I recently had a few mom friends and their little ones over for a jam session, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN! The moms brought their ukuleles, I brought out some of our favorite rhythm instruments, and we all had a good time singing, dancing, and playing. The best part is that this is fun for all ages and skill levels.

Ready to host your own playdate jam? Here are a few tips based on what worked for us:

Sing songs that lend themselves to improvised lyrics — If You're Happy and You Know It, Old MacDonald, and Down by the Bay (I'll have video tutorials for all of these soon!) are great options where everyone can take a turn coming up with verses
Give the kids some choices. I set out some kid instruments (of course), but also a big car ramp toy with some toy cars and some markers and coloring pages so they could switch gears when they needed to. The kids would take occasional breaks to go color or eat a snack, and when they did, we moms had a great time chatting.
Be flexible. We didn't have a particular agenda or schedule we were trying to follow, other than just play and have a good time.
Keep them contained (ha!). I've tried hosting uke jams at playgrounds, with the idea that the kids could climb and swing while the grown-ups strummed, but for whatever reason those don't tend to go as smoothly. But at the house, the kids felt comfortable and settled in really nicely. I was so impressed by how well everyone was getting along, too!

Resources:

A roundup of my favorite kid instruments
Ukulele colorings pages: Psychedelic Uke and Uke with Dino
Family Jam Time: More tips and encouragement for singing and making music with your kids, plus a jammable Disney-themed playlist

Do you host family-friendly jams? How do you incorporate music into family life at home?

Andy Z is a local legend. He’s the man behind several children’s albums and the creator of my favorite kids’ Halloween album/rock opera, The Grand Scream of Things. Andy Z performs all over the Bay Area and when my kids were younger, we’d frequently go to the well-attended (and free) Mommy & Me events at Westgate Shopping Center and Santana Row. My kids are both in school now but they still sing Andy Z’s songs at home!

Are you new to Andy Z? Here are a few of our favorite songs for this time of year:

October 22, 2019

February 28, 2019

Habit Hack: Use Music to Improve Your Mood

February 28, 2019

February 18, 2019

Teaching Ukulele in the Classroom

February 18, 2019

Earlier this month I got to do something new—I taught a group of parent educators who lead music classes at their kids’ parent-participation school. The music classroom is already stocked with ukuleles, and the parents who lead the K-3 music program wanted to learn how to play the ukulele so they could share the fun with their students.

I led a beginner’s ukulele workshop designed to address their specific needs, covering the basics of how to play chords, how to strum, and shared tips for teaching ukulele in a classroom setting. We had a great time playing through six songs that will be fun for them to share with their students, and they knocked my socks off with their singing! I wish I had a recording to include in this post—they were harmonizing by the second song!

Here’s a review from Rosa, one of the women who attended the workshop:

A few other Moms and I took Melissa's Ukulele Workshop. Our children attend a Parent Participation school and we all teach music and were looking to pick up basics to better understand how to teach the uke. What a lovely experience! Melissa was thorough, concise, kind, and best of all, made learning a new instrument feel easy. We played several songs made up of just a couple of chords and troubleshooted basic hand shapes and positions that made playing chords so much easier. I highly recommend taking any lessons from Melissa, she's incredibly capable and was made to do this!

If you’re looking for an easier way to teach ukulele in a classroom setting, or if you’d just like to take a lesson to see if the uke is for you, contact me and we can plan a workshop just for you!

February 18, 2019

March 2, 2018

Hosting a Music-Themed Playdate

March 2, 2018

Ready to host your own playdate jam? Here are a few tips based on what worked for us:

March 2, 2018

January 4, 2018

Free Printable: A New Ukulele Coloring Page for the New Year

January 4, 2018

December 13, 2017

Super Simple DIY: Jingle Bell Bracelets

December 13, 2017

Jingle bell bracelets are a quick and easy crafting project that works for almost every age group, requires only two materials, and leaves virtually no mess. I think even the most craft-averse parent can handle that!

December 13, 2017

October 5, 2017

Get to Know Your Ukulele (Free Printable)

October 5, 2017

Oh, man. I love a good printable! They're great for kids (we use them on road trips all the time), and I enjoy creating free downloads to share here on the blog, though so far I've focused on creating printables for kids. But these Get to Know Your Ukulele printables are handy for all beginning ukulele players— kids and grown-ups alike.

October 5, 2017