What level am I?

Remember the mighty Uke is about fun, pleasure, moments for yourself, to yourself, and music made simply with others or in the beautiful privacy of your own home. This guide is here to help you find the perfect class for you that will help you find your own musical bloom, not a tool of achievement or a reminder of old striving piano lessons as a child. Please approach it with curiosity and what will be most fun for you.

Consider what you want from the Ukulele? Something to unwind with? To sing with? Definitely not to sing with? How much time do you want to spend? Maybe decide to go for a simpler level so you can rest and relax into the music the course offers. Or do you have more time right now for various reasons? Then lean into a level that will challenge you. Do you prefer being more comfortable in your learning level? or better if you are challenged? How do you learn best? Check on the level that you feel you are at, and then ask yourself what would be most fun for you right now? That’s the level to pick. Remember the Ukulele is there for you, your pleasure, your bloom. And we, the Ruby’s Team, will look forward to seeing you in class! Big love. Ruby.

Absolute Beginner : Uke Starter

This level is perfect for you if you have never played the Ukulele before, or just been playing a chord here and there and would like to get a great Uke foundation to have fun and grow from. No previous music experience necessary at all! Everyone has music in them.

You will learn: The Foundation knowledge required to get started! How to tune your Ukulele, read chord diagrams, play chord progressions, strum and sing simple songs on the Ukulele. You will also learn the fundamentals required to read and play simple instrumental melodies, trust me thousands of students have!  This is a fun, very supportive class that will put you on the perfect path to Ukulele greatness, or at least prepare you for the ‘Beginner – get playing’ 9 week course! We taught thousands of people to experience the joy of music made simply. It is easy, you’ll love it!

This course gives you a foundation in the Ruby’s Ukes method, where you will easily learn the solid basics of playing this magical little Instrument in a fun, supportive environment. This workshop is based in the principles of the Kodaly method of teaching, techniques of accelerated learning (auditory, visual and kinesthetic), tried and true teaching techniques since 2009, and a good laugh! This workshop will prepare you for the ‘Beginner – get playing’ 9 week course! Practice suggestions will be given for the two weeks prior to the start of the ‘Beginner – get playing’ course so feel free to register for both!

At Ruby’s Ukes our mission is to open the amazing world of music to everyone and you will find a welcoming, inclusive, inter-generational, very encouraging learning environment.

Sample pdf file : Absolute Beginner – Stand By Me.pdf

sample pdf file : – C Scale up one string – Intro.pdf

Beginner : Get playing

This level is perfect for you, if you have completed the ‘Absolute Beginner : Uke starter’ workshop, or been playing for a while on your own. You already know how to tune your Ukulele, read a chord diagram, perhaps play a simple chord progression such as C,F,C, G7, C, and can sing simple songs on the Ukulele. You are ready to go beyond the basic chords C, F, G7, Am, to chords such as E7, Gm or Bb. You understand how to move from one chord to another, and understand how to play a melody, reading simple tablature. This level is designed to be taken to consolidate these concepts and really get you playing. To create muscle memory, and an ability to play, sing, strum, read tablature and enjoy doing so!
It is a fun class that will consolidate the concepts that are the foundation of the Ruby’s Ukes Method of Ukulele playing. This level precedes the ‘Intermediate – really get playing!’ level.
The perfect way to make music part of your everyday life!

You will learn: to play more chords associated with the C Major Scale,(and perhaps the scales of G, F, or D), simple picking patterns, a variety of strum feels, review and consolidate single note instrumental melody playing.  As well as how to build a major scale, fret board recognition, simple chord progressions, simple chord melody, 2 or 3 part ensemble playing, and a variety of tunes from a repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Country, Classical, Folk & contemporary tunes. There is something for everyone!

This course consolidates the basics of Ukulele playing, and enhances fluidity of playing.  It is designed to facilitate ease of transition into ‘Intermediate – really get playing level’, where students continue to play, learn, and consolidate techniques.

At Ruby’s Ukes our mission is to open the amazing world of music to everyone and you will find a welcoming, inclusive, inter-generational,  very encouraging learning environment.

sample pdf file : ‘Beginner : Get Playing’ – Daydream.pdf 

sample pdf file : ‘Beginner: get playing’ – Love me tender ( Aura Lee ).PDF

Listen here : Love me tender ( Aura Lee )

Intermediate: Really get playing!

This level is perfect for you if you’ve completed the  ‘Beginner: Get Playing’ level. You will continue to improve your Bb chord shape, as well as chord shapes such as D7, F7,G dim. There is a continued focus fluidity of melody playing with attention to tone and sounds created.
As well as an exploration of a variety of strums, new scales, music theory, and genres of Ukulele playing. A level that has the fine line of consolidation and challenge building on the techniques established in the previous levels.
The perfect way to deepen your relationship with music!

