Ukulele: beginners
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This course has now started
Course Code: ME808
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Learn the essentials of playing the ukulele in a group lesson. Learn about the use and history of the instrument.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
Learn playing technique including how to strum simple chord patterns. Soon you will be able to sing simple songs and accompany other uke students, or indeed friends.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Play simple chords
- Play basic strumming patterns
- Understand uke tuning
- play some songs with confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is ideal for beginners to the ukulele.
You will need to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
We will learn songs and techniques together in a group.
The tutor will give instruction, advice, and practical demonstrations of the technique taught in each session.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to have a ukulele ! Any colour will do.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can progress to Ukulele intermediate/improvers next time that course is scheduled.
Martin Wheatley has enjoyed a varied career playing and teaching all sorts of fretted instruments: guitar, banjos of all sorts, mandolin and ukulele. His interest in the ukulele started long before the current wave of popularity through a love of vintage Hawaiian music. You can watch him performing on the ukulele on Youtube but he is as interested in the value and joy of the instrument for complete novices as he is in pushing technical boundaries. His performing career has been spent playing old-style jazz (pre-WW2) with occasional forays into the worlds of rock (Bryan Ferry) and classical music (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic). He has a B.A. from Colchester, an M.A. from University College London and a houseful of ukuleles.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
