Hi All, Uncle Rod here
I just started a 15 week (4 course) session (Sept thru Dec 2014) and of course, I'm taking my students through
Uncle Rod's Ukulele Boot Camp (see link below)
I ease up with the beginners by excluding lines 2 and 3 from their Homework on the Practice Sheets.
But I will take them through the Keys of C, F, and G during the first of the 4 courses. The 2nd course will cover the keys of A and D and the 'dreaded' lines 2 and 3 of each Practice Sheet.
My Philosophy is that the ukulele is a tool the use of which requires first, learning to make musical sounds (via chords) and secondly, developing the skill of changing from chord to chord smoothly, at a regular tempo, without interrupting the strumming and without looking at the fingers.
As a singer/strummer, although I will touch upon some finger-picking, since one of the primary laws of teaching is that one cannot impart what one does not possess, Finger-Picking will only be covered superficially and not in depth.
However, if my students will hang in there with me, they should be able to play through all my Practice Sheets at a moderate tempo. They will also become familiar with several really cool chords like diminished, minor 6ths and minor 7ths, in chord families (Keys of C, F, G, A, and D). And end up with a Class Songbook of about 100 songs (and not all easy songs at that!).
I do want to teach my students what they want to learn, but I also have an agenda which includes taking them through the Ukulele Boot Camp, per my philosophy. I believe the teacher needs to lead in this and not be at the mercy of each student's wish or whim.
keep uke'in',