Orff Online

Free Webinar Replay: Orff in an Online Format

Support Active Music Making From a Distance

This free webinar was made possible by
Music Is Elementary and Studio 49 Orff Instruments.

Join Charissa Duncanson and BethAnn Hepburn for this playful event designed to share ideas to keep students actively creating music in an online format using Orff Schulwerk teaching process. BethAnn & Charissa will share ideas inspired from Purposeful Pathways lessons for active music-making centering on improvisation, composition, and ensemble skills.

To play along please bring a puppet or stuffed animal, a shampoo bottle, four plates, a pan, and kitchen utensils.

Click here to download a pdf containing their slides, lesson plans, links to manipulatives, and a coupon code for free shipping of any Purposeful Pathway book/CD-ROM from Music Is Elementary (page 15).

Click here for a look at how a team of elementary music teachers collaborated and planned for distance learning in their school district.


Charissa DuncansonCharissa Duncanson (kuh- rih-suh  dung-kin-sen) has taught K-5th grade general music in the Metro Detroit area for six years. Born and raised in Michigan, Charissa began her musical journey in elementary school. Throughout her childhood Charissa participated in choirs, bands, and theatre within her community and schools.  She earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Education from Wayne State University and currently teaches at McDonald Elementary School in Dearborn.  As a professional, Charissa has performed and presented throughout the Metro Detroit Area ranging from state conferences to local PD workshops. Being an avid advocate for music education, Ms. Duncanson has served on multiple boards for music education associations. In her spare time  Charissa loves to craft, sew, and go on walks with her husband and dog, Maizey.

BethAnn HepburnBethAnn Hepburn, M.A. Music Education, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. BethAnn is a Teacher Education Instructor for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association on faculty for Orff courses inHawai’i,  New York and Texas. BethAnn teaches General Music grades 4-6, and choir for the Streetsboro City Schools with the distinction of Master Teacher from the State of Ohio. BethAnn is a conductor for honors ensembles for beginning choir and Orff Schulwerk ensembles. She is a former National Board Member for the AOSA, and she serves as the Ohio Music Education Association’s Professional Development Chair for General Music. She is a frequent presenter for AOSA National Conferences, Orff chapters across the United States, and internationally. BethAnn is a board member for the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education with the mission of Equity for All in the arts across Ohio. BethAnn is co-author of Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom Books 1, 2 , 3 and 4. BethAnn is pursuing her Ph.D. in music education at Kent State University in Ohio.

Teaching With Orff

Teaching With Orff supports Music & Movement Educators by providing free lesson plans and teaching tips as well as online workshops and courses designed to bring joy and value to your teaching.

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28 Comments

  1. Linda George-Dowd on July 20, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    Will there be a recording of the July 22 webinar available?

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Linda! A recording of the webinar is now linked above. 🙂

  2. Leonard Madsen on July 21, 2020 at 3:16 pm

    I was unable to sign up (too late!), will there be a recording available, please?

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Leonard! A recording of the webinar is now linked in the post above. 🙂

  3. Crystal valdsz on July 22, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    I signed up and receive the first email but never received the link to go to the webinar I hope there’s a recording.

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:48 pm

      Hi Crystal! We are sorry that your email got caught in cyberspace. A recording of the webinar is now linked in the post above. 🙂

  4. Bonny Lundin-Scheer on July 22, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    I registered for this event, but never received any login info. Help!!

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:48 pm

      Hi Bonny! We are sorry that your email got caught in cyberspace. A recording of the webinar is now linked in the post above.

  5. Janice on July 22, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    I was unable to attend at that time. I am also wondering if it was recorded for viewing at a later time? Mahalo!

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      Hi Janice! A recording of the webinar is now linked in the post above.

  6. Angela Hand on July 22, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    I too would like to see a recording of the July 22 webinar. I missed it by an hour!

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      Hi Angela! Time zones can be tricky – we get it! A recording of the webinar is now linked in the post above.

  7. Virginia Hopkins on July 23, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    Thank you so much for making this available. Very helpful.

    • Teaching With Orff on July 23, 2020 at 6:50 pm

      Hi Virginia! We are delighted that you found the information helpful.

  8. Julie on July 24, 2020 at 7:49 am

    This is WONDERFUL! Thank you so much for presenting it!

    • Teaching With Orff on August 7, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      Hi Julie! We are delighted that you found it helpful.

  9. Rebecca Koch on July 24, 2020 at 11:32 am

    This was great, thank you! Gave me a better vision for teaching online, even asynchronously.

    • Teaching With Orff on August 7, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      Hi Rebecca – that’s wonderful! Thank you for the feedback.

  10. Chandra Sadler on August 1, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    Is there a PD certificate available for this webinar, which, by the way, was awesome! Thank you!

    • Teaching With Orff on August 7, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      Hi Chandra! We are not providing PD certificates for our free webinars, but hope that you found the experience informative and fun!

  11. Margaret Marek on August 5, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Thanks so much for sharing this video and your wonderful ideas!!! I’ve been spending a lot of time on tech related issues and it feels so good to switch gears and think about the process.

    • Teaching With Orff on August 7, 2020 at 1:43 pm

      Hi Margaret! We are delighted that you found it helpful.

  12. Terri Watts on August 5, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    This was very helpful! Thank you! Will there be a recording of the August 5th webinar for later viewing?

  13. Sarilyn Denning on August 10, 2020 at 11:07 am

    Hi! I attended the “Planning for Distance Learning” zoom last week but have not yet received info on how to view those slides/recording. I really want to use their lesson plan template. Please advise and thank you!

  14. Angelina on August 12, 2020 at 12:41 am

    Thank you for recording this webinar…wonderful! School starts for me next week and this gives me inspiration and hope.

    • Teaching With Orff on August 13, 2020 at 10:24 am

      Hi Angelina! We are so pleased that you found it helpful and hopeful. Sending all our best wishes for the new school year!

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