Orff Schulwerk
SUMMER LEVELS COURSES I – II – III
JUNE 19 – JUNE 30, 2023
In the 1980’s West Chester University began an Orff Schulwerk Levels program as one of the original and premier centers for Orff Schulwerk teacher education in the United States. Continuing to strengthen the fabric of music educators in the Philadelphia Metro Area and beyond, we spent the last two years rebuilding and redefining our Orff Schulwerk Certification and Master’s Degree programs. Growing stronger every year, we are excited to offer all three levels of Orff Schulwerk at West Chester University this summer.
Continue to check here for updates on West Chester University’s summer Orff Schulwerk courses.
The pioneers and founders of the Orff Schulwerk approach, Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman sought to release the musical creativity in every learner through playful experiences that integrate music, movement, rhythmic speech, drama, and cultural traditions of the learners. The Orff Schulwerk courses offered at West Chester may seem like they are directly geared toward the elementary and middle school classrooms, but the reality is, the Orff-Schulwerk process has boundless application well beyond the boundaries of the music classroom. Anyone looking to broaden the impact to inspire their community to reach the heights of their creative potential is invited and encouraged to join our courses! A background in music will certainly be helpful, it is not a requirement nor is it a necessity to benefit from learning about the Orff Schulwerk approach. Our team will help you recognize and work with you to develop your Orff Schulwerk skills from your strengths.
Orff Schulwerk centers on “learning by doing.” Elemental Music and Movement is approached through hands-on solo and ensemble experiences, lively explorations, and solid music and movement models which help both develop skills and provide tools for creating your own active music and movement curriculum.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS ARE WELCOME!
We love to have international participants join our course! Please email us at mmajor@wcupa.edu for International participant information details, fees, and registration.
Our course is taught in English. We encourage participants to have at least conversational level English and some teaching experience.
2023 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Please contact Dr. Marci Major at mmajor@wcupa.edu with any questions related to the Orff Schulwerk program or registration.
COST
Workshop Fee: This option provides an opportunity for participants to gain the experience of Orff Schulwerk Levels with a lower financial commitment that excludes the cost of graduate credits. The workshop fee is $1000 for active teachers.
Credit: 4 Semester graduate credits will be offered through West Chester University at $2,064.00.
Daily Schedule
*Schedule subject to change within the daily 8:00-5:00 p.m. time frame.
*Monday, June 19, announcements and morning orientation will begin at 8:00.
Please arrive at Swope Music Building by 8:00 on 6/19!!!
- An opening warm-up: songs, canons or movement at 8:00 sharp!
- Two class periods in basic pedagogy and elemental music theory (3.25 hours total).
- A recorder class including playing techniques, literature, and pedagogy, as well as multimedia and movement applications (90 minutes).
- A class in movement including the development of elemental movement theory, skills, and pedagogy (90 minutes).
- In addition, there will be “special topic” sessions throughout the course which will bring variety, fun, and creative approaches to teaching music and movement, and provide some exciting windows into extending the Orff Schulwerk process and ideas in many different directions.
- And of course, breaks for refreshment, regrouping, and lunch!
Courses that comprise each Orff Schulwerk Level:
Which Level should you take?
Level I:
Begin your journey in Orff Schulwerk! Open to all educators. A background in music is recommended, but a degree in music is not required. Completion of student teaching, or equivalent classroom experience, is recommended.
Level I Basic Pedagogy – 2 Credits
Designed to develop fundamental Orff pedagogical processes through the acquisition of basic musical skills through Orff Media of speech, body percussion, and pentatonic activities.
Level I Recorder – 1 Credit
Designed to develop fundamental Orff pedagogical processes through elemental proficiency on the soprano recorder.
Level I Movement – 1 Credit
Designed to develop fundamental Orff pedagogical processes through movement, locomotor, dance, descriptive, and free improvisation.
Level II:
Successful completion of Level I at any AOSA approved course is required to take Level II.
Level II Basic Pedagogy – 2 Credits
Designed to develop pedagogical skills and theoretical comprehension of the evolution of elemental music. Hexatonic melodies and diatonic modes are used as vehicles in developing harmonic concepts. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 573 requires prerequisites of MUE 570 and MUE 571 and MUE 572.
Level II Recorder – 1 Credit
Designed to develop pedagogical skills on soprano and alto recorders through improvisation, accompaniment, and ensemble playing in various styles and historical periods. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 574 requires prerequisites of MUE 570 and MUE 571 and MUE 572.
Level II Movement – 1 Credit
Continued development of pedagogical movement techniques through improvisation, choreography in set or free focus with either rhythm, music, or dramatic content, or a combination thereof. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 575 requires prerequisites of MUE 570 and MUE 571 and MUE 572.
