Jmuke Court Square Theater

JMUke - Court Square Theatre Davina, Erin, Janelle, and Alyssa

Overview 

JMUke is a participatory based music-making event where community members can learn so to play ukuleles and play/sing with others. This experience will be held at Court Square Theater, and run by JMU students. The experience will consist of first going over standard ukulele chords that appear in the songs, and then have a jam session. Around 20 songs are prepared, but the event will go on for 60 minutes. People are encouraged to come and go as they please. JMU students will take turns leading a variety of songs while attendees will look at the screen where there will be powerpoint slides with the song lyrics and chords. Other students will walk around and assist any participating members who need help. Rationale 

A JMUke experience not only allows future educators to design and facilitate engaging musical experiences, it allows community members to come together and bond through music. All skill levels and ages are encouraged to come and participate. Learning the chords through popular music is a fun way to participate in music learning in the community. It is financially accessible to all because it is free and ukuleles are provided by JMU. I Can Statements (learning goals) 

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Anchor standard #5: Develop and refine artistic techniques for presentation ○ I can play C G Am F D and Em chords on a ukulele ○ I can sing with correct pitches with others ○ I can sing and strum at the same time

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Anchor standard #4: Select analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation ○ I can discuss my personal interest and knowledge about songs with others

Materials 

● Ukuleles with color coded stickers for fingerings ● Computer(s) that has access to the slides ● Something to connect computer to whatever projection they have If a sound person isn’t there: ● Speaker and amplifier ● Cords for the microphones, amplifier, bass ukulele, and speakers Detailed Process 

Time Required 3 mins

1) Directly after Alex Lubet’s performance, begin distributing ukuleles to the participating audience members a) MUED 273 members will do this

3 mins 2) MUED 372 people will begin setting up the stage: microphone, speakers, and amplifier

3 mins etc.

3) The first half hour of the event will be a brief ukulele introduction a) In this, a MUED 372 person will be leading through the chords that will be used during the night (C, G, Am, F, D, etc). b) MUED 273 students will be out in the audience helping participating members c) After a few practice sessions (up to the discretion of whoever is leading) they can begin their first song 4) MUED 372 students will rotate or take pre-assigned songs to lead. We will go in the order of the slides, the order of the songs should have already be discussed and finalized beforehand. a) Leading responsibilities include: singing, playing the ukulele, calling chord changes during an introduction of a song, communicating any changes in the song that the audience may need to know 5) MUED 273 students can play along but more importantly be walking around ready to help a participating member if needed. a) Responsibilities include: knowing the chords themselves, communicating with a participating member - show them the fingerings and colors for each chord, singing and strumming along to music, observing participating members scouting for anyone who looks like they need help 6) Tear down: this includes collecting all of the ukuleles, microphones, speaker and amplifier, all the chords and putting them back in the box in an organized fashion. Everyone helps with this.

Assessments 

Since the JMUke is an informal musicking event, participants will be assessed mostly informally. A checklist can be used for quick assessment of individuals mainly during the half hour teaching portion, and participants will have have time for self-assessment throughout the experience. An example checklist and self-assessment mechanism can be found at the bottom of this page. Extensions: 

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Attendees can continue their exploration of the Uke by following resource guides listed on their hand out (linked down below) Provide attendees with resources for purchasing instruments if asked Inform attendees of future JMUke events occurring in the JMU and Harrisonburg communities for an extension of learning and further development of skill and musicianship

Adaptations 

Size

Much of this experience design is fleshed out so that attendees can fully engage no matter visual impairment. In regards to size specifically, our JMUke Song Slides allows for all chords and lyrics to be placed at a large size in the front of the room so that attendees can clearly see the song structure (linked below). We will also provide a handout with smaller pictures of chords for those who need to see chords up close. There are a few different size ukuleles available (soprano, tenor, and Ubass) for anyone who is not particularly comfortable with the size of their uke or may be having difficulty holding it.

Color

One of the most unique aspects of JMUke as a whole is that we offer color-coded chord charts on every single slide and within our handouts. These colors directly coordinate with colors commonly associated with each chord as seen on boomwhackers and other color-coded instrumentation (C=Red, D=orange, etc.). Colors also do not change between chord names, for example; both D major and D minor are orange to help coordinate understanding within note names. These same colors are also placed visually on the ukulele itself by applying colored tabs onto frets where fingers are supposed to go for each chord. This way, when attendees are looking to quickly change chords, they can easily coordinate the colors their seeing on the screen to where they need to place their fingers directly onto the uke.

Pacing

The allotted time for this event serves to stabilize structure in regards to pacing. Facilitators will be working in small groups with attendees for the first 30 minutes of the event. This allows for engaged and individualized learning in which facilitators can focus on the attendee’s strengths and weakness to structure learning to fit their needs. From here, they can consider if more or less time is needed before moving onto another person or to the jam portion of the event all together. Though moving through the songs happens without pauses, introduction slides serve to transition attendees into the song smoothly. If the facilitator notices the chords aren’t as strong or they aren’t picking up on chord changes, they can do the introduction as many times as needed before moving into the song itself.

Modality

Learning the basics of the ukulele is an experience that is kinesthetic, aural, and visual. At the beginning of the event, facilitators are walking around and assisting learners to place hands on proper strings and frets. The feeling of tactile strings sinking into finger pads is a great tool to use at this step. Facilitators can suggest feeling through cords longer during the learning process so they can literally feel where strings are supposed to be for each chord. This lesson is very visual based, offering color-coded chord and lyric visuals both projected on a screen and in front of them on the hand out. Color-coded tabs also help to assist visual learners during both transitions and jam sessions. Facilitators must ensure they are also speaking through each step so aurally in regards to this specific modality. “Next you’ll move your middle finger from the fret you’re currently on to this one (point) with the yellow tab.” A step phrased as this helps combine visual, aural, and kinesthetic aspects into one.

Include any visual aids or manipulatives here.

Google slides:

Handout:

Checklist Assessment (I Can...) Name of Individual

Play CM

Play GM

Play Am

Play FM

Play DM

Play Em

Sing a pitch

Match Do a pitch basic strum pattern (DDDD)

Do a DDUUD U Strum Pattern

Sing and strum at the same time

Sing and strum the correct pitches at the same time

Self-Assessment Questionnaire Here are some questions to ask yourself to know how you are doing and where you need improvement: ● ● ● ● ● ●

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Can I sing? Am I matching the pitch/melody of the main person singing the tune? What chords can I play (CM, GM, FM, Am, DM, Em)? List them. Can I strum on the ukulele (DDDD, DDUUDU, DUDU)? List the strumming patterns you can play. Can I sing and strum at the same time? Why or why not? I can discuss my personal interests about the songs with others. Do you agree with this statement or not? Please give some examples of conversations you have had with others. If you said no, how can you better share your interests? I can share my knowledge about these songs with others. Do you agree with this statement or not?