Summer Workshops

Kids, Choirs – Endless Possibilities for the Elementary Teacher: Wander the World with Drums, Movement, Song, and Nurturing the Child Voice.

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer

Calling all elementary general music and choir educators! This workshop will use choral music teaching and learning as a foundation for exploring essentials for elementary music-making. Sessions will include:

• Nurturing and cultivating the child voice
• Wander the world with song
• Kids, Choirs - endless possibilities
• Kids, Choir and Drums
• Sing, Move, Learn, Teach!

Hands-on world drumming will be explored, presenting ways to broaden and enrich elementary general music and choral classroom literature, learning, and curriculum.

Workshop participants will receive a reading packet of approximately 25 pieces of music which will be explored during workshop sessions.

More about Lynn Brinckmeyer ➔

Program Schedule
July 13–15, 2020
Monday–Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

Secondary Choral Leadership: Scaffolding Dynamic Choral Rehearsal and Performance Experiences for Grades 6–12

Hilary Apfelstadt

Choral ensembles, big and small, select and open-participation, experience more meaningful and artistic music-making when there are intentional facets of musical leadership in place—from the language we use, to the way we use gesture, to preparing, presenting and evaluating a rehearsal or performance.

Using a broad spectrum of repertoire, choral leadership concepts will be explored using a hands-on approach, including rehearsal planning to get the most out of your time, and connecting warm ups to your repertoire to aid in the pre-teaching of musical concepts and vocal skills.

Conducting is a critical element of choral leadership—sessions will incorporate review of technique at the podium, and also leading from the keyboard. Resources for middle and high school will be shared including a music reading packet of approximately 25 pieces the demonstrate a balance of style.

More about Hilary Apfelstadt ➔

Program Schedule:
July 15–17, 2020
Wednesday, 1 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

First Steps in Music

Dr. John Feierabend

All people are born with the potential to become musical. With inappropriate or limited musical experiences in the early years, children consistently lose their intuitions for thinking tunes, feeling rhythms and responding to expressiveness in music. This course will provide a bridge from research to practice by demonstrating how a "natural" curriculum rich in the repertoire of traditional children's songs, rhymes, games and dances can develop young children's musical aptitude. A model of parents and children playing together in the years from birth to age three will be presented, as well as curriculum for three-to-eight-year-old children in classroom settings. Participants can earn certification in First Steps in Music by the Feierabend Association for Music Education.

More about John Feierabend ➔

Program Schedule*
July 13–16, 2020
Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
*No class on Friday, July 17

Registration 
$1,275: Three (3) Graduate Credits 
$980: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment, or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. Three graduate credits is the equivalent of earning 67.5 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to coordinate directly with DESE if they with to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

Teaching Improvisation: Where to Begin

Dr. Christopher Azzara

According to the National Standards for Music Education, everyone should be teaching improvisation. This class provides a common sense approach that improves your musicianship and that of your students—making connections for general, vocal and instrumental teachers at all levels of instruction and experience. Using Christopher Azzara's publication Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation, participants will be introduced to practical techniques designed to (1) improve musicianship; (2) develop improvisation skills in a variety of musical styles; (3) include improvisation as an integral part of teaching and learning; (4) define relationships among improvisation, reading and composition; and (5) assess students' learning. The course will also use Dr. Azzara's newest publication, Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation 1-B.

More about Christopher Azzara ➔

Program Schedule
July 13–17, 2020
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration
$1,275: Three (3) Graduate Credits
$980: Participation Only

A General Music Ukulele Curriculum

Kenneth Trapp

Participants in this workshop will explore ideas and activities for improvisation and ukulele performance, with a goal of understanding how general music activities can be naturally sequenced to instrumental performance. The workshop will also demonstrate how collaboration and differentiated instruction are natural and powerful models for learning. The ukulele is a user-friendly instrument that can be played successfully from early elementary age through adulthood. Collaborative group work will offer innovative ways to promote aural skill development, singing and playing harmony in a linear manner, and engaging in improvisation skills that will inform instrumental performance and promote composition. 

Instruments can be available for loan from the Gordon College Department of Music.

