Absolute Beginners Ukulele Lessons 5 Week Challenge - Central London
Monday Nights 7 - 9pm
29 April - 1 Jul 2024
(With the exception of the May bank holiday on 6th May where we will host the session on Wednesday evening instead)
5 Week Course
Location: The Castle, 44 Commercial Rd, Aldgate, London E1 1LN (downstairs)
Suitable for: Adults Only 18+
Total 15-20 Places Available on Each Course
Available Course Dates
29 April - 29 May 2024 |
8 July - 6 August 2024 |
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Lesson 1: Mon 29 Apr |
Lesson 1: Mon 8 Jul |
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Lesson 2: Wed 8 May (due to bank holiday Monday) |
Lesson 2: Mon 15 Jul |
| Lesson 3: Mon 13 May | Lesson 3: Mon 22 Jul |
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Lesson 4: Mon 20 May |
Lesson 4: Mon 29 Jul |
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Lesson 5: Wed 29 May (due to bank holiday Monday) |
Lesson 5: Tue 6 Aug |
Get inspired. Meet new people. Start your ukulele journey in just 5 weeks.
Embrace School of Uke's 5 Week Ukulele Challenge and unleash your music potential. There’s nothing quite like being able to play your favourite songs and jam along together as part of a group. Playing music is simply good for the soul. It brings joy, relieves stress, and connects you with a vibrant music community.
Whether you've always dreamt of playing an instrument or you're looking to add a unique skill to your repertoire, our 5-Week Ukulele Challenge is the perfect opportunity to dive into a world of music. And with 15 - 20 places in each group, they're a perfect size for everyone to get to know each other and make new friendships.
Venue: The Castle, 44 Commercial Rd, Aldgate, London E1 1LN
Embrace your ukulele challenge at The Castle pub in Aldgate. Enjoy a selection of world wines and craft beers to accompany you on your challenge, with an exclusive 20% OFF drinks for School of Uke students!
Nearest Tube: 5-10 mins walk from Aldgate East and Aldgate Stations.
Our Venues
All our venues are hand-picked for their special qualities, and just 5-10mins walk to TFL Stations. We work with a number of partner venues in Central, East and South London, including Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Tower Bridge, Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Dalston and Bermondsey.
During the Summer months, weather permitting, we host our evenings at outdoor venues to make the most of the sunshine and warm summer nights.
If you have a venue and would like to discuss hosting School of Uke events, please contact us at info@schoolofuke.co.uk
Absolute Beginners
We whole-heartedly welcome complete beginners! You don't need any prior musical knowledge whatsoever. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started.
A World of Music at Your Fingertips
You can play literally anything on a Ukulele. All of our techniques are taught through a variety of music genres, including popular Rock, Pop and R&B Classics. Think ABBA, Blondie, The Cure, Bowie, Stevie Wonder, ACDC, Diana Ross, 80s & 90s Anthems and 60s Classics from The Shirelles to the Shangri-Las. Above all, it’s your journey, so we encourage all song requests.
Why the Ukulele?
At School of Uke, we believe in the transformative power of music, and we are passionate about teaching music through the ukulele. It’s easy to learn and provides a perfect stepping stone to other instruments. The ukulele will become your faithful companion, no matter where you go, and a catalyst for connection and shared experiences.
What if I don't have a Ukulele?
If you don't own a ukulele already, we're happy to provide one for you for your first lesson and give you help and advice on which ukulele you should buy.
In the meantime, feel free to browse our recommended ukuleles for beginners and get kitted out with all the essentials. You don’t need much, just a Ukulele, a Gigbag or Case and a Tuner and you’re good to go.
A Gateway to Personal Growth
Our 5 Week Challenge is a gateway to personal growth and self-expression. Embrace the challenge as you dive into our unique and exciting program designed to empower complete beginners just like you.
Connect, Collaborate, and Create Music Together
Feel the energy and camaraderie at the heart of School of Uke. Our unique ukulele classes provide a fun, relaxed and supportive environment where you can meet new people, forge lifelong friendships, collaborate on music projects, and perhaps meet that significant other!
What You'll Learn
Over the course of just 5 weeks, you'll learn the fundamentals of playing music, from mastering chords and strumming, to exploring melody, rhythm, and performance techniques. As you and your cohort progress, you'll witness your confidence soar and your skills flourish. The ukulele will become an extension of your creativity, an expressive tool and a pathway to new musical horizons.
Confident Playing Technique
We place a strong emphasis on developing your ability to play music with confidence. Our experienced tutors are dedicated to nurturing your musical talent and helping you discover your unique style. They will guide you every step of the way, providing personalised feedback, and a supportive environment to help you grow as a musician. With each lesson, you'll unlock a world of possibilities and open doors to explore other instruments in the future.
Playing Together as a Group
- Learn to play one or two part arrangements as part of a group.
- Learn about group performance in songs.
- Emphasis on musical awareness, group timing, texture, rhythm and song.
