Countdown to 2026: 10 short activities that you can use immediately - #5 Ukulele Resources
Ukuleles can be a favorite musical activity for elementary musicians. It can make some musicians feel successful because they can strum a chord and sing simultaneously. It can make other elementary musicians feel happy because when you strum on the open strings, the chord of C Major with an added 6th is a very pleasant sound. Plus, the ukulele does not play loudly or "pop" high notes, so those with sensitive ears usually like the sound of the ukulele.
How to get started
There are numerous great resources available, making it challenging to determine where to begin. I tend to begin on the C Chord as it involves only one finger, and if students cannot play the chord correctly, the ukulele is still producing a C Chord, just with an added 6th to the chord. I tend to use play-along videos keyed in C and have the students play along on just the C Chord when it appears on screen.
Stickers and Picks
I like placing stickers on the ukuleles to help the students know where to place their fingers. I color-code mine so I can say to place finger #3 (remember that ukuleles do not count the thumb as 1 like pianists do, so #3 is the ring finger) on the red sticker.
I also purchased felt picks for my students. They can use those instead of strumming with their fingers. Both of these items have been game changers in my classroom. My students have significantly more confidence when I implement these strategies.
Favorite Play-Along Songs with C
My students like many of these:
Check out MusicFirst Elementary
MusicFirst Elementary offers a comprehensive curriculum for strumming and fingerpicking. After teaching my youngest students how to hold the ukulele and finger the C Chord, we jumped into MusicFirst Elementary’s Ukulele play-along resources. I clicked on the Supplementary Tab, then Resources for Classroom Instruments, then Ukulele Pieces Strumming, then Single Chord from C, F, and Am, and then clicked on “Stand Up Turn Around”.
I love that the chord and fingering shows up on the screen, along with choosing to play it with the Ukulele and Voice, Acoustic Band, or Full Band. In the Settings, I can also turn off the vocals and the ukulele instrument audio. I can also display the score and change the tempo to fit my students’ musical needs.
My students loved performing this song as it makes it fun for them to play the C Chord while they stand on one leg, jump up and down, and of course, “stand up, turn around, and play their ukulele.” Want to learn more? Click the link below and try out their ukulele resources with your students!
Sign up for a free trial and begin using it on the students' first day back: https://www.musicfirstelementary.com/
Come back tomorrow for #4 as we are getting closer to 2026.