Alfred Music Releases Unique, Engaging, New Classroom Resources: Ukulele Explorer & Music Mosaic

August 21, 2020

Alfred Music, the world leader in educational print music publishing since 1922, announces the release of two new resources designed for the classroom—Ukulele Explorer and Music Mosaic. Each offers a unique contribution to creative classroom learning and playing!

Ukulele Explorer, 10 Ukulele Lessons with Strum Along Songs, is a must-have interactive software resource for any music classroom equipped with ukuleles! The creative pair of authors (one a general music teacher, the other a private ukulele instructor) has assembled an amazing journey to quickly get kids playing a host of popular hits. Each of the 10 units includes tuning instruction, chord drill, strum pattern practice, and a skill-building exercise, culminating with an engaging performance piece followed by an interactive assessment activity.

Songs include "Roar," "Best Day of My Life," "Over the Rainbow," "Riptide," and more! Embedded with fret diagrams, hand position photos, rhythmic chants for every new pattern, helpful "getting started" screens, plus appealing demo and play-along tracks. Use for computer or interactive whiteboard (PC and Mac compatible).

Music Mosaic is a contemporary collection that teaches American music history through student-centered projects. Each of the 15 lessons is intended to prompt risk-taking and the expression of artistic intent, making students the leaders of their own learning. From tracing the culture of an ancestor to forming a student ukulele jam, from creating a vaudeville show to writing and recording a rap, pick and choose favorites or use the complete book as a sequential curriculum on the development of American popular music. Many of the projects involve student research and culminate with a slide presentation, making them perfect for distance learning. Core music standards, teacher instructions, reproducible student sheets, and single-point assessment rubrics are included for each project. Recommended for grades 5--9.

Ukulele Explorer and Music Mosaic are both available for $34.99 each at music retail stores, online retailers, and alfred.com. Digital formats also available on alfred.com and media.alfred.com.