Junior School 

Performing Arts

Year 6 Ukuleles

I have had the great pleasure of strumming along with the Year 6’s as we have explored the sounds of the ukulele. Over the last term or so, the rooms and corridors in the Music Centre have been filled with the relaxing sounds of ukes as students have hummed, strummed and plucked their way through their studies.

Students have learned to read and play chords, read simple TAB notation, explore different strumming styles and learn a song for performance. I have been incredibly impressed with the focus of students to learn these new skills in order to perform their chosen piece either as a solo, in pairs or small groups. The videos demonstrate great perseverance and courage shown by these students. 

The ‘jumping flea’ (as the name roughly translates to) is traditionally linked to Hawaii and originated in the 1880’s based on the Portuguese guitar-like instrument called the machete. It rose in popularity from the 1940’s onwards and although it took a bit of a ‘back’ seat to the electric guitar during the rock and roll years of the 60’s and 70’s, it became popular again in the nineties, helped along by the release of a reggae version of Over the Rainbow by all-time best-selling Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. YouTube has also assisted the revival with virtuoso players like Jake Shimabukuro releasing many incredible arrangements of popular songs. 

Below is a small selection of videos from students in 6H. There will be more videos to follow once all performances have been given. 

Sam Martin:

Molly Mason, Olive Glover, Olive Quigley and Olivia Wilson:

Finn Price, James McRae, Toby Gee, Ryan Everett and Will Garard:

Lulu Nash and Harriett Sinclair:

Mrs Katie Sinclair

Junior School Music Co-ordinator