Absolute Beginners Ukulele Lessons 5 Week Challenge Part 2 - Central London
Monday Nights 7-9pm
5 week course
28 Oct - 25 Nov 2024
Location: The Castle, 44 Commercial Rd, Aldgate, London E1 1LN
Suitable for: Adults Only 18+
Available Course Dates
28 Oct - 25 Nov 2024 |
Lesson 6: Mon 28 Oct |
Lesson 7: Mon 4 Nov |
Lesson 8: Mon 11 Nov |
Lesson 9: Mon 18 Nov |
Lesson 10: Mon 25 Nov |
Continue your Ukulele journey!
Congratulations on completing your 5wk Ukulele Challenge! Are you hungry for more..?
Continue your ukulele journey with the rest of your group and develop your inner musician!
Venue - The Castle, E1
Embrace your ukulele challenge at The Castle in Aldgate. Enjoy a selection of world wines and craft beers to accompany you on your adventure!
Nearest Tube: 5-10 mins walk from Aldgate and Aldgate East Stations.
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.
What You Get
Through a selection of classic songs arranged by School of Uke we’ll give you all the necessary technique and confidence to start your musical journey. You’ll learn about strumming, chords, melody, song writing, and most importantly how to play your favourite songs!
Rock, Pop, R&B, and Disco Classics at Your Fingertips
All techniques are taught through 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. You can play anything on a ukulele and it’s your journey, so we encourage all song requests.
Confident Playing Technique
We place a strong emphasis on developing your ability to play music with confidence. As well as improving your technical ability, with a focus on timing, texture, rhythm and song, we aim to build your musical awareness as part of a group ensemble. We take into consideration the specific aspirations and needs of everyone in the group, and we encourage individual style and singing where desired.
Group Ensemble
- 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.
An Awesome Experience
Overall it's about a group of like-minded people discovering music and having a great time together. Here's what some of our students had to say...
"Great teaching and so much fun! Everyone should learn to play an instrument!" - Edina
"Amazing fun, brilliant teaching, awesome people!" - Avital
"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