Level III:
Successful completion of Level I and Level II at any AOSA approved course is required to take Level III.
Level III Basic Pedagogy – 2 Credit
Designed to develop pedagogical approaches and student comprehension of functional harmony through improvisation and other experiences while using both ethnic and popular means. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 576 requires prerequisites of MUE 573 and MUE 574 and MUE 575.
Level III Recorder – 1 Credit
Continuation of Level II pedagogical processes and proficiencies as well as the exploration of consort materials found in Orff-Schulwerk, Volumes 1-5. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 577 requires prerequisites of MUE 573 and MUE 574 and MUE 575.
Level III Movement – 1 Credit
Continuation of Level II pedagogical proficiencie as well as the analysis of ethnic and historical dances with appropriate choreographic notation in set and free form focus or a combination thereof. Pre / Co requisites: MUE 578 requires prerequisites of MUE 573 and MUE 574 and MUE 575.
Required Texts and Materials:
There are required texts, recorders, and materials necessary for the course. The required materials information list is available here.
Use the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet to see each Level’s required and recommended materials.
Expedited ordering is provided here through West Music. Please see the required materials list for more information.
Pennsylvania Act 48, and New Jersey PD Credit
The course is 65 hours over two weeks. We are able to provide certificates for Pennsylvania Act 48, as well as New Jersey professional development credit or other proof of PD hours, upon request.
TO REGISTER:
Workshop Participation Registration
Apply for our Graduate Master’s Degree or Graduate Certificate Programs
Masters of Music in Education with Certificate in Orff Schulwerk
| Code | Title | Credits |
| Major Requirements | ||
| MUE 500 | Methods & Materials Of Research | 3 |
| MUE 503 | Philosophical Foundations Of Music Educ | 3 |
| MUE 510 | Current Trends In Music Education | 3 |
| Music History course 500 level or higher 1 | 3 | |
| Concentration Requirements 2 | ||
| Select 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| MUE 570 | Orff-Schulwerk: Lev I Basic Musicianship 3 | |
| MUE 571 | Orff Schulwerk: Level I Recorder | |
| MUE 572 | Orff Schulwerk: Level I Movement | |
| MUE 573 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Basic Musicianship 3, 4 | |
| MUE 574 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Recorder 4 | |
| MUE 575 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Movement 4 | |
| MUE 576 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Basic Musicianship 5 | |
| MUE 577 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Recorder 5 | |
| MUE 578 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Movement 5 | |
| MUE 579 | Orff Schulwert: Recorder Ensemble 5 | |
| MUE 580 | Orff Schulwerk: Movement 5 | |
| MUE 581 | Orff Schulwerk: Instrumentarium Practicum 5 | |
| Supportive Electives 500 level or higher. 2 | 6 | |
| MUE 582 | Orff-Schulwerk Final Project | 1 |
| Comprehensive Exit Exam 6 | ||
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 34 | |
- If a student fails the Graduate Music History Assessment Test, they must take MHL 501 prior to satisfying this requirement.
- . Selected under advisement.
- If a student fails the Graduate Music Theory Assessment Test, they must take MTC 591 prior to taking MUE 570 or MUE 573.
- Requires prerequisites of MUE 571 and MUE 572
- Requires prerequisites of MUE 574 and MUE 575.
- All students in M.M. programs in music education also must complete a comprehensive exit examination. Students not holding Level I Certification in music education must complete prerequisite undergraduate work prior to admission into a graduate program that requires Level I Certification.
Certificate Only
This program is designed for in-service music educators who wish to upgrade their skills in the classroom and choral instruction using the materials, musicianship skills, and methodologies in a focused program based on the teaching approaches developed by Carl Orff, yet who do not wish to undertake a full master’s degree curriculum.
The Orff-Schulwerk certificate program is designed to be completed in three consecutive summers of study:
| Code | Title | Credits |
| First Summer | ||
| MUE 570 | Orff-Schulwerk: Lev I Basic Musicianship | 2 |
| MUE 571 | Orff Schulwerk: Level I Recorder | 1 |
| MUE 572 | Orff Schulwerk: Level I Movement | 1 |
Second Summer | ||
| MUE 573 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Basic Musicianship | 2 |
| MUE 574 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Recorder | 1 |
| MUE 575 | Orff Schulwerk: Level II Movement | 1 |
| MUE 579 | Orff Schulwert: Recorder Ensemble 1 | 1 |
| MUE 580 | Orff Schulwerk: Movement 1 | 1 |
| Third Summer | ||
| MUE 576 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Basic Musicianship | 2 |
| MUE 577 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Recorder | 1 |
| MUE 578 | Orff Schulwerk: Level III Movement | 1 |
| MUE 581 | Orff Schulwerk: Instrumentarium Practicum 1 | 1 |
| MUE 582 | Orff-Schulwerk Final Project | 1 |
| MUE 583 | Seminar in Orff Schulwerk | 2 |
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 18 | |
MUE 579, MUE 580, and MUE 581 may be taken in either the second or third summer of study, after students have successfully completed MUE 571, MUE 572, and MUE 573.
