Excerpt from the BMI Ethnography of Cebu’s Bamboo Ukulele

“The Bamboo Ukuleles of Cebu: A Trailblaze” By Yves P. Cuenza

THE UKULELE BAMBOO INSTRUMENTS

There are different factors as to why a lot of people (both musicians and non- musicians) tend to get attached to playing the ukulele. Mr. Brian Brusas of the Huni group asserts that the advantages of the ukulele instrument include its being small and handy. Moreover, the laid-back perception that it gives does not intimidate or give pressure to the musical ability of the person playing it.

The Bamboo Musical Instruments (BMI) Description Table below illustrates the

differences of each ukulele:

The Huni group produces five types of ukuleles. The soprano, concert, and tenor are the most commonly used ukuleles which are tuned on the same key but gives give different over-all timbres. The difference is usually seen on the body size which is proportionate to the sound it gives off – the bigger the size, the deeper and fuller the ukulele would sound. The baritone is the largest among the ukuleles and it has the same tuning with the upper four strings of the guitar. The smallest is the sopranino and has the same tuning with the baritone but is set one octave higher. The price of every bamboo ukulele ranges from P5,000 to as much as P10,000, depending on personalized requests from the buyer

The shop has been producing handmade bamboo ukuleles. The most preferred species as raw material is locally known as bontong. If a customer wishes to get a bamboo ukulele, they must know the advantages and disadvantages of having one. Mr. Brusas and his team are quite upfront and honest in presenting those terms. Probably the only disadvantage about the sound is that the bamboo material does not necessarily produce the brightest timbre compared to the more traditional materials like mahogany, mango and langka woods. On the other hand, one of the strongest feedback that the bamboo material has been getting comes from foreigners, who say that the bamboo ukulele is more adaptable to climate and seasonal changes wherever the instrument is taken.

A. Content Standards

Demonstrate understanding of characteristic features of Afro-Latin American music and Popular music

B. Performance Standards

Perform vocal and dance forms of Afro-Latin American music and selections of Popular music

C. Learning Competencies/Objectives

1. Listenperceptively to Afro-Latin American and popular music
2. Sing selections of Afro-Latin American and popular music in appropriate pitch, rhythm, style, and expression
3. Improvise simple vocal/instrumental accompaniments to selected songs
4. Identify the parts of a ukulele

Popular music and Cebu Bamboo Ukulele

A. References

1. Print Materials

a. BMI ethnography of Cebu Bamboo Ukulele

b. Photos of Cebu’s Huni Ukuleles

c. Website of Cebu’s Huni Ukuleles:

https://huniukes.weebly.com/

2. Audio-Video Materials

a. Huni Soprano Ukulele

http://tiny.cc/YT-HuniUkuleles-Soprano

b. Huni Tenor Ukulele

http://tiny.cc/YT-HuniUkuleles-Tenor

B. Other Learning Materials

1. Ukulele instruments
2. Basic Ukulele chord chart

A. Reviewing the previous lesson or presenting the new lesson

Show pictures of trees: Rosewood, Langka, and Bamboo. Have a discussion on the products of these trees such as furniture, décor, and instrument.

B. Establishing the purpose of the lesson

Show pictures of bamboo ukuleles of Cebu’s Huni Ukuleles. Explain that these parts can be made of different types of wood such as bamboo, rosewood or langka tree. Back panel of sound board can be made of bamboo. Fret board can be made of Rosewood. Langka tree can also be used as sound board.

C. Presenting examples/instances of the new lesson

1. Listen to Ukulele version of Ben & Ben “Leaves,” Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,”and John Legend’s “All of Me.” Do you know these songs? How popular are these songs?
2. Let the students explain what they like most in popular  Is it the

melody, lyrics, rhythm or emotional appeal?

D. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills # 1

1. Song #1 Show the chord chart of “Perfect” C, G, D, em Practice the chord progression of the song. Use D D D DU D (D-down U-Up) strum pattern. Sing and play the song. Song#2 Show the chord chart of “All of Me” C, G, D, em, am
2. Practice the chord progression of the song. Use down strum pattern in syncopated rhythm.
3. Play and sing the song.

E. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills # 2

1. Song#3 Show the chord chart of “Leaves”
2. Practice the chord progression of the song “Leaves”.Verse C-G-F 4x

Pre-chorus Am-D-G-C-F

Chorus C-G-F F-C-G Dm-Em-F G-C

3. Play and sing the given

F. Developing mastery (leads to formative assessment)

Presentation of the three songs by group.

G. Finding practical applications of concept and skills in daily living

Music is considered food for the soul. Make a playlist of songs for your family or friends so that they can be entertained and uplifted through music.

H. Making generalization and abstraction about the lesson

1. Young people like popular songs because of many  It is easy to sing, easy to play, it has a catchy melody, and it is easy to memorize.
2. Let the students describe their performance in playing popular music and

I. Additional activities for application or remediation

Watch a medley of Cebuano folk songs accompanied by the bamboo ukulele. Sing and play some of the familiar songs together with the video.

A. How many learners earned 80% in the evaluation? How many learners require additional activities for remediation?

B. Did the remedial lesson work? How many learners have caught up with the lesson? How many learners continue to require remediation?

C. Which of my teaching strategies worked well? Why did this work?

D. What difficulties can my principal or supervisor help me solve?

E. What innovation or localized materials did I use/discover which I wish to share with other teachers?