Originally published in TEACH Magazine, September/October 2012 Issue
By Martha Beach
Canadian musician Melanie Doane leads a Ukulele in the Classroom lesson. The Grade 3 students are perched on the edges of their plastic chairs, clutching ukuleles, and looking at the music books set on stands in front of them. For many, this is the first opportunity they’ve had to hold a real instrument.
Melanie, Halifax-born and now based in Toronto, plays a multitude of instruments, but today she focuses on the ukulele, a mini guitar look-alike with four strings. Melanie leads the students as they pluck “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” A melody begins and students observe as she strums chords. By the end of the class, half the students are plucking and the other half is strumming.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
