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8/13/23
Over the past few weeks, I have been learning to play the ukulele. I began this endeavor because I was challenged to learn something new using only technology. However, as I have spent more time with the instrument this has become a passion project. The online sources I visited inspired me and brought me joy through learning. In my unit 4 blog post, I discuss a TedTalk by Tanya Menon. She talks about how expanding your social network can lead to great opportunities. She challenged her audience to go outside their comfort zones in search of something great (2017). Although Menon was not specifically talking about technology in her video, the themes from her TedTalk helped me during this project. Before I began this journey, I was not comfortable using social media for learning purposes and I had never visited a help forum. However, I pushed myself and discovered that I could connect with people even in an entirely online project. I was able to learn useful tips and tricks from people who had learned the ukulele just like me. Even though I have never met them, the people I heard from online gave me breakthroughs and got me to where I am with the instrument today. In my resource tracker, I have documented all of these amazing sources for you to explore!
Below are a few highlights.
The Kala App was my primary source for learning chords. This is a screenshot from the app’s “learn” tab where you can find videos and tips on each chord.
This chord chart found from GuitArtist's on Facebook allowed me to easily practice my chords over and over again once I felt more comfortable with the basic finger placements.
This Reddit page picked me back up when I was feeling discouraged about my messy transitions between chords.
As discussed in my second blog post for this series, this video by Kate Denure was a turning point for me. It taught me the importance of a strum pattern as well as the counts a chord holds.
I have also created a video overviewing my learning throughout this process. In Learn to Play the Ukulele with Me!, I explain how the sources discussed above helped me achieve my goal. When I set out on this journey I decided I wanted to learn the song from Disney Pixar’s short film Lava (Murphy, 2014). As we know from Bransford, Brown, and Cocking's How people learn: Brain, mind, experience and school, learning does not happen all at once (2000). Having the small learning goal of a single song helped me feel achievement without getting overwhelmed. When I broke my learning goal into even smaller pieces: tuning, chords, strumming; I was able to find success. I am happy to report that I was in fact able to learn how to play the Lava song using technology. I encourage you to watch my final video below in order to see how far I’ve come. I also hope you will visit the first two blog posts in this series ( #1, #2) in order to fully understand my journey and maybe get inspired to learn the ukulele yourself!
Learning a new instrument is hard for both the body and the brain. I knew I could not form new connections in my brain and new flexibility in my hand over night so I practiced and practiced. I really enjoyed using the internet to learn this new skill because I could find help whenever I needed it. With a traditional music tutor, I would not be able to reach out for tips at any hour of the day. However, with the help of technology, I could look up tips and find support whenever I needed it. Although I learned the ukulele on my own, I never felt alone. Technology is an amazing thing that expands our horizons. This will certainly not be the last time I recruit the help of technology to learn something new.
Follow along on the full journey!
References:
Bransford, J., Brown, A.L. & Cocking, R. R. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience and school. National Academy Press.
DeNure, K. (2018, July 31). Lava - EASY Ukulele Tutorial with Play Along. [Video]. One Music School. Youtube.
GuitArtist's. Facebook. Photos.
Menon, T. (2017, March). The secret to great opportunities? The person you haven't met yet. [Video]. TED.
Michael, K. (2023). in the beginning - NLP. Katie's CEP 810 Blog.
Michael, K. (2023). let there be music - NLP. Katie's CEP 810 Blog.
Michael, K. (2023). NLP sources. Google Sheets. (resource tracker)
Michael, K. (2023). unit 4- Professional Learning Network. Katie's CEP 810 Blog.
Michael, K. (2023, August 13). Learn to Play the Ukulele with Me! [Video]. Youtube.
Murphy, J. (2014, June 14). Lava. [Video]. Disney Pixar Animation Studios.
Musopia. (2022). Kala Ukulele Tuner & Lessons. [App].
Ramos, A. (2018, March 25). Lava (ukulele play-along). [Video]. Youtube.
Tips for chord changes? Reddit.
Yousician. (2023). GuitarTuna. [App].
Author: Katie Michael MAED Student
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