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) 

● 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

● 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
3 mins amplifier

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: 

- 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 Play Play Play Play Play Play Sing Match Do a Do a Sing Sing
Individual CM GM Am FM DM Em a pitch basic DDUUD and and
pitch strum U strum strum
pattern Strum at the the
(DDDD) Pattern same correct
time 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:

● 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?