BSU Senior College

Gentle Music Theory for 'Ukulele Players

This winter I will be offering a short course on music theory for ukulele players (scales, chords, transposing, etc.). This course will be best suited to curious advanced beginners and above. I'm still working out the details, but the course will be on Zoom for 4 weeks, 1 hour/week. I am not charging for the course, but tips are appreciated. You can learn more here and sign up for the mailing list. 

Bridgewater Senior College Spring 2026

This semester will be a little different than the past. I'm teaching History of the 'Ukulele in American Popular Culture. The class starts March 18 and will be held 11:00 am - 12:20 pm in the Bridgewater Public Library.

Course Description

The ‘ukulele has become one of the most popular instruments among amateur and professional musicians because it’s affordable, portable, and easy to learn to play. This course outlines the history of the ‘ukulele in the American (US) context, from the arrival of the Portuguese machete de braga in the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century to modern-day masters. We will explore the various waves of popularity of the ‘ukulele and how media such as recording, radio, film, television, and the internet have played a part. Bring your ‘ukulele (optional) and learn songs from the era or style that we are studying that week. This class is for players and non-players. If you don't play yet, basic instruction can be provided so you can play along, too. 

YouTube Playlist

Handouts

All of the handouts from the Bridgewater Senior College class can be found in this Google folder:

handouts