Why Take Orff Levels?

What to Expect When Taking an Orff Level

Making It Work: Level I by Elaine Larson

Making It Work: Level II by Betsy Kipperman Sebring

Making It Work: Level III by Rob Amchin

Links to Learn More and Find a Course Near You!

2024 AOSA Teacher Education Course List

Frequently Asked Questions about AOSA Teacher Education Levels Courses

Handbook for Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Courses

The post 2024 Summer Orff Levels first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

Last summer, many folks who had been preparing to take an Orff Schulwerk Level saw the opportunity fade as the pandemic spread. As more and more folks are vaccinated and we better understand how to manage and prevent the spread of COVID 19, opportunities to create joyful music, make life-long friends, and become better facilitators are available throughout the country. Elaine Larson, tells us what to expect when taking Level I, Betsy Kipperman Sebring sheds light on what happens in Level II and Rob Amchin demystifies Level III. We have also included a link to the American Orff Schulwerk Association’s teacher education course list so you can find a course near you.

The way I approached teaching and learning was forever changed after Level I and I could not wait to go back for more!

Making It Work: Level I by Elaine Larson

Making It Work: Level II by Betsy Kipperman Sebring

Making It Work: Level III by Rob Amchin

AOSA Teacher Education Course List

The post Making It Work: Summer Orff Levels first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

The end is near and it is time to begin thinking about my summer professional reading list! As I have stated in previous years, I set aside time to read three teaching-related books each summer too get the wheels turning and learn something new. Here is my list for this summer.

Orff Schulwerk Today; Nurturing Musical Expression and Understanding by Jane Frazee, Schott

This is another one of those books that was recommended by my levels instructors and I could not fit into my book budget at the time. I recently purchased this used and I am excited to dig in. Sections include: 1. Your Heritage, 2. Your Approach 3. Your Work 4. Your Commitment 5. Your Rewards. There are more than one hundred lesson suggestions using American songs and rhymes. I am looking forward to integrating these ideas into my lesson planning for next year.

Classroom Instruction that Works with English Language Learners second edition by Jane D. Hill and Kirsten B. Miller, ASCD

I work with a large number of students who are English language learners. Despite serving many students who are new to the English language, I have had little training on the best ways to meet their needs. I will be looking for instructional strategies to make music class an even more valuable time to acquire language while joyfully making music.

Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani, Impress

Student engagement is a hot topic in education, and is an area where Orff-Inspired teaching can shine! In this book the authors offer strategies to guide students past compliance to engagement in and out of the classroom. I am eager to find new tools and design strategies to enrich preparations for next year. The authors acknowledge the everyday challenges and provide practical solutions to overcome the barriers we may not be able to control.

What does your summer professional reading list include?  Please share titles you plan to read or re-read in the comments below. Have you read a book from our list and found it helpful? Please let us know about that in the comments as well. It may be just the inspiration someone else is looking for to make his or her summer reading list work.

For even more ideas, check out our lists from summers past!

Summer Reading List 2018

Summer Reading List 2017

Summer Reading List 2016

The post Making It Work: Summer Reading 2019 first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

Summer is finally here! After I take a little time to relax and recharge, the planning and organizing for next year will begin. As usual, I have chosen three professional books to read over the summer to enrich, inspire and improve my teaching for next year. Here is what is on my list for 2018. 

Teaching with Vitality by Peggy D. Bennett and Vicky Suarez 

I love teaching music to children more than any other job I could have. No matter how badly I feel when I roll into work the children inspire and make me happy every day. That does not mean that I always feel positive about being a teacher, my teaching, work-life balance and the stresses that come along with the joy. This title has been on my “want to read” list since we posted the book review last year. I am claiming this summer for self-care and looking forward to learning and practicing ways to be the best teacher I can be AND my best self, using the strategies in this text. 

Play, Sing and Dance: An Introduction to Orff Schulwerk by Doug Goodkin 

While I am quite familiar with Orff philosophy I continue to learn the more I read from a variety of sources. This book is a solid introduction to the Orff teaching philosophy. It includes historical background, information about why teaching elements are included in the work, explanations of terminology used by Orff practitioners and an overview of how to use the Music for Children Volumes. If you are new to Orff or curious as to what it is all about this book is a great place to start. If you are not new to Orff and haven’t yet read this text it is a good “review” and may offer new perspectives to inform your teaching and understanding of the work. 

Compassionate Music Teaching A Framework for Motivation and Engagement in the 21st Century by Karin S. Hendricks 

The professional development focus in my school district is inquiry-based learning, equity and student engagement. This title aligns with our district-wide learning focus. I plan to use what I learn in my reading as the basis for one of my professional learning goals next year. The book begins by defining compassion as it relates to teaching music, then shares models of music educators who have successfully implemented compassionate teaching. The following chapters highlight trust, empathy, patience, inclusion, community and authentic connection. I am truly excited to read this book and would love to discuss what I am reading with other music educators to deepen my understanding.   

What does your summer professional reading list include?  Please share titles you plan to read or re-read in the comments below. It may be just the inspiration someone else is looking for to make his or her summer reading list work. 

For even more ideas, check out our lists from summers past!

Summer Reading List, Second Edition (2017)

Summer Reading List, First Edition (2016)

The post Making It Work: Summer Reading 2018 first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

Summer is finally here! After I take a little time to relax and recharge, the planning and organizing for next year will begin. As usual, I have chosen three professional books to read over the summer to enrich, inspire and improve my teaching for next year. Here is what is on my list for 2017.

