technique is concerned with the development of the physical mechanics involved in playing the instrument.

2) Scales are a part of basic music vocabulary and building blocks of the musical language.

3) Chords are also basic vocabulary of the musical language.

4) Note reading is not required for every student. It really depends on the students' goals. However, I strongly encourage everyone learn to read musical notation, (more than tablature). Literacy in reading music is analogous to literacy in reading in our English language. Can you imagine how much smaller our world would be if we couldn't read?

5) Songs utilize the skills and concepts of all the previously mentioned subjects and are the goal of studying music. The student chooses what songs they want to play, guided by my suggestions; Jazz, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, R &B - "How deep is the ocean, how high is the sky?"

A beginning student will practice ...

I've been teaching ukulele for 5 years and it is one of my favorite instruments to play and teach! Within the first few lessons, you'll be able to play several chords and as time goes on you'll be able to play the songs that interest you most. I specialize in pop music and typically use the Alfred Ukulele Method for Kids books or the Hal Leonard Ukulele Books for older students. I love working with students of all ages and experience levels and I can't wait to meet you!