You will learn: To play more chords associated with the F Major Scale, and perhaps the scales of D, Bb, A, or G, and how to transpose between those keys. Chord progressions move through the songs at perhaps a quicker pace. More advanced picking patterns, and a variety of strum feels, more instrumental melody playing.  As well as, Intros and Outros to use in many tunes. How to create your own strums. More fret board recognition and its benefits, perhaps how to build a blues scale, a further variety of interesting chord progressions, more chord melodies, ensemble playing, and a variety of tunes from a repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Country, Classical, Folk & contemporary tunes! There is so much to learn, consolidate, enjoy, and excel at, at this level. There is something for everyone.

This course consolidates and takes to the next level the fundamentals of learning a musical instrument, and makes the reinforcement of concepts and techniques fun, fresh, and enjoyable, while walking the beautiful line between interest and the repetition needed to become a fantastic Ukulele player!

At Ruby’s Ukes our mission is to open the amazing world of music to everyone and you will find a welcoming, inclusive, inter-generational, very encouraging learning environment.

sample pdf file : ‘Intermediate: really get playing’ – Landslide.pdf

sample pdf file :’ Intermediate: really get playing’ – Moon River (TAB).pdf

Listen here : Moon River

Advanced : Time to shine!

This level is perfect for you, if you have taken ‘Intermediate – really get playing’ once or even twice and know a variety of chords in first position (around the 1st 4 frets) very well (for example: A, Am, A7, C, C7, Em, B7, D7, E7, Gm, Dm, G7, Am7), and can easily make a Bb shape, D7, F7 shape, can read tablature well and play melodies, can understand chord progressions (such as I , IV, V), you can learn chords and tunes quickly, and your playing has a very steady rhythm and fluidity. Breathe into the pleasure of playing music to a level that you love!

You will learn: Moveable chords shapes based on Bb, F7, Dm7, D7 shapes and barre chords that can be moved around the fret board. As well as Major & Minor scales of C, D, G & F and more scales of interest such as a Jazz Blues Scale.  Right hand technique will include finger style picking patterns, melody playing, riffs and licks, and a variety of strum feels such as Reggae, Swing, and Blues Shuffle. You will play tunes from a repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Country, Classical, Folk & contemporary tunes!  There is something for everyone.

This course deepens your theoretical understanding, adds variety to your chords, picking and strumming, taking your Ukulele playing to the next level. Plus it is great, concentrated, I have to say, fun. And a challenge! Time to switch off to the world outside and dive into Uke land!

At Ruby’s Ukes our mission is to open the amazing world of music to everyone and you will find a welcoming, inclusive, inter-generational, very encouraging learning environment.

sample pdf file : ‘Advanced: time to shine’- You’ve got a friend.pdf

sample pdf file : ‘Advanced: time to shine’ – On the sunny side of the street.pdf

Listen here : On the sunny side of the street

 Advanced +:  ‘Ukestar’

This level is perfect  If you have continued at the ‘Advanced : Time to shine’ level once or twice or three times (its designed to hang out in for a while!) , or dove into your Uke playing like a Banshee! This class caters to the most advanced players  of the school, and those who are playing very fluidly, either personally, perhaps in a band, or aspire to be in the advanced section of Ruby’s Ukulele Orchestra!  You are invited to join this class if you consider yourself to be a ‘ukestar’ in the making (wink, wink) and are ready for it, this is the super highway of classes! You will cover advanced melody playing, strumming, music theory and other very cool stuff! If you want to dive in for one term, splash about and find you prefer the Advanced level because your schedule is pretty tight with life, that’s all good. It will still be here next term!  After all, most important, is the journey and pleasures on the way.

You will learn: to play more moveable chord shapes, more scales, advanced chord melodies, 3-part ensemble playing, more complex melodies, solo-ing techniques and theory, fingerstyle patterns, and strum feels. Each term there will be an emphasis on a theme, that changes three times a year. We have consolidated the ukulele module idea within this class. So you can continue in this class as long as you like!! You will play tunes from  a repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Country, Classical, Folk & contemporary tunes!

This course will challenge you, so be prepared to practice a lot, learn a lot, and enjoy your Ukulele in a whole new way! It is fun, the pace is faster AND it will definitely push you to your own next personal level.  This level  is designed to assist those in the RUO advanced section.

At Ruby’s Ukes our mission is to open the amazing world of music to everyone and you will find a welcoming, inclusive, inter-generational, very encouraging learning environment.

sample pdf file : Advanced +: Ukestar – Time in a bottle.pdf

sample pdf file : Advanced +: Ukestar – Serenade.pdf

Listen here : Serenade

( please note: These are general learning goals, for all the levels and adjustments may be made throughout the term for the best class learning outcomes)

We acknowledge that we work, teach, and play on the traditional, ancestral and unceded Coast Salish Territory of the šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬtəməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. And that the Ukulele first originated from Hawaii, we are grateful to continue it’s journey here in Canada.