Fifty teachers are Back in the Saddle Again, and ready to inspire their students after the October workshop with Maryland United Specialists in Kodály. The over-arching message that rang true in all of the presentations on October 17 was the importance of sequence and pacing when teaching the elements of music. Scope and sequence within a lessons should be developmentally appropriate and based on current educational research to ensure that young musicians reach their fullest potential.
The MUSIK presenters shared a plethora of folk songs, games, dances, and activities that provided our attendees with strategies to help guide student learning. The workshop began with a session led by Nicole Broemm. Her session featured strategies for teaching rote songs that engage students, nurture imagination, and encourage play and socialization. And there’s no better way to build a culture of collaboration and cooperation in the classroom than through folk dance. Rebecca Maurer led Progressing through Folk Dance, which featured a selection of dances that were scaffolded, allowing students to develop their knowledge of dance figures and formations in logical manner. After all the singing and dancing, participants took a well-deserved lunch break, and then returned for a presentation titled Cutting-Edge Kodály: Music Methodology for the 21st Century, presented by Amy Branum Huggins. This inspiring lecture was an overview of Zoltán Kodály's pedagogical practices and drew upon Music Learning Theory and 21st century research to explain how, and why, these methodologies work. Ending with this session reiterated the importance selecting high quality repertoire and using a child-friendly scope and sequence in the music classroom.
The workshop and sessions were such a joy to attend – there is nothing better than spending a day with smiling, excited music educators! A special thank you to West Music for providing free promotional door prizes for a workshop raffle. And of course, a thank you goes to Loyola University Maryland and the American Kodály Institute. Due to our partnership with Loyola and AKI, our workshops are free to everyone and a complimentary breakfast and lunch are provided. The next MUSIK workshop, Kodály Connections, will be Saturday, January 30, 2016. If you are in the Baltimore area, we hope you will join us!
The workshop and sessions were such a joy to attend – there is nothing better than spending a day with smiling, excited music educators! A special thank you to West Music for providing free promotional door prizes for a workshop raffle. And of course, a thank you goes to Loyola University Maryland and the American Kodály Institute. Due to our partnership with Loyola and AKI, our workshops are free to everyone and a complimentary breakfast and lunch are provided. The next MUSIK workshop, Kodály Connections, will be Saturday, January 30, 2016. If you are in the Baltimore area, we hope you will join us!