SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Every eighth-grader going through Slippery Rock Middle School learns the fundamentals of reading, writing and ukuleles.

“Everybody learns how to play the ukulele,” said music teacher Kevin Shields.

At the school, the sixth grade general music class teaches music basics and the seventh grade general music class teaches the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

However, the eighth graders get a more specific topic. This is the third year the school has taught a class on the stringed instrument.

It used to be that the middle school did not have an eighth grade general music class. When the school reorganized its schedule, it freed up some time to have such a class. Principal Cory Hake asked for ideas.

Shields began throwing ideas around and decided that a ukulele class would be a good idea. The school had a few of the instruments.

“I thought it would be kind of cool; something different,” Shields said.

He applied for and received a $1,000 grant from Attic Community Playground, a charity organization dedicated to supporting music education.

With the grant, he bought 40 ukuleles from Mark’s Music in Hermitage.

He was a little intimidated at first because he was developing a curriculum for an instrument he had extremely limited experience with.

“I had none at all,” Shields, who learned the basics pretty quickly, said.

Students play baritone ukuleles, where the strings are tuned in the same way as the lower four strings on a guitar. Shields said this makes it easier to go off and learn how to play guitar later.

“It has prompted students to take guitar lessons,” Shields said.

Because of the holiday season, students in the most recent class played a lot of Christmas songs. Songs from the soundtrack to “Frozen” also have been popular.

Since it is a Hawaiian instrument, students learn traditional Hawaiian songs. Shields also teaches folk tunes and patriotic tunes, which he said are easy to sing along with, as well as some popular rock songs by groups such as the Beatles.

“Typically, songs that have four chords,” Shields said.

Once per nine-week period, the class goes around the school “caroling,” going into classrooms and playing.

After the class is over, students walk out with a packet of music they can play if they choose to continue with the instrument.

Shawn Mack, 14, found learning to play the ukulele was more unique than a more conventional string instrument.

“I just always thought it would be fun to play a stringed instrument,” Shawn said. “It was really fun. Mr. Shields is really fun ... he connects with everybody.”

Jayme Creedon, 13, also was attracted to the uniqueness of the instrument.

“Most of my family members played string instruments,” Jayme said.

He found the instrument easy to learn, and he enjoyed all of the songs.

“I loved the class,” Jayme said.

Both of the boys enjoyed the class enough to buy ukuleles to continue to play and learn the instrument.