Ukulele! Level 1 is a beginner’s ukulele workbook, suitable as a private lesson or classroom textbook for children ages 6-9.

I teach in a K-8 school, and I use this method with my 3rd grade. The book has everything I need to lead my Kodály-inspired music classroom in wholistic learning experiences. There are 20 pentatonic folk songs (from a variety of cultures across the globe) to sing and fingerpick. 10 of the songs include accompanying classroom games. Technically, this method exercises digital independence of the right hand by focusing on plucking and reading the open string (GCEA) pitches. The only fretted pitches are carefully introduced low D and high C.

The illustrations are my own. Music reading involves careful attention to minute visual details, so I’m a fan of keeping young eyes activated and imaginations enthralled when teaching musical repertoire.

I also believe that we learn how to read most deeply if we are simultaneously learning how to write. Students love to invent their own musical ideas as they drink in new musical learning. For these reasons, composition exercises are peppered throughout this method workbook.

Here are audio examples of the pieces in Ukulele! Level 1. In each example, the student part is played first, then the melody is repeated twice with an accompaniment to play along with.