(MUSIC) - Ukulele for Kids - 7-12

TIME:  Every Wednesday 1:00pm -3pm - from 09/11-12/18 (14 weeks) - NEW  DATE 9/18

The program follows WIWS's school calendar. There is no class when school closes for holidays, teacher & parent meetings, snow days etc.  

VENUE: Math Classroom, WIWS (next to the main office classroom)

TUITION: $140/month or $540 for the whole semester.  

The per-month fee is flat whether the month has 3 or 5 Wednesdays. 

Tuition is pro-rated by starting date.  

Playing a musical instrument is like fireworks in your brain! Introducing children to read music during the time when language acquisition is most easily assimilated helps foster lifelong learning skills and problem-solving skills.  Learning to play an instrument with a group of friends is one of the best ways to cultivate joy and a sense of belonging.

In this ukulele class led by experienced instructor Keegan Harsman, kids will get to play the ukulele, sing songs, play music games, critical music listening skills, and unwinding/relaxing to music.  We will also spend time outside with free time for some fresh air and children will have a collection of songs they can tuck in their ukulele cases and bring home.  

SOME UKULELES ARE AVAILABLE IN CLASS FOR CLASSROOM USE.  If students are committed to the course, they should purchase their own ukuleles for home practice.  

Over a few months your child will know how to play several chords on the ukulele, strum a steady beat and sing some of the songs we have covered in class.  Some of the older children will learn the actual melodies of a few songs in addition to basic music theory.

NOTE:  This class is for both complete beginners and those who have acquired some ukulele skills from last year's class.

WARNING: playing the ukulele can become contagious!

About the instructor 

Keegan Harshman grew up on Whidbey Island participating in the music programs of Chris Harshman (his father and South Whidbey High School’s band director). As a young child, Keegan was encouraged and supported to pursue any musical direction that caught his interest, which is something he plans to pass on to his son, Jazper (currently a WIWS student). Keegan began playing instruments in kindergarten and played several different ones before settling on the bass. He was part of the South Whidbey High School Jazz Band—participating there in exclusive festivals.  After high school, Keegan moved to San Luis Obispo, California to attend Cuesta College’s Music and Audio Technology programs, and went on to perform and tour with many bands and groups locally and internationally. 

 

Keegan moved back to Whidbey Island in 2016, and is now wearing many hats in the local community: a musician and music teacher/tutor, the owner of Blue Sound music store, and the organizer of Little Big Fest – a grassroot summer music festival on Whidbey Island. He is also no stranger to the WIWS community – his mother Dyanne Harshman was the Pedagogic Director of the Early Childhood program at WIWS for many years, and his son Jasper (Jazzy) is attending WIWS.