Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
All Are Welcome!
No previous experience required. For all ages from 6 to 106.
Gain confidence in a wide range of fundamental skills. Learn proper posture, how to tune and hold the ukulele, and make chord finger placements in ways that allow for the greatest efficiency.
Find your rhythmic groove through strumming and easy fingerpicking skills.
Learn to play some simple and catchy songs, by listening and feeling the music.
Level 2 — Beginner - for players who already know the chords C, F, Am & G7
Old-time folk, gospel, blues, pop, and children’s songs
Learn simple chord progressions and how to make the most efficient movement transitions between chords. Bring along favorite songs you are hoping to learn and get introduced to a vast and diverse set of songs from many genres.
Learn to feel the strum and play different strumming patterns
Explore your own natural sense of rhythm and invite it to come out and play.
Experience the ukulele as a tool for relaxation and meditation
Learn some exquisitely simple and soulful lullabies that can help quiet the mind and center you into a state of calm.
Understand chord families and transposing songs into different keys
Experiment with singing songs in 3 different keys and find the ones best suited for your voice.
For those who are interested, Jill has an engaging repertoire of children’s songs and many game ideas to bring these songs to life, in beautiful and interactive ways. Through this approach you can learn to use music as a tool to encourage children’s language and learning skills, as well as enrich your family time.
Level 3 — Intermediate- for players who have mastered 15 chords and can strum with ease and versatility
Taking elements of Level 2 and dialing it up a notch
Learn more intricate melodies with more complicated chords. We will also learn some jazz and barre chords and how to play frequently used chords with different shapes.
Arranging and “Intros and Outros”
Start to explore what makes for an interesting beginning and ending to a song. As well as discover the variety of ways a song can be arranged.
Transposing and Chord Families
Learn more about chord families and how to transpose songs into different keys.
Experimenting with popular chord progressions
Explore simple songwriting practices and find your own melodies.
All classes include:
Conversations on the neuroscience of fruitful practice
What are the features that create success for learners of all ages? We all learn differently and we can all learn from each other.
Time to discover your unique musicality
Through various exercises, we will give ourselves a permission slip to create and explore simple music compositions with free-flowing acceptance. I like to call this process stepping into the “Yes River”.
How to ensure years of pain-free practice
We will pay close attention to the whole body, as well as shoulder, head/neck alignment, and hand positioning to ensure comfort while playing. Jill has years of experience successfully working through chronic pain issues and can guide you to resources to help you play with the greatest ease.
Class recordings and song charts
Time is taken during each class to build a supportive learning community. Sessions are structured to allow for maximum success and the meeting of individual needs even in a group setting.
Not sure how to get started and want to get a feel for things?
Join me for a 30-minute FREE Ukulele Class! Every Thursday at 3 PM PST.
Gather with a welcoming community and be ready to play and sing along, or simply just observe.
This class is structured to have a little something for all Levels: 1, 2 & 3.
Come explore and see if this learning environment is just the inspiration you’ve been looking for!
Email jill@4stringsukulele.com to access the class!
Be the life of the party with just a handful of chords!
Together let’s explore how to make “music-making” a living reality for you. Or, let me help take your existing playing and singing skills to the next level.
Whatever your musical aspirations, and whenever you are ready, just reach out via email or through the contact page and let’s see what’s possible!