Orff Schulwerk Courses
Orff Schulwerk, Levels I, II and III*+
Orff Schulwerk is a philosophy of music education, which is based on the work of German composer and music educator Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. During this course, students will explore music through singing, moving, playing unpitched and pitched percussion instruments and recorder, and improvising. Level I students will be introduced to basic Orff techniques, including a study of pentatonic melodies, drone accompaniment, ostinato, and elemental forms. Level II students will be introduced to hexatonic and modal melodies, drone and chord accompaniments, and changing meters. Level III students will begin with a review of the diatonic modes, followed by a study of functional harmony. 100% attendance is expected of students who participate in this certification course.
Dates: June 17-28
Times: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Daily
Noncredit Cost: $700.00
Graduate Credit Cost: Additional $1,500.00 for 3 hours of graduate credit (Paid separately to SMU)
Housing Cost: $450
*Level I is a prerequisite for Level II. Level II is a prerequisite for Level III.
+This course is approved by the American Orff-Schulwerk Association
Orff Schulwerk Faculty: Michael Chandler, Paul Cribari, Andrew Ellingsen, Paul Hallsted, Richard Layton, Beth Melin Nelson, Jacqueline Schrader
Michael Chandler (Orff Schulwerk Recorder, Levels I, II, III) is the classroom music specialist at Valley Ridge Elementary in Lewisville, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2010. His student ensembles performed at TMEA conventions in San Antonio in 2013, 2007, and 2005. Michael has served as president of the North Texas Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, a Regional Representative on the National Board of Trustees of AOSA, and chaired the AOSA History Committee. He presents workshops and sessions at the local, state, and national level including TMEA, AOSA, and TCDA. In addition to teaching at SMU, Michael has taught in Orff Schulwerk certification courses at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, the University of Central Arkansas, and the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. He is a church musician and a piano accompanist for the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas.
Paul Cribari (Orff Schulwerk, Level I) teaches music to children in kindergarten through fifth grade at Coyote Hills Elementary in the Cherry Creek School District of Colorado. In addition to teaching general music, Paul conducts the school choir and directs the advanced percussion ensemble. Paul received his Bachelors degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and his Masters degree from the University of St. Thomas. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Boston University, where he is ABD. Paul currently serves as the chair of the History Committee for AOSA. In addition to being a regular clinician for local chapters of AOSA and state MENC conferences, he has presented at several AOSA National Conferences and has taught levels I, II, and III of Orff Schulwerk teacher education courses at several other universities.
Andrew Ellingsen (Orff Schulwerk Movement) taught for eight years in Minnesota prior to beginning his current position at John Cline Elementary in Decorah, IA. He received his Master of Arts degree at the University of St. Thomas, with a dual concentration in Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk. He currently serves as the President of the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America, is a Past President of the Kodály Chapter of Minnesota. He has presented at state, regional, and national conferences.
Paul Hallsted (Orff Schulwerk Recorder) currently teaches choral music at Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, NM. He taught elementary music in New Mexico for 13 years and received the NM General Music Teacher of the Year in 1996. Paul was inducted into the NM Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2009. In addition to his public school teaching, Paul teaches elementary music methods at New Mexico State University and conducts the Dona Ana Youth Choir. He has served as president of the NM Chapter of AOSA and as a Regional Representative for AOSA. In addition to being a faculty member for many Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Courses, Paul has presented numerous workshops at local, state, and national levels. He is a member of the Rio Grande Recorder Consort in Las Cruces, NM.
Richard Layton, Ph.D., (Orff Schulwerk, Level III) is the Upper School Performing Arts Chair at The Key School in Annapolis, MD, where he teaches Orff Schulwerk, music theory, and directs the Renaissance Consort and two choirs. In addition to the SMU Course and his work with children, Rick teaches undergraduate music theory at the University of Maryland and Orff Schulwerk teacher education classes at The San Francisco Orff Course. He is an active clinician and presenter for MENC state conferences and for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association's chapter workshops and yearly National Conference. Dr. Layton's international teaching includes Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Dubai, and the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria.
Beth Melin Nelson (Orff Schulwerk Movement) teaches K-5 music and movement at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul, MN, where she is also the Assistant Principal. She received her Masters Degree, with a concentration in Orff Schulwerk, from the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, MN where she currently serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Graduate Program in Music Education. In addition to teaching movement in the Orff Schulwerk course at SMU, Beth is the Director of the Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Program, and a Level II instructor at the University of St. Thomas. Beth has presented and performed at national AOSA conferences, state MEA’s as well as international presentations in Canada and China. She has served on two national committees for AOSA and is a frequent clinician at chapter workshops.
Jacque Schrader (Orff Schulwerk, Level II) teaches music and movement to children grades 1-7 at the Key School in Annapolis, MD. In addition to teaching at SMU, Jacque is an instructor for the Orff Levels Training Courses at two other universities. She is an active clinician, who has presented at a dozen AOSA Conferences, TMEA, and local workshops in 30 states. In 2012, Jacque co-led the Teacher Education Master class for movement teachers at the AOSA Professional Development Conference. She has presented internationally in Taiwan, Slovakia, Poland, and China. Jacque has studied at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria, and she is a past member of the National Board of AOSA.
Julie Scott (Director of SMU Music Educators Workshops) is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Southern Methodist University. She completed a Ph.D. in music education at Eastman School of Music in 2010, where she was Assistant Professor of Music for one year. Prior to teaching at SMU and at Eastman, Julie taught elementary music in Texas schools for 17 years, and served as Coordinator of Elementary Music in Richardson ISD for two years. She has taught Orff Levels Training Courses to adults at six universities, and has presented workshops for MENC, AOSA, OAKE and to numerous state MEAs, school districts and Orff chapters throughout the US. Julie has presented sessions internationally at conferences in China, Italy, Thailand, Australia, and Greece. She is immediate past president of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.
Joe Kessler (Assistant Director, SMU Music Educators Workshops) teaches 1st-6th grade music in the Richardson, TX Independent School District. He currently serves as the Elementary Music Technology Lead for Richardson ISD, where he presents workshops in music technology. He is a past presenter of music technology sessions at the Region 10 Fine Arts Summit. He received his bachelor's degree from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX and completed his Orff Schulwerk Certification at SMU. In addition, he currently serves as Treasurer for the North Texas-AOSA chapter and choir director at White Rock Community Church.