I like to approach teaching assuming that rhythm & music lives in every thing and every one, (walking, heartbeat, eyelid batting, breathing etc.) it is just a matter of fostering each unique person's inate sense of Rhythm and Melody and a natural curiosity to discover it. Hence my teaching method tackles music making and music theory in a playful, joyful and practical way in which music can be grasped first on a hands-on intuitive and imitational way before it is analysed. Through games and exercises musical phenomenon becomes not only mental but physical experience that is internalised and can not be forgotten.
As an educator it is important to be aware not only of what to teach but also how to teach, why you teach, who you teach and who is teaching, as everyone learns and processes information and experience differently. With this in mind, lessons are not based on a rigid goal but on the pace it takes each student to fully make it their own. At the end of a teaching phase or a workshop the student has the option to bring the accomplishments from the practise room into the real world and perform in front of friends & family at an organised gathering or an open mic. This is absolutely optional but usually great fun!
All lessons/workshops available in english or german
Online lessons on zoom or whats app are availalbe for individual lessons at request
Tuition/Workshops
Once-off Ukulele Workshops
In once off workshops you will get to know the basic history, anatomy and tuning of the Ukulele and learn the fundamental aspects of ukulele playing:
Through playing simple songs we can build a basic repertoir of chords, strumming and plucking patters, experience the difference between melody playing and chord accompaniment, and finding notes on the fretboard. Through games and exercises you'll learn how to read chord charts, tabs and notation and understand simple time signatures and note values. At the end of the workshop you will have a basic grasp of what Ukulele Playing is all about and repertoir of songs up your sleeve with which you can impress family & friends and/or your cat/dog.
If you don't already have a Ukulele, you can rent one from me and I will also give tips on what to look out for when buying your own Ukulele.
BEGINNERS WORKSHOP SERIES
The Beginners Ukulele workshop series offers an in-depth exploration of the rudiments of Ukulele playing:
History, anatomy & classification of the instrument
Different methods of tuning the Ukulele
Getting to know the fretboard
The do’s and dont’s of posture,finger placing & strumming/plucking
Learning to find the notes of the C major scale and play them freely
Chordfamilies
Communication and memorisation in music
Recognising timesignatures, chord families, intervals
Building up a repertoir of strumming and plucking patters well as a variety of chords through playing classic simple songs like Happy Birthday and all time favourite classics
INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP SERIES
In the intermediate series of workshops we will tackle more challenging songs and instrumentals and getting to know our own growing musicianship through playing in ensemble and sharpening our listening and timing skills. We will be learning to change the strings on the Ukulele and getting to know other scales including blues scales, in order to improvise and compose more easily.
Other aspects we 'll be learning are:
Blues Scale
Tricks/Accents/Dynamics that make playing a song unique and fun
(Slapping, sliding, bending notes, hammering offs and on`s, muffling)
Transposing of a piece based on ideal vocal range etc into different keys
Intervals between notes and within chords
Advanced plucking and strumming patterns
Researching/choosing/Interpreting/arranging/individualizing/ a song –help to help yourself
Recognising different chord families
Recognising different ways of learning and what works for each person
Researching new material on the internet (links to great sites)
Keeping time - playing along to the merciless metronome, our perception on our time versus that of the metronome
Understanding/Playing chord-melody pieces and how to turn single melody lines into chordmelody arrangements
....and much more - you can also mention aspects that are important to you and I will do my best to include them in the course
KAT'S UKULELE COMPANION
Where do you learn more than in teaching others? Throughout my years of teaching and playing I have learned a great deal about how humans like to learn, how to combine different skill levels in one group and piece, how motivational quick achievements with short pieces can be, and how the highest joy and ambition is inspired by the right choice of song. Alongside constant research for new materials I also started to compose tailor made pieces for my students and groups. Some liked Blues, some classical music, some slow ballads and some fast jigs. Some of the greatest fun in compiling/composing them in my now available books is to name the pieces. Some of them are named after the student I composed it for, some after obscure ideas in my mind at the time.
You can find my books here
OPTIONAL PERFORMANCES/VIDEOS
I like to offer my students the option to perform either on an open stage and/or in a fun video (with my direction and participation including singing harmonies at request) This is a great goal to work towards and ads extra focus on practising, a great atmosphere and sense of accomplishment and confidence. With the changing participation of students our name "Kat and the anonymous Ukoholics" their names stay protected and keep their involvement open at all times.
The choice of pieces performed are carefully curated and based on the abilities and preferences of the students - From well known song covers to obscure instrumentals, and my own pieces I have composed for my students in Kat's Ukulele Companion/ Tunes for Reverie - the main object is to have fun, and to love what you are playing. The love and joy for a particular piece makes for the highest motivation to play it and remember it well
VOUCHERS
Would you like to gift someone a Ukulele Lesson/s or a Workshop/course?
I can send you a graphically charming and personalised voucher as a PDF file via email, that you can print out, cut out and give away.
UKULELE RETREATS
What is more rejuvinating than to enjoy a break from the daily routine and treat yourself to a few days of Ukulele fun in the sun, air filled with the fragrance of jasmine, hikes in nature, swims in cool mountain lakes and delicious Italian meals with likeminded Ukulele afficionadi's to round off the days in Italy. Guided and focused morning ukulele sessions with curated material based on the participant's abilities and interests and informal optional ukulele jams frame and structure the otherwise free days. Check out my latest retreat dates on the home page.
Music for educators
Do you have children and/or work with children and would like to accompany yourself on an easy-to-learn stringed instrument? Are you looking for popular children's songs to sing and play on the ukulele? Do you work as an educator/caregiver in a team and would like to treat yourself and your team to some musical training, develop a solid repertoire of classic children's songs, and be ready for any occasion? Have you been given a ukulele as a gift, but have only used it as a decorative item so far?
Music brings people together, and the ukulele in particular is an easy-to-play, mood-lifting instrument that is gaining more and more popularity in preschool education and is an uncomplicated alternative to the guitar. As an experienced music lecturer and ukulele teacher, I offer ukulele training courses for educators/caregivers and parents.
Seasonal song collections organized by theme are also available, which you can then play for and with the children and incorporate into your lessons. The course focuses on helping you help yourself, enjoying music and making music together, and team building, so that after the course you can learn and play new songs yourself and pass them on to the children.
Course content:
As part of a group and a structured workshop, we learn about the instrument and the basics of the ukulele in a playful way through practical exercises in music theory and build up a repertoire of popular and timeless songs. With a selection of catchy tunes such as Das rote Pferd, Auf der Mauer, Heut ist Dein Geburtstag, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Der Herbst ist da, and many other popular songs, it is easy to stay motivated to practice and experience quick success.
Course formats & offers:
- 8-week workshop series: (within and outside Munich) - Weekly lessons of 90 minutes each at an agreed time, e.g., every Monday between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
- Intensive ukulele weekend (over one or two days – Sat and/or Sun), e.g., between 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Lessons can take place at the kindergarten itself. The teaching materials/song collection will be sent to participants by email, who can then print them out and bring them to the course. I can provide three ukuleles for the first workshop for an additional fee, and I am happy to give tips on buying inexpensive but good ukuleles.
- One-time visit – making music with children
In addition to the courses, I also offer visits to make music with children and the community. Especially on special occasions such as St. Martin's Day, Advent, or Easter, singing and celebrating together with appropriate songs is a highlight of the year.
The prices per participant for the individual offers are negotiable and are reasonable in relation to the effort/preparation etc.: