The School Ukulele Ensemble (SUE) series is a self-published series of music written and arranged especially for Schools Music leaders to have a repertory of arrangements.
These guiding requirements are designed to allow a common language in Ukulele arranging for school ensembles, without inhibiting creativity.
Objectives:
- To create motivating and rewarding Ukulele arrangements for students
- To be affordable for Schools and Music Groups
- To enhance the musical understanding of students
Guiding Requirements for this series:
1. Submissions may be original work or an arrangement.
2. Parts must allow for a range of different abilities. Typical Parts may include:
- Tune – The main Melody
- Countermelody – A secondary melody to support the tune
- Riff – A recognisable Ostinato to support the tune
- Chord Rhythms – Prescriptive rhythms for which to play chords
- Chord Symbols/Diagrams – Chords provided with freedom for students to devise their own strumming patterns.
- Secondary Instrument – Usually limited to a maximum of one to enhance the arrangement on a strictly accompaniment basis only. For example, a Bass Guitar, Snare Drum, or Piano.
3. A tessitura must be chosen that is easily playable on the Soprano Ukulele. There is no set Fret limit, but melodies must use as few leaps as possible. Limit leaps to a whole hand position (Often 4 frets). Where a tune with countermelody/Riff part is used, then one part must be of an easier standard, by limiting hand position or through repetition.
4. Chords must be selected that children and young adolescents can play. Primary triads around C, F, G, D, Am, and Dm can be used freely, whilst more difficult chords (for example, Bm, Em) can be used sparingly so that each piece doesn’t introduce too many new chord, and only if enough time is allowed for students to find these chords. Extended and altered Chords (e.g. G7, D7, C6, Cdim) can also be used, but again, sparingly and with due care. Bar Chords are permitted with the same requirements.
5. Difficulty Level – A general indication of difficulty is considered good practice in assisting music leader in choosing their repertoire.
6. The length of the piece ought to be governed by readability and ease of use, rather than by a time limit. Therefore, limiting page turns is important, although this should not be done at the expense of readability (i.e., too many ‘Da Capo’ ‘Coda’ 1st/2nd time bars etc. can become more cumbersome than just turning the page!). As a general rule, no more than 4 A4 sides that can be printed on one A3 sheet allows for minimal page turning and printing expenses.
These Requirements are a guide, and collaboration in developing the SUE repertoire is very much welcome.
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