Fostering collaboration, patience, and creative expression with the Mups Green
This year, the Mups have been exploring the joys of music through an exciting new adventure: learning to play the ukulele. During their weekly Friday music classes, the students have embraced this hands-on opportunity with enthusiasm, building not only their musical skills but also fostering collaboration, patience, and creative expression.
From the very first strum, the ukulele has captured the students' attention. We began by focusing on basic skills, such as learning the names for the different parts of the ukulele, how to hold the instrument, and simple strumming patterns, before progressing to more complex chords and melodies. This gradual progression allows the students to experience success early on, building their confidence as they navigate new musical challenges. Each week, students practice new chords and rhythms, learning to play along with familiar tunes from our Center School repertoire while also developing the foundation for more advanced pieces.
A key element of our approach is that students learn through both individual practice and group collaboration. At the end of our lessons, the Mups take turns leading their peers in strumming patterns and chord shapes, which fosters leadership skills and helps each student find their unique voice in the ensemble. This approach also emphasizes teamwork and listening—essential skills that are reinforced through playing music together.
In addition to the technical aspects of playing the ukulele, students have been exploring the emotional and expressive power of music. As we learn to play simple songs, the Mups discuss how different major and minor chords and melodies make them feel, helping to deepen their understanding of how music can be a powerful tool for communication. Students are encouraged to reflect on the songs they enjoy and think about what emotions and messages they want to convey when they play.
As the weeks progress, the Mups are working towards a culminating project: a class performance that will showcase the skills and songs they’ve learned. This will give them a chance to share their hard work and creativity with the wider school community, and we are excited to see them grow as both musicians and confident performers.
By learning the ukulele, the Mups are not only developing a lifelong love of music but are also gaining valuable skills in persistence, collaboration, and self-expression. Through this journey, they are discovering how music can be a joyful and meaningful way to connect with themselves and others. We look forward to seeing how their musical exploration continues to flourish!
