"Strum Squad is an absolutely amazing program! Mr. Mike is an excellent instructor. He is patient, fun, and clearly explained each lesson so that students experienced success. The students were engaged in each lesson and they all learned so much. I can't wait to offer the program to my students again next year."
Lindsay, Caledonia ON School Principal
About the Program
We've taught over 1000 students how to strum along to 5 recognizable age-appropriate pop songs in just 6 weeks (from artists such as Imagine Dragons, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Queen, etc.) - all while having a blast and connecting with their peers in the process.
We facilitate various group ukulele games (ukulele relay race, anyone?) to keep the kids engaged and motivated - our students always look forward to playing our uke games each week!
Our students also have access to our practice videos page, which includes strum-along videos and how-to videos for every chord and song learned in the program.
This is a 6 week program, which runs once per week at participating schools during recess/nutrition break.
Ukulele rentals are included and we offer a 100% money back guarantee* if your child doesn't love their first lesson with us. No risk, only good times to be had!
Please fill out the form below to complete your child's registration for the program.
Questions?
Contact Mike: 289-885-3503
*We offer a no questions asked money back guarantee valid until 24 hours before the second lesson. Student must return their rental instrument within 10 business days of cancellation to avoid the $35 penalty.
Strum Squad Registration Form
Meet your instructor
Lead Instructor: Mike Papaloni
Hey! I'm Mike.
I've taught hundreds of students how to play the uke in a fun and supportive group environment over the years. You may have seen me performing as a band or acoustic solo act in your town over the years.
Strum Squad is the program I created to teach my ukulele secrets with a strong focus on FUN to keep the kids engaged.
There will be ukulele games and laughter along the way!
I look forward to strumming with you and your family!
Mike Papaloni
289-885-3503
FAQs
How does the Strum Squad In-School ukulele program work? What can I expect?
The Strum Squad In-School ukulele program is a once per week, 6 week beginner group ukulele program designed to have kids engaged with their peers over music in a fun, community-focused environment. We're here to laugh, have fun, and learn a popular and social musical instrument together as a community.
Instead of learning bland nursery rhymes and intense music theory, our approach is to get everyone strumming to recognizable age-appropriate pop songs from day 1 and playing ukulele games together every 10 minutes or so is how we keep the kids energized to learn. These are songs that your child might have heard on the radio or in their favourite movies. As a matter of fact, our students leave their first lesson knowing how to strum along to an Aretha Franklin song. In the following weeks, we'll learn the chords and techniques required to strum along to songs from Justin Timberlake, Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, and more! This keeps them motivated to learn because they're playing familiar songs (heard on the radio or in movies) that they actually enjoy!
This is a group lesson program with anywhere between 10 - 30 participants - this group will be your child's STRUM SQUAD for the 6 week program (and perhaps even beyond that!). We bring in an assistant instructor to help out with groups over ~18 students to ensure everyone gets individual, 1-1 attention to as needed during each lesson while the lead instructor can keep the lesson moving. This way, no one gets left behind!
Unlike private lessons, having a small group learning together as a community allows us to unlock fun ukulele "party games" that keep the kids engaged and motivated to learn. Your child can expect to play anywhere between 2 - 4 different ukulele games each week that all incorporate what we've learned on the ukulele. This is how we "trick" our students into doing the hard work of practicing their ukuleles without even realizing it - because it just feels like play to them. Think ukulele chord relay races, Simon Says (calling out different chords to switch between), and Freeze Dance (except we're strumming, not dancing!).
We send out a lesson recap email to all families each week to guide your child's 5 minutes of daily practice with links to our very own practice videos and strum-alongs, covering everything we learn together in video-recap format. Think of this as an interactive play-along song book that the kids love!
What happens if we miss a lesson?
If your child is absent from school one day or can't make one of the lessons, we have a dedicated practice videos page on our site that covers everything we learn in the program as well as strum-along videos to all the songs we learn (Justin Timberlake, Imagine Dragons, Queen, OneRepublic and more!) so kids are able to catch up quickly if they ever miss a lesson from time to time.
After each lesson, all families will receive a lesson recap email with a detailed outline of what we covered in class and a link to the appropriate practice videos to strum along to when practicing.
We also have 15 minutes before each lesson time where the students get their ukes tuned up and get a quick 1-1 lesson from me if they missed the previous week or just need a refresher. No one gets left behind!
Does my child need to have a musical background/understanding of music to join?
We are an absolute beginner music program - this means no experience required and if you've never played a musical instrument before, you'll be in good company with the others who are learning alongside you!
We provide the ukes and everything you'll need to learn how to play.
How does the schedule work?
Our programs take place during lunch recess or nutrition break at your child's school (one day per week for 6 weeks). Families love the convenience of having their child take music lessons without having to drive them to a lesson in the evening.
Do I need my own ukulele? What if I already have a ukulele?
To ensure that each student is guaranteed access to a high quality instrument that can be used to learn on, ukulele rentals are included in the Strum Squad program for all participants.
If your child has their own ukulele and would prefer to bring their own instead of rent one from us, they are more than welcome to! Be sure to select this option on the registration form.
I still have unanswered questions...
Feel free to connect with me anytime!
Mike - Director of Programs / Lead Instructor
289-885-3503
