JMUke Collaborative Experience Design

JMUKE EVENT:
Explore More Discovery Museum
150 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, VA
April 7th from 4-6pm

Sections:
1. Teaching Stations
a. Basics (Lindsey)
b. Strumming (Kai)
c. Chords: C and G (Elizabeth)
d. Chords: F and Am (Annalise)
e. Chords: D and Em (Nathan)
2. Jam Session
a. Isabel, Bridget, Ellie, Andrew, Lindsey (MUED 373)
b. Song Ideas
i. Yellow Submarine (F, C/C7)
ii. I’m Yours (C, G, Am, F)
iii. The Fun Song (C, F)
iv. Shake it Off (C, G, D, Am)
v. How Much is that Doggie in the Window (C, G)
Other Ideas:
1. Color-coding chords with stickers
2. Handouts (Annalise?)
3. Color-coding chord chart
a. Here is the link to the google slides for that! (https://docs.google.com/
presentation/d/1_XTF5kI-YmQmEq6lt96zy2pBdX8aFAdTr44r9PjBgf0/edit?
usp=sharing) let me (Isabel) know if you can’t access/edit, but you should be able
to.
 Experience Design: JMUke

1. Understanding Statement: At this JMUke event, participants will be able to freely move
from station to station, learning about the basics of the ukulele, strumming patterns, and
common chords. Participants will then partake in a jam session using the techniques and
information learned from the stations.

2. “I can” Statements:
a. I can hold the ukulele correctly.
b. I can strum different patterns on the ukulele.
c. I can play the chords C, G, Am, and F on the ukulele.
d. I can follow along and participate with others in performing a song with the
ukulele, voice, or other instrument(s).

3. Materials:
a. Ukuleles
b. Projector
c. PA system
d. Visual Chord Charts

4. Detailed Procedure:
a. Participants will walk in and be handed a ukulele or other instrument if desired.
b. Participants will freely walk to each station to learn basics of the ukulele,
strumming patterns, and chords needed for the song.
i. “Learn the Basics” Station (Lindsey)
● How to hold the ukulele
○ If sitting, sit with legs crossed. Participants will be instructed to
rest the ukulele on their legs and rest their right arms across the
ukulele. The left hand holds the neck of the ukulele between the
thumb and first finger.
○ If standing, participants will be instructed to hold the ukulele
against their chest/middle torso. The right arm will support the
ukulele. The left hand holds the neck of the ukulele between the
thumb and first finger.
● Basic parts of the ukulele
○ The facilitator will use enlarged charts to show where and what
the frets are. After learning the numbers of the frets, the
participants will practice finding each fret. The facilitator will ask
the participants to lay a finger across the fret that is called out (ex.
“Can you show me where the second fret is?” Then participants
lay their finger across the second fret).
○ The facilitator will use enlarged charts to show where and what
the strings are. After learning the names of each of the strings,
the participants will practice finding and plucking each string in a
call-and-response exercise with the facilitator.
● How to strum the ukulele
 ○ Participants will be instructed to use the side of their thumbs to
stroke the strings of the ukulele. First, participants will focus on
using all downward strums. Participants will practice strumming at
their own pace on all open strings. Then, participants will try a
down-up strumming pattern. Once a participant feels comfortable
holding the ukulele, strumming the strings, and identifying the frets
and strings, he or she may move on to a different station.

ii. Advanced Strumming Station (Kai)

1. Before any strumming begins, I will have the participants stomp to
a slow steady beat.
2. I will have the participants do a simple call and response with only
saying the words. After a couple repetitions, I will begin to strum
the Ukulele while saying the words. I will encourage the
participants to repeat after me to the best of their ability.
a. “Down, Down, Down, Down”
b. “Down up, Down up, Down up, Down up”
c. “Down, Down up, Down, Down up”
d. “Down up, Down, Down up, Down”
e. “Down, Down up, up, Down up”
3. Once the participants have gotten the strum pattern, I will
congratulate them and repeat the process for the other strumming
patterns.
4. If possible, I will replace “down up” with more engaging words/
names create a game out of it with the participants.
iii. C and G Chords Station (Elizabeth)
● C
○ I will play the chord first so that the participants can hear what is
should sound like
○ Then, I will display the visual aides and show how to play the
chord with one finger
○ I will encourage us all to play the chord together
● G
○ I will repeat the process used for learning the C chord
(demonstration, visual, group play)
○ I will demonstrate how to change between a C chord and a G
chord
○ We will practice transitioning between the two chords as a group

iv. Am and F Chords Station (Annalise)

● Am
○ Introducing this new skill set, I will point out that this chord only
uses one finger to play. I will model this for them, and then ask
them to do it. I suspect teaching this will be vary for each
participant, considering the age may range.
● F
 ○ Modeling for them this chord, I will make it clear that you just add
one finger to Am to play this chord.

● Combining the two:

○ I will work on switching between the two chords in rhythm. This will
start with a few downward strums with Am and then we will add F
in rhythm.

v. D and Em Chords Station (Nathan)

● D Major Chord
○ Participants will model the instructor through building the chord
one finger at a time (1st finger on G string, 2nd finger on C string,
and 3rd finger on E string). Participants will strum with one finger
down, then, two, then all three.
○ The alternate fingering (using just the thumb on all three strings)
for this chord will also be demonstrated.
● E Minor Chord
○ Participants will model the instructor through building the chord
one finger at a time (1st finger on A string, 2nd finger on E string,
and 3rd finger on C string). Participants will strum with one finger
down, then, two, then all three.
○ Participants will engage in a call and response style strumming
activity to reinforce the shape of the chord using muscle memory.
c. Once completed, participants will walk over to the jam session.
i. A projector will show chord charts that are color coded and lyrics for each
song.
ii. Bridget and Isabel will run the jam session, leading the participants by
playing, singing, and pointing to correct chords and lyrics
iii. Jam session will be in continuous rotation so that participants may freely
move to and from stations and jam session
iv. Songs played:
1.
d. Participants will be handed a pamphlet of additional ukulele chords upon leaving.

5. Assessment:
a. Participants will be assessed throughout the experience by their ability to
replicate learned chords on the ukulele and following along with the jam session.