Updates...
I went to my first ukulele lesson Tuesday and learned the way ukulele sounds by G,C,E,A strings. Additionally, I learned the C scale and how to strum the the strings.

Weekly Update
I've gotten hold of my ukulele tutor, and I'll be practicing every Tuesday from now on. It's definitely difficult when trying to get the chords down because of its complex fingering. This week's task was to be able to do the minor, major, and the seventh chords and to polish its sound; however, it's harder than it looks like. With the ukulele being such a tiny instrument, majority of the chords are very tricky to play.
The website that I'm currently using is https://ukuguides.com/tips/basic-ukulele-chords-for-beginning-players/ It's really efficient when you are first starting out and need the basics.

Project Proposal

2/10/17

Emma Kim

Proposal: Learning to play the ukulele

Expansion of My Musical Abilities

Needs and Opportunities

I’m helping myself by expanding my musical abilities with different instrumental experiences other than piano and the clarinet. Learning a distinct instrument will definitely help me contribute to other learning of guitars and maybe even the orchestra instruments, such as the violin. I would like to help others who wants to know how ukulele is designed and how it is to play by learning from my personal experiences so theirs would be easy going. Additionally, I’ll be showing ones who wants to know how I progressed overtime, both individually and through other help. This project is a growing experience because there are so many techniques and methods around the world within the playing of ukulele, as well as different style of songs that I want to achieve. My goal is to get the basics down, with the chords, few songs, and acknowledge the origin of the ukulele.

Audience / Clients / Users

I will benefit those who wants to try something unusual for once and challenge themselves with new skills. I will discuss what is like to play ukulele as a beginner, how to start out with what, and where to start with. The people I’m benefiting is for the ones that wants to try a hobby that can be very simple; however, can also be developing and growing when getting into harder areas throughout their level.

Mentors

I will have a personal guidance through the process with a tutor that will hopefully teach me the origin and basics of ukulele. There, I could learn more methods that would help me ease throughout the learning of the ukulele. I will contact my friend, who has some experience with the ukulele, so I can have more background information and have the preparation in order for me to do this project. In this way, I would expect my future of struggles and satisfaction.

Timeline

February 17	Learn Chords
February 24	Learn Chords
March 3	Practice the movement from note to note
March 10	Learn a few songs
March 24	Learn a few songs
March 31	Learn a few songs
April 7	Learn a few songs
April 14	Learn a few songs
April 21	Learn few songs
April 28	Learn few songs
May 5 (Prep for Presentation Day)	Practice presenting a few of my favorite songs
May 12 (Presentation Day)	Perform those songs and reflect on my project

Product

One of the products I will bring is my ukulele, showing all the features and the design of the material. There, I will play my ukulele, demonstrating my beginner level abilities and will talk about the positive and negative sides of the ukulele. I will also show the books that I had used to learn the songs and chords. Additionally, I will show the materials needing to play, which is a pick and its use. Lastly, there will be technology involved when searching for different songs and researching more about the ukulele.

Technology

To enhance the process of the project, I will record myself playing the ukulele to really see what it is like to play it. Additionally, I would take pictures of the ukulele alone and myself playing, so people can better visualization. There will also be a PowerPoint, showing the different chords, songs, and the aspects I’ve learned throughout the journey. It will also include websites I used to help me discover more about ukulele and assist me during complications, such as videos.

Reality Check

Even though the ukulele had cost more than I had expected, I’ve managed to buy it for 100 dollars to continue on with my project. Also, I will have to buy the books I need to learn the songs and chords through. Lastly, I want to get a tutor so I will have a benefit when there is something that has confused me and will guide me throughout the beginning process. The lessons will cost 30 dollars for half an hour, but I believe it is worth it if you are taking this chance to see the possibilities when trying something new.

Possible Roadblocks

There will be times when I won’t get the notes easily and complications when learning a new song or chord. Since this is such a new instrument for me, I will definitely struggle through many different times. Also, there will be times when time management will block me during a test or project week, or something that had distracted me from practicing and following the plan.  

Conclusion

I am so excited to be doing this because I’ve always wanted to do something new that I can enjoy through my lifetime and where I can improve my skills on. You should definitely consider my project because when learning something new, like an instrument, you might find your passion that could hold on to you until you age. Additionally, Ukulele is something that you could always find yourself doing, no matter your age, location, nor gender. When trying distinctive hobbies, you’ve never imagined doing, it really inspires me to try other activities as well. It is a lifetime experience where not a lot of people have the chance to suddenly try an instrument because of a school activity. Thus, I want to work diligently and put my dedication through this project to see if this could possibly be the turning point of my life, where I could put my commitment to. It’s not all about learning the ukulele, it’s about attempting an experience that you might get to make a difference to that specific industry or something that could hold on to you for lifelong.

Starting the Ukulele

For my 20 percent time project, I will be learning to play the ukulele. It is a lot different from what I'd usually play, but I think I'll learn a lot about the strings instruments as I experience this journey. I hope to make the best out of this blog and update constantly to see what kind of an experience I had when starting with the ukulele. Even though, there will be difficult times throughout this project, I hope it will turn out just fine by committing to this instrument. My ultimate goal is to play all the chords by the end of the school year and play variations of songs.