More about Kenneth Trapp ➔

Program Schedule
July 13–15, 2020
Monday–Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

The Conductor's Rehearsal

Dr. Robert Hasty

While the audience merely sees the results in a concert, teachers of bands and orchestras spend most of their time in rehearsal.  Hours are spent in preparing for performance, but as music educators, we are also to provide musical instruction. Strategies for effective teaching through large ensemble rehearsals will be discussed as participants will learn to prepare for more effective rehearsals.

Emphasis will be placed on better analyzing the suitability of music for the ensemble that takes the abilities of the students into consideration, meeting the needs and challenges of ensembles of varying ages and levels of experience.  Participants are requested to bring scores of music they have had success with, as well as to bring scores of pieces they are considering for their students.

Participants will gain an understanding of critical listening while conducting in order to quickly assess and provide feedback to students.  The primary goal is to develop the performing and rehearsal skills necessary to better prepare and train ensemble musicians.  Universally applicable to wind and strings conductors of all age levels. 

More about Robert Hasty➔

Program Schedule:
July 15–17, 2020
Wednesday, 1 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk: Sing, Say, Dance, Play!

Betsy Greene

Sing, say, dance, and play your way to learning how to develop tuneful, beautiful, and artful students. Experience classroom-ready activities that follow the eight-part workout from First Steps in Music and integrate the Orff approach. Develop a better understanding of how to blend these two approaches from activities to lesson planning. This course is applicable to both the experienced teacher or the dabbling novice in First Steps in Music and/or Orff.

Course objectives:

• To further develop an understanding of both First Steps in Music and Orff Schulwerk
• To experience parts of the First Steps in Music Workout extended with Orff Schulwerk
• To learn how to apply the integrated activities of First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk in a First Steps in Music lesson and unit plan.
• To be able to develop First Steps in Music activities integrated with Orff Schulwerk approach
  
  Required Text: First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk: Sing, Say, Dance, Play. Brandon, Greene, Grimsby, Knapp, Tranberg.  GIA Publications: 2017 G-9355

More about Betsy Greene ➔

Program Schedule
July 13–15, 2020
Monday, Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

Collaborative Programming for the Instrumental Ensemble: Fostering Motivation and Enthusiasm with Meaningful and Relevant Repertoire

Dr. Benjamin Klemme

As instrumental ensemble directors, we face challenges in programming a diverse body of high-quality repertoire that matches the musical and technical levels of our students. Thoughtful repertoire selection can increase student motivation and foster enthusiasm for school instrumental programs in parents, administrators, teachers, and community members.

A collaborative approach to programming for elementary and secondary ensembles will be explored, with connections drawn to cross-disciplinary projects and community partnerships.  Building on the model of culturally responsive teaching, we will explore ways to engage students with music that is meaningful and culturally relevant, with a goal of providing an educational value that can motivate, recruit and retain students and the support of families and colleagues.  Participants are encouraged to come with programming projects and repertoire that have been successful with their students and ensembles, and ideas they would like to implement in the coming academic years.

More about Benjamin Klemme ➔

Program Schedule:
July 15–17, 2020
Wednesday, 1 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.

Universal First Steps in Teaching Music Students with Disabilities

Rachel Grimsby

This workshop considers Dr. John Feierabend's First Steps in Music for PreSchool and Beyond curriculum through the lens of Universal Design for Learning. Participants will gain an understanding of the principles of Universal Design for Learning and how they apply to First Steps in Music. Assistive technologies, accommodations, and modifications will also be discussed.

Topics to include:

• Overview of First Steps in Music and Universal Design for Learning
• Vocal Development through Universal Design for Learning
• Movement and Beat Development through Universal Design for Learning

More about Rachel Grimsby ➔

Program Schedule:
July 15–17, 2020
Wednesday, 1 p.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Thursday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Registration
$637.50: One and one-half (1.5) Graduate Credits
$580: Participation Only

Graduate credit registration requirements include mandatory attendance, final project, written assignment or assessment. Participants will be provided with a letter grade and academic transcript upon request.

Participation only registration indicates the participant is not required to submit a final project, written assignment or assessment. No academic transcript provided.

PDP completion documentation is not provided by Gordon College. One and one-half graduate credit is the equivalent of earning 33.75 PDPs. Participants are encouraged to interface directly with DESE if they wish to convert their graduate credit earnings to PDPs.