Discovering Orff by Jane Frazee

This is one of those texts that I wanted to purchase while taking levels, and the budget did not accommodate. I recently purchased a copy and I am excited to dive in. Chapters include; Orff Media, Orff Pedagogy, Orff Theory and a breakdown of sequence and skills for grades one through five. While flipping though the book the explanations and examples seem to be written in an easy to understand format that will enrich the Orff experience for my students next year.

The Ways Children Learn Music: An Introduction and Practical Guide to Music Learning Theory by Eric Bluestine

I am an Orff-inspired teacher through and through, and I recognize the benefits of understanding and using a variety of ideas. This summer I am taking Gordon’s Music Learning Theory: Applications to the General Music Classroom. I am reading this book as a way to front-load my thinking for the class. It is a clear, easy to read overview of Music Learning Theory. The book explains what Music Learning Theory is, and is in a easy to digest format. There are musical examples that have made me think differently about how I will frame and present material to my students in future lessons.

Smarter, Faster, Better: The Transformative Power of REAL Productivity by Charles Duhigg.

I am sure I am not the only teacher around who feels like there is just not enough time in the day, week or school year to get everything done. Often I look around at colleagues and friends and think, “When do they have time to get all of that amazing stuff done?” This book presents eight key concepts that emphasize ways to improve my personal productivity, and to change the way I view the world and make choices that will result in getting more done in less time.

What does your summer professional reading list include?  Please share titles you plan to read or re-read in the comments below. It may be just the inspiration someone else is looking for to make his or her summer reading list work.

For even more ideas, view last year’s reading list here.

Happy summer!

The post Making It Work: Summer Reading 2017 first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

Orff-Schulwerk: Applications for the Classroom by Brigitte Warner

I have wanted to read this book for several years and this is the summer I will check it off of my to-do list. The book is full of solid information on process and philosophy to deepening my understanding of the Orff approach and fine-tune lesson development.

First We Sing! Kodaly-Inspired Teaching For the Music Classroom by Susan Brumfield.

I like to combine Orff and Kodaly inspired teaching. Last year I was delighted to sit in on two presentations by Susan at my state conference, and I have been using the two collections of songs in the First We Sing series. I am delighted with the high-quality content.  This book is an easy to read overview of Kodaly philosophy with many helpful graphics and sample scope and sequence documents.  The text will help me to use Kodaly-inspired techniques more effectively as I weave them into my Orff-inspired lessons.

Engaging Students: The Next Level of Working on the Work by Phillip C. Schlechty.

My school and district are focusing on Schlechty’s work to increase levels of student engagement across the district. As we began to dig into what an engaging learning environment looks like in professional development sessions I quickly realized that it looks a lot like Orff inspired teaching. This book will help to better understand how the teaching and learning in our classroom already fits into the paradigm outlined in the text so I can explain and justify our choices. I am also hoping to learn about new ideas to make our music experience even more focused on student driven learning and products.

What does your summer professional reading list include?  Please share titles you plan to read or re-read in the comments below. It may be just the inspiration someone else is looking for to make their summer reading list work. Happy summer!

The post Making It Work: Summer Reading 2016 first appeared on Teaching With Orff.

I have been watching Facebook posts and it seems that some fortunate souls are already on summer break. If you are one of them – lucky you! Some of us have a few weeks left, and others have a bit longer until we can put our feet up for a few days and relax before beginning to plan for next year!  I fall into the “few weeks left” category.  If your school is anything like mine, the last two weeks are full of field days, field trips, awards assemblies, talent shows and last minute schedule changes to accommodate end of year activities. Due to the uncertainty of the schedule, I already have my grades wrapped up as I may see my kids only two or three more times in the next two and a half weeks. Add squirrelly kids and too hot classrooms, and planning effective and engaging lessons can be challenging. Here are a few “end of the year” lesson ideas that work for me.

I purchased twenty-five folders with the three prongs in them and added song sheets of all of my students’ favorite songs. I made a playlist on my computer so if I am pulled for an awards assembly or meeting and need a last minute sub plan they can sing.  This is a big hit.  I made two versions, one for the younger grades, and one for my intermediate grades.

I like to explore new material that I want to use for the coming year. You know that piece from the volumes that you have always wanted to try with your students but you were not quite sure how to process it out or if they would be able to play it? The last few class periods is the perfect time to play around with something new.  We never finish the whole piece, the kids have fun playing, and I learn how to teach the music effectively for next year.

Folk Dance review is another favorite for me. I make a playlist of all of the Folk Dances they learned this year and some from the past and we dance until they can dance no more.  Now is also a good time to work out a new folk dance you have wanted to try. You may not finish the whole dance, but that’s OK. Pick up where you left off next year.

Name That Tune is a popular game for the last class of the year.  I make a list of all of the songs we sang or played and with two teams engaged in fierce competition we play just like the game show.  After we guess the song we sing it together.

Lastly, a review of singing games is always a fun way to end the year.

What are your “go to” lessons and ideas for the ever-crazy last two weeks of school? Your idea may be just what someone else needs to make the last few music classes enjoyable for everyone.  Post your ideas in the comments below so everyone may share in your amazing ideas and “Make it Work.”

The post Making It Work: Surviving the Last Two Weeks first appeared on Teaching With Orff.