Orff Schulwerk Certification

Gordon College is pleased to announce the addition of Orff Schulwerk Certification to its comprehensive Graduate Music Education Summer Term, 2012.

Guided by expert and knowledgeable faculty, students are introduced to the enduring idea that music, movement, speaking, singing and playing all form an integral part of providing an active and joyful experience for music educations students.

Level II and III offerings anticipated during subsequent summers

Expert Faculty:
Michele Przybylowski, Basic; Laura Webster, Movement; Nick Wild, Recorder

Tentative Daily Schedule
Monday–Friday; course meets for 2 consecutive weeks
(no class on July 4)

Online Registration is Now Open! 

Level Courses are the primary means of Orff Schulwerk training in the United States, as set out in the guidelines of the American Orff Schulwerk Association. Teachers completing Level III are awarded an Orff Schulwerk Certification.

Level I students are introduced to the unique pedagogical principles, media, and philosophy of Orff Schulwerk through active participation in carefully sequenced lessons.  Participants experience for themselves the creative process by which children discover and explore the elements of music and use these elements to compose, improvise and perform meaningful music for specific expressive purposes. Emphasis is placed on active music making and guided "hands-on" manipulation of simple rhythms, melodies, and accompaniments in child-centered contexts.

Model lessons demonstrate how children's imaginations and innate musicianship can be successfully harnessed and developed in a variety of age-appropriate ensemble settings, including speech pieces, children's rhymes, stories, body percussion, unpitched percussion, mallet instruments, soprano recorder, folk songs, folk dances, musical games, play-activng and creative movement.

Graduate Credit is issued by the Graduate Music Education Program at Gordon College. Tuition for four (4) credit hours at the graduate level is $1,500. The course is graded and students may request an official transcript from the registrar of the college in addition to a certificate of participation.

More Information about Graduate Music Summer Term at Gordon College

Our Campus
Gordon's bucolic north shore environment boasts tree lined walking paths, wooded walking trails, natural spring fed ponds, and the convenience of being located less than one minutes from Route 128, just 25 miles north of Boston.

Facilities for Graduate Music Students
Summer Term Graduate Music students use a variety of classroom locations throughout the day—all within walking distance—including Phillips Music Center, equipped with faculty studios, practice rooms, and an intimate recital hall.

Housing and Meals
Air-conditioned, apartment style housing is available on campus for a reasonable nightly rate, assigned on a frist-come first-served reservation basis. Meals can be purchased on a cash basis in Lane Student Center, or for convenience, students may choose to build a meal plan in advance of their arrival on campus. Please complete the HOUSING AND MEALS RESERVATION FORM to submit a reservation online.