FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this truly a no barriers program?

Yes it is. Subsidies are in place to benefit and include all students.

1. How do I register for Doane Music School?

Registration with Doane Music School takes place in schools, in partnership with each school’s Administration team and or parent council.   If our program is offered at your child’s school, you will have received a message from the Principal. If we do not currently offer the program at your school and you are interested in finding out if we can in the future, email us at info@doanemusicschool.ca with your child’s school’s details and we’ll get in touch with the Principal. Hopefully we’ll be able to offer the program at your school soon.

2. Can my child use a ukulele that we already have?

Yes, you can but only after you have checked it out with Melanie. You need to email her the brand and the size of your instrument along with a picture. Some instruments are not in tip top shape and can cause students a lot of frustration if they do not play in tune, have warped or compromised fingerboards, etc. We check out all instruments ahead of time to ensure that every student has a good working instrument for best results. 

3. What classroom is my child’s lesson going to be held in? 

Classrooms will be assigned in September and communicated to all registered students by email .

4. When do classes start?

Classes start in the first week of October. 

5. What materials does my child need for class?

Your child will be given a new folder on the first day of class. This folder needs to be brought to class every week and parents need to check this folder for practice instructions. If the folder gets lost, email melanie@doanemusicschool.ca right away so she can get you the materials that you need.

6. What if my child breaks a string or has a broken ukulele?

Strings are readily available at most music stores. Some music stores will do repairs for you; however, some fixes may cost more than the price of the instrument. If you are unsure, please email melanie@doanemusicschool.ca.

7. What is Uke Day?

Uke Day is a musical celebration at the end of the school year when all of the Doane Music School students from across the city gather to play music and have a huge jam session, learn some new tunes, hear some special performances and perform together before the summer break.

Visit: www.doanemusicschool.ca/media for videos of past Uke Day celebrations.

8. Can my child participate in the Doane Music School program after they leave their elementary school?

Classes are offered up to grade 12. Email melanie@doanemusicschool.ca directly for information on all of the “B” groups and the “A” group (middle and high school) offered.

9. What if my child moves away

We offer online classes for children who are already in our program but have moved and who wish to continue playing.

8. My child needs extra help. 

We have weekly zoom sessions with one of our experts to accommodate all beginner students. This is a free drop in for all.

9. Where does this program come from?

The Ukulele in the Classroom method was created by J. Chalmers Doane and implemented in school boards across Canada throughout the later 20th century and still today. A truly Canadian movement in Education, this classroom method has proven to be cutting-edge in the acknowledgment of all learning styles and the advantages of music education and neurodivergent learning. Also a frontrunner in the area of "teaching by Intelligence", sometimes known as aural tradition, learning by ear or ear training. 

Virtuoso James Hill and J. Chalmers Doane have reissued the method internationally and Toronto’s Doane Music School programs are the largest in the world, with over 1200 participants in weekly classes. 

10. What instruments do you recommend if we want to buy our own ukulele and not order one with the class order?

We recommend ordering with the class because we have sourced the best instruments for the best price in Canada (empiremusic.ca). These are modest student ukes that sound great and are the best value for the money. If you want to spend more than $70 and shop for your own instrument we recommend soprano size for gr 4, 5 and 6, and concert size for older students. We have had great success with KALA and Makala brand ukes. We do NOT recommend instruments made of plastic.

Anything less than $70 is not recommended for use in this program. Please contact Melanie by email for further questions or recommendations. We can help you make a great purchase. We also offer financial assistance to all who may require it. 

11. How do I obtain a low 4th string at the music store?

To obtain a low 4th string you can go to The Twelfth Fret, Long and McQuade, or Remenyi House of Music, in Toronto. In Nova Scotia, The Folklore Centre, Halifax, or Mingo Music, Truro.

Let them know you need a low 4th string for the educational ukulele program at Doane Music School. Melanie Doane’s uke program. “I need a low 4th string and am looking for a single D’Addario Pro Arte classical nylon core string, NYL026W gauge .026”

12. Why do I have to obtain a low 4th string before the first class in October?

We use Canadian tuning which has a low 4th string giving us more range and more opportunity for scale work, bass lines, and overall increase in musical opportunity. Your child must have this string on their instrument in time for the first lesson in order to participate.

13. What is Canadian Tuning and why are we using it in the Doane Music School program?

The low 4th string tuning has been established nationally for many decades and implemented extensively with great success in Canadian schools. 

It predates the internet, is musically advantageous and although recognized by some Hawaiian educators and players,  not widely used throughout the United States.