REFUNDS
Should you need to withdraw, your deposit is fully refundable before May 25th.
No refunds After May 25th.
Instructors
Drue M. Bullington – Basic Musicianship and Pedagogy Level II
Drue Bullington teaches elemental music and movement at Brownstown Elementary School in Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster, PA. Bullington is twice a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.S. in Music Education and an M.M. in Music Education with a certification in Orff Schulwerk. Drue holds a second master’s degree from Wilkes University in Online Teaching and Learning with an Online Educator’s Certificate of Endorsement from the State of Pennsylvania.
Drue teaches in several Orff Schulwerk Levels Certification programs around the U.S.and offers numerous professional development and workshop sessions on elemental music and movement through the Orff Schulwerk Approach, elemental music and movement applications in the classroom, incorporating technology, and integrating the soprano ukulele into the K-12 music classroom. Drue serves as President of the Board of Directors of the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement. He is also an editor on the American Orff Schulwerk Association’s Reverberations Publication Committee.
Drue and lives in Lititz, PA. He enjoys an active life filled with traveling, culinary adventures, woodworking, hiking, and volunteering in his community.
Tara Clayburn – Basic Musicianship and Pedagogy Level I
Tara Clayburn is the Lower School Music Teacher at The Potomac School in McLean, VA, where she teaches Kindergarten through grade 3. She is a teacher educator for the American Orff Schulwerk Association and she has presented workshops for Orff Schulwerk Chapters in the Middle Atlantic and, most recently, at the AOSA 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 a Past-President for the Middle Atlantic Chapter.
Vivian Murray-Caputo – Basic Pedagogy, Level III
Vivian Murray Caputo has taught in public and private schools for many years. She has presented workshops for AOSA chapters and for NAfME and AOSA National Conferences, and she is an instructor for Levels II, and III Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education. She served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees as Region V Representative and as Co-Chair of the 2005 AOSA National Conference in Birmingham. She was Co-Chair of the International Orff Symposium in Rochester, NY, in 2000. She has been an instructor for IAJE Teacher Training Institutes, and she sings with various jazz ensembles. She has performed and recorded with Phil Woods and the Gregory Caputo Big Band. She is the author of Earth Dance, A Celebration of Canons, published by Beatin’ Path. She continues to explore and delight in the many possibilities offered by Orff Schulwerk.
Ashley Brown Woodside – Movement
Ashley Brown Woodside is dedicated to exploring the interplay of creative dance and music education. She is an accomplished dancer and saxophone player with a Bachelor’s in Music
Education from Syracuse University and a Master’s in Liberal Studies from Manhattanville College. She completed her Orff Schulwerk Levels at the San Francisco International Orff Course. Ashley has been an approved Teacher Educator in Movement Levels I – III, instructing at summer Orff levels courses since 2013. Her articles on elemental movement have been published in The Orff Echo. In addition to presenting workshops to school systems and chapters nationally and abroad, Ashley leads a Montessori Lower Elementary general education class,
teaches PreK-6 th grade children Music & Movement, and provides private woodwind instruction at The Tidewater School in Maryland.
Fauna Woolfe – Recorder
Fauna Woolfe has taught elementary music for 26 years and currently teaches K-5 music at Columbia Valley Elementary in Evergreen Public Schools. She teaches recorder for levels courses and presents workshops nationally. She has presented for the AOSA National Conference and International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg conference, and has multiple articles published in the AOSA Reverberations. She was recently elected to the AOSA National Board of Trustees and will serve as a Region I Representative from July 2023 – 2026. She served on the International Sunday Sharing USA team, and is Past – President of Portland Orff. Fauna achieved National Board certification in 2003, 2013, and 2023 and facilitated National Board cohorts to support teachers through the certification process from 2005-2013. Fauna received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon, where she also studied saxophone performance. She received her Masters in Education from Lesley University with an emphasis in Arts Integration and took her Orff Levels at Seattle Pacific University, The San Francisco Orff Course, and the UNLV Orff course. Fauna Woolfe founded the Portland Orff Course in 2018 and is the Course Director.
Drue Bullington ~ Music Educator 