If you were able to attend the workshop on Saturday, it was very clear that practical pedagogy is also play-based pedagogy! On January 12, 2019, Maryland United Specialists and the American Kodály Institute at Loyola University Maryland partnered for the workshop, Practical Pedagogy. Clinicians led 60 attendees through many high-energy and engaging games, dances, and activities that often had multiple uses in multiple grade levels. The morning sessions were presented by four American Kodály Institute graduate students. The first presenters, Bethany Pasierb and Veronica Timm recently completed their Level I Kodaly levels at the American Kodaly Institute. In Level I is Done: Songs for K and One, Pasierb and Timm shared a collection of singing games for kindergarten and first grade that had been successful in the music classroom.
After a short break and an opportunity to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, Amy DeLoriea, a K-2 music specialist, shared the benefits of spiraling curriculum with Using Your Music for All It’s Worth. She shared strategies for utilizing song repertoire to teach multiple musical elements in multiple grade levels. In the third session of the workshop, attendees were serenaded with a handmade illustrated folk song created by Hannah Graf. In Can We Play That Again?, Mrs. Graf highlighted her K-5 students favorite singing games and activities that also lent themselves well the preparing and practicing a variety of musical elements.
The workshop attendees and clinicians enjoyed a lovely lunch provided by and returned for the afternoon sessions. The American Kodály Institute Materials instructors, Lauren McDougle, Rebecca Foster, and Jim Javorsky ended the afternoon sharing over 40 folk songs, games and dances. Four or More featured songs with more than four game variations or activities. Mr. Javorsky shared songs about animals in Creatures Great and Small and Mrs. Foster shared food-themed folk songs in Just from the Kitchen: A Musical Culinary Celebration. This workshop was filled with inspiring moments filled with harmonious singing and laughter. Please join MUSIK members at the OAKE national conference in Columbus and we look forward to our spring workshop on March 30.