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I would like the students at Lavern Gaynor Elementary to enjoy the experience of learning how to play the ukulele. The ukulele has the unique benefit of being able to play a melody with one string, or a chord with all four strings. A ukulele is also just the right size for 4th and 5th graders to play comfortably!

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You can "Uke" Too!

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School:
Lavern Gaynor Elementary 
Subject:
Music 
Teacher:
Sandra Stein 
 
Jose Cordero 
Students Impacted:
200 
Grade:
K-5 
Date:
September 2, 2021

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County - $1,000.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 175

The ukuleles at Lavern Gaynor Elementary School were a hit!  We were able to use them in fourth and fifth grade this year.  The students really seemed to enjoy them!

We started with proper care and posture for playing the instrument.  We continued by strumming all  the strings, then plucking just one at a time.  The challenge came with the left hand.  Relaxing the left hand to find the proper position and then pushing down the string hard enough to make a good sound was difficult.  As with anything, practice and some individual help seemed to get them over the hump!

One we were able to play, “Hot Cross Buns,” “Mary Had A Little Lamb” and “Baby Shark,” we were ready to move on to chords.

Chords involve one, two or three fingers on separate strings being pushed down at the same time, and then strumming.  After much individual help and practice, the students were able to finger and strum four different chords!  This enabled us to sing and play the songs, “Aloha Oe,” and “Peace Like a River.”

We even had the opportunity to perform these two songs at Champions for Learning’s Golden Apple Awards event on April 22!

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Get that left hand going!

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Good posture!

 

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Strum away!

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Never give up!

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

I would like the students at Lavern Gaynor Elementary to enjoy the experience of learning how to play the ukulele. The ukulele has the unique benefit of being able to play a melody with one string, or a chord with all four strings. A ukulele is also just the right size for 4th and 5th graders to play comfortably!  

 

What will be done with my students

I would begin with teaching the students the proper care and handling of the instrument so that they last for many years to come. This will include the correct playing position and a brief history of the instrument.
For the next ten to fourteen weeks students will learn about proper plucking and strumming technique, left hand placement, the purpose of frets, playing a melody, and playing different chords. I will check each student, as we move through these components, for understanding and ability to play each example.
As we come to the end of our ukulele unit, I will have listened to every student play at least one melody and at least three chords. This will allow the class to play simple folk songs, rock songs and blues songs as a group.
I can’t wait to hear them play together!
 

 

Benefits to my students

The ability to play an instrument is very empowering. The
students will learn to play melodies and read chords. This skill can last a lifetime!
As an adult, I find the ukulele fun and yet challenging to play. I hope the same will happen for the students at Lavern Gaynor Elementary! 

 

Budget Narrative

The ukuleles are of medium quality, $40 each, and allow students to play chords that are actually in tune. I would order them from a local music dealer, Craig Christman of Naples, Florida. 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 25 Amahi Ukuleles $1,000.00
  Total: $1,000.00

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