Strumming
- Learn a variety of strumming patterns, with accent and basic syncopation.
Melody
- Understand and read music tablature to be able to play simple melodies.
- Intro to the C major and chromatic scales.
Chords and Practical Chord Theory
- Learn major, minor and seventh chords in root position.
- Learn to play a I/IV/V Blues chord progression.
Singing and Instrumental Playing
- We whole-heartedly encourage you to sing if you want to, and we'll show you all the tips and tricks to help you sing and play together at the same time.
- We take into consideration the specific aspirations of everyone in the group, and we encourage you to follow your own path, whether your an instrumentalist or a singer-songwriter at heart.
An Awesome Experience
Here's what our students have to say...
"Great teaching and so much fun! Everyone should learn to play an instrument!" - Edina
"Been loving my ukulele journey with School of Uke! It's a fun and social way to learn an instrument and the tutors are fantastic with endless enthusiasm." - Bex
"Amazing fun, brilliant teaching, awesome people!" - Avital
"Only have good things to say! The teachers are very knowledgeable and you can learn a lot while having great fun!" - Kostas
"I couldn't play anything when I first started, now I'm playing Slash solos!" - Cat
What if I've never played a musical instrument before?
We absolutely welcome complete beginners, and people who have never touched a musical instrument in their lives. Come along with an open mind and we'll do the rest!
When do your group lessons take place?
All our group lessons take place on weekday evenings from 7pm. And occasionally we will host workshops and jam sessions on weekend afternoons.
Where do the group lessons take place?
We love to run our lessons in pubs, which we feel adds to the social and relaxed vibe.
All our pubs are hand-picked for their special qualities, and just 5-10mins walk to central London TFL Stations. We work with a number of partner venues in London Central and City Central, including Soho, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Tower Bridge, Aldgate, Bethnal Green and Bermondsey.
And during the Summer months, weather permitting, we host our evenings at pubs with outdoor facilities to make the most of the sunshine and summer nights.
Is the ukulele a children's instrument?
The ukulele is a very versatile instrument that comes in many different sizes. While it is taught as an elementary instrument in some schools, it most definitely is not a kids instrument. It's the native instrument of Hawaii and is hugely popular with adults due its portable size and playability.
Are these sessions for adults or for kids?
All our evening classes are for adults 18+.
What if I don't have a ukulele?
All instruments are provided at our Discover sessions so all you need to bring is your best self!
For our beginner sessions, you can borrow a ukulele for the first lesson, but we recommend that you purchase an instrument as soon as possible to make the most out of your learning experience.
How many people are in each class?
There are 20 places available in each of our group classes and Discover sessions. Sometimes they sell out completely, but we usually run with about 15-20 people.
Are the sessions wheelchair accessible?
Unless otherwise stated in the venue description, sadly our sessions are not wheelchair accessible. They usually take place in pub function rooms, which are often only accessible by staircases.
Is it ok to drink alcohol in the session?
Absolutely. We encourage people to grab a drink at the bar before the session and during the mid-lesson break.
It's a fun and lighthearted vibe, and a bit of dutch courage never goes amiss. Our partner pubs & venues all offer a good range of beers, wine, spirits and simple cocktails like Negroni, Aperol Spritz etc.
What time should I arrive?
It's great if you can arrive 10-15mins early to grab a drink, meet your tutor/s and get settled in.
Is it ok to hang out after the session?
Absolutely, we want to create a community of friends so we encourage people to hang out for drinks after our weekday evening classes. Our lessons are about social connection, music appreciation and learning to play as part of a group so they are as much social events as anything else.
What kind of music can you play on the ukulele?
Absolutely anything! Anything you can play on a piano or guitar, you can also play on a ukulele. It's just half the size and easier to play.
The ukulele is a great instrument to get started on and also a stepping stone to all other stringed instruments. And it's nice and compact so you can take it anywhere. Rock, Pop and R&B bangers at your fingertips!
What are the health benefits of learning to play the ukulele?
Learning to play music, especially socially, has many health and well-being benefits. As well as brain development, when you make music, your brain releases endorphins that induce feelings of joy and pleasure and block the nerve cells that cause us to feel stress and pain. There is evidence to suggest that it even boosts your immunity!
What other events and services does School of Uke offer?
We offer a range of ukulele lessons & events for complete beginners to advanced players, both online and in-person. As well as group based lessons, we offer one-to-one ukulele lessons, our 5wk Ukulele Challenge For Beginners,10wk Evening Courses, plus package events for private & corporate clients.
How long has the School of Uke been established?
School of Uke is a sister brand of Duke of Uke, London's World Famous Ukulele Store. The School of Uke name and company was formed in 2012, but we've been teaching ukulele for 18 years, since we first opened our doors back in 2006, as the UK's first ever dedicated Ukulele store.
For all enquiries about ukulele lessons or courses at School of Uke please email or use our Online Live Chat service.
Email: info@schoolofuke.co.uk
