Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to own my own ukulele before taking ukulele lessons in Toronto?
The answer is no. Renting a ukulele is an affordable option and some music stores will allow you to put the cost of the rental fee towards the purchase of the rented ukulele.
Q: What do you need to know about playing the ukulele?
One of the most important things you need to know about playing the ukulele is how to hold it. You can play either standing up or sitting down. When standing, make sure to hold the body of the ukulele against your chest with your strumming arm. Make sure you do not hold the ukulele too tightly! You don't want to break it! The sound needs to resonate through the body. The neck of the ukulele should be on a slight upward horizontal angle. When sitting you can either rest the body of the ukulele on your leg or hold it as if you were standing. Getting a strap for your ukulele is also an option.
The first thing students should learn on the ukulele is how to strum. This requires little physical strength and is fun to do. Rhythm is key here. Learning to associate rhythms with strum patterns really helps to visualize playing. Start with some basic rhythms and then move on to some fun syncopated strumming! In terms of the fret-board, the first thing students should learn to play on the ukulele are individual open chords. Open chords often require less skill than playing scales since your fret-board hand does not have to move as much. Once individual chords are learned it is a good idea to move on to some basic chord progressions. You can play so many songs on the ukulele by learning just a couple of common chord progressions. The next step in learning to play the ukulele are movable chords. This will allow you to play chords up and down the ukulele fret-board without having to change the chord shape. Learning to play scales on the ukulele should be your next step. All songs are written based on some type of scale. Scales are used to not only play melodies but also to improvise melodies.
Q: What qualifications to your ukulele teachers in Toronto have?
A: Our ukulele teachers are among the best Toronto has to offer. Lauren Mayer has a Master of Arts degree. Alex Purcell is pursing his Master of Arts degree. Tim Collins has a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts degree. Chris Platt has a Bachelor of Music degree. Vennie Tu has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Q: Is it possible to learn guitar at home?
A: Yes, of course! With our flexible arrangements, we can provide guitar lessons Etobicoke and beyond! Here at Neighbour Note, we are proud to offer both in-studio and in-home classes, and with our Toronto guitar lessons, you will be well on your way to confident playing!
Q: How long does it take to learn the ukulele?
A: Learning to play the ukulele can take a lifetime. It all depends on how far you want to go with your learning. Some students only want to learn the basics so in this case I would say three to six months. One year for students who want to get up to the intermediate level.
Q: How to choose the best ukulele teacher?
A: Choosing the best ukulele teacher can be tricky. Always look at a qualified ukulele teachers education. A higher education shows a real commitment to teaching and learning. It is also proof of training. Anyone can say that they have been teaching for twenty years but can they prove it! Teaching and performing experience is also important.
Q: At what age can you start learning to play ukulele?
A: You can start learning the ukulele as young as three years old. That being said, it's never too late to start learning to play!
Neighbour Note offers Toronto ukulele lessons for kids, teens, adults, beginner and adavanced ukulele lessons in Toronto, pop and folk ukulele music lessons.