Introducing
Ukulele for Children
A Group Course for
Beginners Aged 6-8
‘If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.’
– Jake Shimabukuro
‘A great music course for kids. [My daughter] has grown in confidence because of it and can’t wait to play the songs she’s learned for her friends.’
– F. Browne
‘My son loved the course and got so much out of it. He came home from each class eager to show us what he’d learned.’
– R. Wakefield
Course Description
Small, robust and affordable – while also accessible, rewarding and fun – the ukulele is an ideal instrument for children to begin their musical journey on. Combining melody, harmony and percussion in the rich, versatile sound of its nylon strings, it’s little wonder that the uke has become one of the most popular instruments on the world. And with the endorsement of so many pop and rock stars, it’s no surprise either that kids are so excited to pick it up.
Designed for absolute beginners, Waltons New School of Music’s Introducing Ukulele for Children course allows young students (aged 6-8) to enjoy early success on their instrument in a fun and creative environment. This creates a positive association with music that could well spark a lifelong passion. The course focuses on well-known, popular tunes and includes melody playing, chordal accompaniment and strumming patterns.
Group learning has long been recognised as one of the most effective ways to teach children about music and instil positive lifetime attitudes towards both music and learning. A group environment provides children with the opportunity to make music together with friends and classmates, sharing common goals and skill. The interaction between students also encourages and promotes understanding, and children learn to assess their peers positively.
Children will need to have soprano ukuleles to bring to class and to practice with at home. (See the Recommended Instruments tab for the ukuleles we recommend for this course, which are available at discounts from Waltons Music for enrolled students.)
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Child Safety & COVID-19
The health and safety of children attending lessons and courses at the New School is of the utmost importance to us.
First, the New School has a comprehensive Child Protection Policy in place, and all teachers are Garda vetted.
And second, we have made a number of changes to our equipment and policies to make the New School as safe as possible during the time of COVID-19. These include:
- Perspex screens in every classroom.
- Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary.
- Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
- Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
- Regular cleaning of public spaces.
See our COVID-19 Safety Policy page for more information on what we have done, as well as the protocols we expect all in-school students and visitors to follow.
Introducing Ukulele for Children is one of the New School’s group courses. We also offer private ukulele lessons in a range of genres for students of all ages and skill levels. See Guitar • Bass • Ukulele Tuition for more information.
George Mercer
George’s love for music in all its forms stemmed from listening to his family’s large CD collection, which inspired him to begin writing his own music and playing in different bands as a teenager. He went on to study music at Dundalk IT, where he specialised in composition and developed his performance skills in a range of genres, including popular, Irish traditional and classical. After graduation, he focused on writing and performing music with his own Indie-Electronic group, My Tribe Your Tribe, touring and playing in festivals around the country, including Electric Picnic, Body and Soul and Other Voices. George has also performed extensively as a session musician for other artists (Maud in Cahoots, Cillian King Band, Emma Langford, Sirmione), touring New York, Russia and in theatre settings and venues throughout Ireland. In 2014, he joined the Dublin Alt-Pop group, Maud in Cahoots, in the presentation of the music theatre piece, Well Rested Terrorist, at the Tiger Fringe Festival, in which the live band rearranged new versions of their music to interweave with the show’s experimental choreography. He is also a keen DJ and music producer, releasing music and performing under his electronic moniker, Sylvian. George has extensive teaching experience, both in music schools and privately, and he is passionate about instilling in his students the confidence and openness to explore their own musical voices in an encouraging, patient and relaxed learning environment. In addition to this course, he teaches our Introducing Ukulele for Adults, Introducing Guitar for Adults and Introducing Guitar for Children courses.
‘I have seen the confidence and sense of fulfilment students develop when they are given the chance to engage in regular music lessons. It has been a privilege to witness the impact of music on their personal growth and development, not to mention how much genuine creativity can emerge when students are patiently encouraged to tap into it. I strive to meet each student at his/her own individual level, as well as to provide all of my students with the necessary resources to cultivate their unique relationships with music.’
2023-2024 Third Term
Course Schedule & Fee
Not offered in our Third Term.
Please contact us (providing your name) if you would like to be notified when our next course schedule and fee are confirmed and we start accepting enrolments.
Enrolment
Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the tuition fee. Places are limited to eight and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Many of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.
Purchasing this course as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Recommended Instruments
There are many ukuleles available (including some that are little more than toys), but the following instruments – all available from Waltons Music – are recommended for their quality and affordability:
- Lag TKU8S Soprano Ukulele • €69
- Lag TKU8S Soprano Ukulele • €89
- Lag TKU110S Soprano Ukulele • €111
Lag Ukuleles can be purchased from Waltons Music at 5% discounts for students enrolled in the course. If you would like to obtain a discount, please contact Waltons with your instrument choice and include a scan or photo of your course payment receipt.
What happens after the course?
Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, parents will be given options for continuing their children’s tuition with the New School if they would like to do so. Although an ‘improvers’ or continuation course cannot be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability or there is timetable availability with another teacher. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member. (See Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons.) We are happy to discuss these options with you.
Tuning Your Child’s Ukulele
Tuning your child’s ukulele – and keeping it in tune – is essential to his/her progress in the course. Here are some simple instructions for tuning a ukulele, as well as ukulele tuning apps.
Strings
The open strings of a ukulele, from thickest to thinnest, are:
- G, the fourth string (furthest left on the fretboard)
- C, the third string
- E, the second string
- A, the first string
Tuning
- The A string. Begin by tuning the first string (A). If you have another instrument such as a piano or keyboard, you can use it to tune the string. If you have no device or instrument handy, just try to get it as accurate as possible; what really counts when you are playing is that the ukulele is in tune with itself.
- The E String. Place your finger just behind the fifth fret on the second string (E). That’s an A note. When you pick the first string (A), it should sound the same. You can adjust the second string with the tuning pegs on the headstock until they do.
- The C string. Place your finger just behind the fourth fret on the third string (C). That’s an E note. When you pick the second string (E), it should sound the same. You can adjust the third string with the tuning pegs on the headstock until they do.
- The G string. Most ukuleles are tuned with a high G string. Place your finger just behind the second fret on the fourth string (G). That’s an A note. When you pick the first string (A), it should sound the same. You can adjust the fourth string with the tuning pegs on the headstock until they do.
Tuning Apps
There are a number of free smartphone ukulele tuning apps available, and here are three of the most popular:
Ukulele Tuner
Android Only:
Tunefor Ukulele Tuner
iOS Only:
GuitarTuna – Tuner for Guitar Ukulele Bass
Android:
iOS:
A wide range of clip-on electronic tuners, which are inexpensive and easy to use, are also available.