Description
Many teachers are eager to introduce the ukulele in their general music classes, even with their youngest students. However, teaching a kindergartener the same way as a third grader presents challenges. At age five, children have not yet developed the fine motor skills required to play the ukulele as traditionally taught in a classroom setting. To address this, we have designed lessons tailored to the developmental needs of kindergarten, first, and second-grade students.
These lessons introduce young learners to the ukulele while building foundational skills they will need in later grades. Most importantly, they align with students’ cognitive and physical abilities, preventing a disconnect between what they are capable of and what we expect them to do.
One key difference between this resource and others on the market is the significant emphasis on preparation—nearly one-third of the book focuses on getting students ready to play. Elementary aged children thrive on single-step directions, repetition, and play. Each preparatory lesson is designed to focus on one essential skill at a time, ensuring gradual and effective learning including strumming, anatomy of the ukulele, and an introduction to tablature.
To reinforce these skills, the authors have incorporated games and songs so that by the time students begin playing they have already practiced the necessary elements and are set up for success. A common mistake is assuming young students understand expectations, leading to classroom chaos. We must remember that third, fourth, and fifth grade students are still developing cognitively and can only process single and two step directions effectively. By making fundamental skills like holding and strumming automatic, we create a smoother transition to playing.
Music Building Blocks is a flexible, modular curriculum designed to empower teachers in crafting dynamic and customized music lessons grounded in research. This curriculum integrates frameworks from Understanding by Design (UBD), Sheltered Instruction Observational Protocol (SIOP), and CASEL, alongside influences from Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, Dalcroze, and Gordon methodologies. Each lesson draws from these multifaceted approaches, offering educators a rich palette of instructional strategies.
In keeping with its adaptable design, Music Building Blocks is not divided by traditional grade levels. Instead, lessons are categorized into Early Primary and Late Primary, reflecting developmental stages rather than fixed age groups. the authors recognize that this approach may be unfamiliar, so they have created a Master Grade-Level Learning Area Map, which is updated with each new publication, to support teachers who prefer grade-specific guidance.This modular curriculum allows educators to select and blend lessons across different books to meet their unique classroom needs. Each book focuses on core elements of music—such as Rhythm and Melody, essential skills like Movement, Instruments, and Listening, and cross-curricular themes including Children’s Literature, Art, and Dance.
Grade-Leveled Learning Areas
The five Learning Strands in the Music Building Blocks curriculum align with the National Arts Standards and emphasize the social-emotional skills essential for supporting the whole child in today’s general music classroom. To complement school districts’ learning frameworks, the authors have identified knowledge, understanding, and skills (KUDs) within each of the five Learning Strands that connect to the National Arts Standards at every grade level. These KUDs underscore essential musical concepts that students will explore and revisit throughout the year, fostering a deep, ongoing engagement with music.
Expanding Lesson LibraryEach lesson within these books reinforces at least one Learning Strand, and as the publication library expands, so too will the variety of lessons available in each area. the authors aim for this evolving resource to be an invaluable tool for teachers, offering a wide array of materials tailored to meet their educational goals.
