Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education Courses
Level II June 17–28, 2024 & Master Class June 17–21, 2024
Register OnlineA creative approach to teaching and learning
Orff-Schulwerk is a creative approach to teaching and learning music through speaking, singing, playing instruments, and moving. Created by composers Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, the Schulwerk is an exciting way to teach and learn music. For more information about the Kansas Orff Chapter, please contact president@kansasorff.com or visit our website at www.kansasorff.org.
Baker University’s beautiful tree-filled campus with its brook, bridge, and an English village chapel (moved to the campus in 1996) will be a fantastic site on which to enjoy this rewarding workshop.
The Baker campus is located just 45 minutes from Kansas City and Topeka and 20 minutes from Lawrence, with many recreational opportunities such as swimming, restaurants, historical sites, and parks. Classes meet 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Registration & Fees
Level II teacher education course fee: $600
Master Class course fee: $400
You may register for either course online. Minimally, a $150 nonrefundable deposit is due by April 1 (*refundable only if the class is canceled because of low enrollment). The balance of payment for the course is due on or before the first day of classes.
Graduate Credit
You may earn 3 hours of graduate credit for Level II or 2 hours of graduate credit for the Master Class from Baker University for an additional fee of $80 per credit. You are encouraged to enroll online, although you have the option of completing the enrollment and payment for graduate credit on the first day of classes.
On-Campus Housing
Inexpensive housing is available through Baker University. The apartments include private bedrooms, shared bath, and kitchen facilities. Plan to bring your own bedding (extra-long twin) and towels. For more information about registration, credit, and housing, contact the Department of Music and Theatre at 785.594.8478 or email tlyerla@bakerU.edu.
Special Invitation to Orff Chapter Members
We wish to extend a special invitation to the members of the Kansas Orff Chapter and the Heart of America Orff Chapter to attend this workshop.
Cancellation Policy
Baker University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is cancelled or postponed, Baker University will refund all registration fees but cannot be held responsible for other costs, charges, or expenses incurred by the registrant.
Courses
Level II
This course is designed for music specialists who have completed Orff Schulwerk Level I. Building on content and concepts learned in Level I, students in this course will be provided the knowledge, resources, and experience necessary to enhance their classroom music and will demonstrate competency in meeting the outcomes for using speech, singing, instruments (recorders, nonpitched percussion, barred, body percussion), music literacy (reading, arranging, notating), movement, and pedagogical techniques of the Orff Schulwerk approach to music and movement education.
Master Class
AOSA-approved Master Classes are for participants who have completed Level III. Master Classes are specialized, intense, and focused high-level experiences. Participants who do not have the background knowledge from the three levels of the AOSA Teacher Education Curriculum will not benefit from the advanced ideas being presented in Master Class situations.
This summer’s Master Class, taught by Beth Ann Hepburn, will explore the cohesion of elemental movement and music and the philosophical underpinnings of the Schulwerk. The participants will study the historical foundations of the Schulwerk and explore creating elemental music throughout the week. Movement is embedded throughout each day.
Course objectives:
- Creating new compositions/starting points from movement, poetry, artifacts, etc.
- Collaborating in teams and small groups to create pieces organically
- Refining classroom pedagogy
- Creating teacher-artists through the extended development of elemental material
Instructors
BethAnn Hepburn: Master Class
M.A. Music Education, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
BethAnn teaches general music and choir for Streetsboro City Schools. She is the music mentor for the Ohio Department of Education Fine Arts Cohort for new teachers. She serves as the Ohio Music Education Association’s Professional Development Chair for General Music and is on the NAfME General Music Council. She is a frequent presenter and Teacher Educator for AOSA. She is a former National Board Member for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and is on the AOSA Mentorship Committee. BethAnn is co-author of Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom Books 1 -4. She is a Ph. D. candidate in Music Education at Kent State University.
Jennifer Donovan: Pedagogy – Level II
Jennifer Donovan teaches at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee, Kansas. She is a past president of the Kansas Orff Chapter and has served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees as Region III representative and treasurer. She served as national conference chair for the 2016 AOSA Conference in Atlantic City and served in the same position for the 2020 AOSA Conference in Kansas City. Jennifer served on the 2009 and 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year teams. The 2012 recipient of the World Village Wildcard scholarship, Jennifer attended the JaSeSoiRy World Village in Finland.
Kelly Whisinnand: Movement and Recorder – Level II
Kelly Whisinnand teaches at Reeder Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska. She teaches preschool through fifth-grade students and conducts the fourth- and fifth-grade choir. She also directs the seventh- and eighth-grade show choirs at Beadle Middle School. Kelly has served as treasurer for the Great Plains Orff Chapter and is currently serving on the AOSA National Board of Trustees. She received her Orff Schulwerk Certification from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Southern Methodist University. She apprenticed with Sarah Richardson to become a movement instructor and with Julie Blakeslee to become a recorder instructor. Kelly presented at the 2016 AOSA National Conference in Atlantic City and the 2019 AOSA National Conference in Salt Lake City
Greg Gooden: Course Director – All Levels
Greg Gooden retired from a 39-year career as a music teacher in May 2020. The last 15 of those years were spent teaching military children at Fort Riley Elementary School. He is the director of the Geary County Children’s Choir and previously directed the McPherson Arts Council Children’s Choir. He is a past president of the Kansas Orff Chapter. Greg was the Elementary Outstanding Music Teacher of the Year in 2006 and 2012 for the North Central District KMEA. He was a presenter at the 2005 AOSA National Conference in Birmingham and the 2006 National Conference in Omaha. Greg has been the Orff course director at Baker University since its inception. He retired from serving as the recorder instructor at the end of 2021.