Levels Courses
Level I & II Courses for Summer 2023
Orff Schulwerk is a child centered approach to music and movement education, developed from the work of Carl Orff, German composer and music educator, and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. During this course, educators will explore music through singing, speaking, moving, playing percussion instruments and recorder, improvising, and composing. The Orff approach is an engaging process for both the teacher and student that fosters community, encourages collaboration and inclusivity, and builds confidence.
Course Descriptions:
Level I:
Through daily lessons and activities, participants will engage and develop skills in the basic principles of the Orff Schulwerk approach. Introduction to the following concepts: arranging and composing pieces via ostinati and pentatonic scales, exploring and developing creative movement vocabulary/technique, and the use of soprano recorder as an instrument and instructional tool in the musical classroom.
Level II:
Level II is a time for expanded learning after using and developing elemental musical and movement materials following Level I. It is also a time when many questions about theory and pedagogy that arose during the school year may be answered, and class discussions concerning application are approached on a more knowledgeable and practical level. The curriculum will explore pentatonic, hexatonic, and modal melodies in ways that are accessible and appealing to both you and your students. Additional drone and chordal accompaniment building on those compositional strategies from Level 1 will be developed as well. Rhythmic work will include pieces in uneven and changing meters. Recorder classes will introduce and emphasize the alto recorder, play and create more complex repertoire, as well as further explore the pedagogy of teaching all sizes of recorder. Movement classes draw on the ideas and concepts outlined above and make use of more advanced technique and skill in addition to focusing on the pedagogy of teaching movement.
Level I is a prerequisite for Level II.
Course Information and Requirements:
Dates: July 10th – July 21nd
Location: Seaside Charter – Mandarin Campus (10850 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257)
Times: 8:00am-5:00pm weekdays
Cost: $800
Required Materials: A list of materials will be sent to you prior to your workshop through a link to West Music Company.
AOSA has partnered with Ashland University to provide graduate credit for chapter run courses. If taking for non-credit, participants can earn 70 hours of Professional Development.
This course has been approved by the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) and follows the guidelines of AOSA.
As part of the course requirements there will be nightly homework. Participants should plan to spend a maximum of two hours per night completing assignments. 100% attendance is required to receive credit for the course. Participants are encouraged to avoid scheduling additional activities during this course as it is an intensive program.
Course Instructors:
Tara Clayburn - Level 1 Basic
Tara Clayburn is the Lower School Music Teacher at The Potomac School in McLean, VA, where she teaches Kindergarten through grade 3. She has presented workshops for Orff Schulwerk Chapters and, most recently, at the American Orff Schulwerk Association National Professional Development Conference. She has had articles published in The Orff Echo, AOSA Reverberations, and KMEA’s Bluegrass Music News. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Morehead State University. She received her Orff-Schulwerk levels certification from The University of Kentucky. She further studied the Schulwerk at the Summer Course at the Orff-Institute in Salzburg, Austria, as well as many masterclasses and workshops throughout the United States. Tara is currently serving as the Middle Atlantic Chapter Past-President.
Katie Traxler - Level 2 Basic
Katie Traxler teaches PK-5 music at PS 51 Elias Howe, a public elementary school in New York City. In addition to teaching general music classes, she leads a chorus, two recorder ensembles, an orff ensemble, and after-school piano, guitar, ukulele, and music and movement classes. Committed to collaboration and arts integration, Traxler works closely with the visual art, dance, and classroom teachers to maintain a rich curriculum integrating music, movement, drama, and visual art within the social studies, math and ELA content across all grade levels.
Traxler works as a clinician for various organizations in NYC including the Youth Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall, and has presented music education workshops for Orff Chapters, School Districts, and Universities across the United States. She served on the AOSA (American Orff Schulwerk Association) NBT as Region V Rep, is a past president of NYCCAOSA, and teaches Basic Pedagogy for the NYC Orff Certification Program and NJPAC Summer Orff course.
Anna Spallina - Level 1 & 2 Movement and Recorder
Anna Marie Spallina is a teacher, performer and clinician who has led numerous workshops and Orff certification courses. She attended Westminster Choir College of Rider University and earned her graduate degree from the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam. She received her Orff certification from the New England Conservatory, Boston. Ms. Spallina has done further study in Orff, recorder, and historical dance in Salzburg, Austria, Assisi and Urbino, Italy. She is a former faculty member of the Bank Street School for Children in Manhattan and PS 242 in Harlem. Currently, Ms. Spallina teaches general music K through 4th grade at PS 163 in Manhattan. She also performs with the folk trio Avon Faire.