“Send My Love” Ukulele Lesson

Procedure

Follow the previously learned classroom procedures for ukulele class: The students enter the room, greet the teacher and retrieve their ukuleles from the closet. Students bring their ukuleles to their chairs and open their boxes to retrieve their ukulele. They place the ukulele boxes underneath their chairs. Next, they begin independently practicing what they learned from the last class. The teacher quickly goes around the room and tunes each ukulele by ear.
Have the students read our Learning Target out loud: “How do I perform ‘Send My Love’ by Adele on the ukulele?”. “Today, we will learn how to perform the song using the chords we have previously learned”. Ask the students to recap what they have learned from the previous two classes. Have the students describe how to perform the C major and A minor chords on the ukulele. Have the students demonstrate for each other and assist the other students in strumming or fingering appropriately. Make sure that the class is able to identify each chord by finger placement or color-coded sticker on the ukulele neck.
Next, introduce the students to the modified notation for the chord structure for “Send My Love”. Ask the students to describe what they see and what they think it means. As an ensemble, practice strumming C eight times, stopping to pause and switch fingers to A minor, eight times. Have students volunteer to lead the class in the same activity. Have the students practice together and count to eight out loud.
Introduce the Jam Track for “Send My Love”. Listen for the first two phrases with the students listening in table-top position. Then, have the students join in and approximate strumming along with the song. Help students by verbally saying “SWITCH!” on beat 8 of each phrase.
Last, using the partner checklist, have the students assess their playing partners. The students should turn towards each other to be able to watch their partners strumming and fingering and practice socialization and turn-taking skills.
The class should end with a recap of what we learned today and the students giving each other stars or celebrations. The students follow the standard procedure of placing their ukulele in the box while it is on the floor so it does not fall. They close the box and neatly place it back in the closet.

Standards Code

MU:Pr5.1.H.HSI

Suggested Assessment

Partner checklist with pictures for early learners:
1. Did my partner strum the C Major chord (red) 8 times?
2. Did my partner strum the A minor chord (purple) 8 times?
3. Did my partner stay with the beat to switch?

Enduring Understanding

5.1 To express their musical ideas, musicians analyze, evaluate, and refine their performance over time through openness to new ideas, persistence, and the application of appropriate criteria.

Essential Question

How do musicians improve the quality of their performance?

Notes/Resources/Accommodations

Suggested Tip: Use color-coded stickers on the ukulele neck as you teach each chord. Follow the colors of Boom-whackers for consistency.

Accommodations: For students with limited motor skills, use the iPad App "Ukulele - Play Chords on Uke". Students can use one finger to practice strumming and changing chords. For students with further limitations including comprehension, ask a paraprofessional to assist by placing their own fingers on the neck to hold down the strings or assist students with hand-over-hand prompting. Ask the student to strum independently and use less-restrictive prompting as time goes on.

Resources:
"Send My Love" Jam Tracks by Little Kids Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqYU0guWlYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lINfnYKvD8w

Additional Instructional Ideas

This lesson is designed for a 12:1:1 class for students ages 14-21 but can be adapted for all ages and levels.