On Saturday November 1st, MUSIK hosted our fall workshop titled, With a Smile and Song: Games, Activities, and Dances for the Kodaly Classroom. Oh my goodness, what a great day it was! Over fifty music educators and undergraduate students shook of the post-Halloween sleepiness and started the day with our first clinician, Angela Pope. Attendees played clapping games, passing games, sang, and danced their way through material that would be suitable for older beginners. |
Everyone dabbled in the realm of Orf-Schulwerk and played some borduns and danced with Donald Snyder. The attendees were quick to learn their parts and were quite good at singing and playing at the same time. We took a lunch break, and returned for a session on motivating young musicians. Len Langrick demonstrated the many ways imaginative play can develop confident, independent young singers. There were great manipulatives that reminded everyone that "music should be fun" for a budding musician. Our final presenter of the day, James Dorsey-Pieschek shared how to give students ownership of their musicianship. James modeled and demonstrated how to execute well-planned lessons and units, and also encouraged attendees to engage students in the performance, composition, and the assessment process. The entire day cultivated new professional connections, encouraged critical thinking, and most importantly, reminded all of us that “only the best is good enough for the child.”
We hope you’ll join us in February for Musical Leadership Skills for the Classroom on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Nick Holland will be sharing a session on kindergarten methodology and repertoire, and Andrew Blumhardt, a Music Learning Theory specialist, and Lauren Walker, the Artistic Director of All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis will also be sharing sessions. We look forward to seeing you there! Enjoy the rest of your holiday season!