Mason Community Arts Academy

Kodály Level III

Summer 2025 Registration Opens in January!

Level III Kodály training is based on the building blocks provided in Levels I and II; both levels are a pre-requisite to this class.

In Level III, students concentrate on the teaching of folk and art song material for grades 5 and up. Working in the diatonic scale in major and minor, as well as in modes, students complete their training as well-rounded musicians and stellar teachers. Each student must submit a video of themselves teaching in their own classroom for review. The Level III pedagogy class is then an opportunity to make any weaknesses into strengths prior to final certification.

Students complete their entire Kodály Retrieval System, consisting of a minimum of 100 analyzed folk songs, games and art songs appropriate for grades K – 8 (and up). This final project is a product of three years of work in folk song analysis and research. In addition, each Level III student conducts in our final concert prior to receiving their Kodály Certificate from our OAKE endorsed program. Many of our GMU students are earning their Master’s Degree by taking this course as well.

Our graduates become knowledgeable teachers in the Kodály field and go on to present workshops at regional and national conferences. They are comfortable in their own classroom, and have the skills and background to plan lessons far in advance in order to be in the present with their students each day. They love what they teach, and that is reflected in the love of music and high musicianship of their students.

SoM Masters Hybrid Orff Kodaly Program

Dates & Times: 2025 TBD
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: TBD
Tuition: TBD


Registration

ATTENTION: For-Credit Registrations are managed by Mason’s Continuing and Professional Education office. When you find the course(s) you are registering for please follow these steps:

  • Click the “Register for Credit” button to register.
  • On the right side of the page, you will see the details of the course including dates, times, and course fees. Click the green “Add to Cart” button.
  • Doublecheck the in-state or out-of-state fee selection and then “Checkout” at the top of the page. This will then prompt you to make an account through the online portal. Please choose “I am a new user or I have an inquiry” and enter your email address and “Create Account.”
  • Please fill out all data required and then “Continue Checkout.”
  • You will then be prompted to complete your payment option.
  • Once payment is received, you will get an enrollment and payment receipt.

2024 Program Faculty

Beth Anne Young, Kodaly Instructor

Beth Anne Young
Director of the Program
Choral Studies and Choir Instructor

Musicianship Instructor

Read more about Beth

Beth Anne Young, is a Choral and Classroom Music Specialist.  Recently retired from the public  schools, she was  a middle school choral and classroom music specialist for the majority of her teaching career.  Beth Anne is currently the Choral Director at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island  Beth Anne worked at the Longy School of Music as a Choral Methods Instructor and as a  Supervisor of Student Teachers in the Master of Music Education Program. Beth Anne  is the Director and Choral Studies Instructor for the Kodály Levels Program at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA .  She has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Connecticut with an emphasis in Choral Conducting. She completed both her Orff and Kodály Certification at George Mason University. Beth Anne has presented workshops about the Kodály- Inspired Choral Setting at MMEA, and at Regional and National OAKE Conferences.  She currently serves on the OAKE Teacher Education Committee and is on the Executive Board of BAKE (Boston Area Kodály Educators) serving as the Treasurer. 

Robbin Marcus, Kodaly workshops

Robbin Marcus
Director Emeritus
Materials and Folk Song Analysis Instructor

Musicianship Instructor

Read more about Robbin

Robbin Marcus resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is the Director Emeritus of Kodály at George MasonUniversity.  Additionally, she teaches piano lessons to students of all ages, is an ATI certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, and is serving on the CDSS board as a Member At Large. Robbin spent twenty-five years as the lower school music specialist at St. Paul’s School in Baltimore, Maryland and has served four terms in various offices on the OAKE board. She is a well-known traditional dance leader and an advocate for accurate performance styles in the music classroom. She has conducted numerous workshops for OAKE national conferences and local chapters.   Robbin served on the Kodaly faculties of Webster University, the American Kodaly Institute and the Children’s Chorus of Maryland.

Ginger Albertson, Kodaly training

Ginger Albertson
Pedagogy Instructor

Read more about Ginger

Ginger Albertson teaches a Kodály inspired program at Eagle View Elementary, part of the Fairfax County Public School system.  She teaches Kindergarten through 6th grade General Music, and directs a 5th and 6th grade Chorus.  Ginger holds a BS in Music Education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, where she as a voice major.  She earned her MA in Music Education from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.  Ginger earned her Kodály Certificate at George Mason University.  She currently serves on the faculty of the George Mason Summer Program teaching Methodology.  Outside of her teaching Ginger is an active member of Sweet Adelines International, and sings tih the Vienna-Falls Chorus in Fairfax,  She is the Associate Director for her barbershop chorus and sings in a competing quartet.  Ginger is married and the mother of three grown children.  She enjoys spending time at the family beach house in the Outer Banks. 

Susie Fergus
Musicianship Instructor

Read more about Susie

Susie Fergus is a retired choral director and elementary specialist who now lives in Tyler, Texas.  She taught preschool through high school at various stages of her 22-year teaching career in Fort Worth and East Texas. She enjoys leading workshops for music teachers in Houston, Tyler, and surrounding areas, as well as conducting area children’s honor choirs and her own church children’s choir.

Since 2015, she has been a faculty instructor for the Southeast Texas Kodaly Levels Training in the greater Houston area, where she teaches Level I Pedagogy & Materials, Musicianship III, and directs the Ensemble. She earned her Kodaly certification through the Plano ISD/UNT program;  her Master of Arts in Music Education with a Choral emphasis from University of Saint Thomas (St. Paul, MN);  and her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Auburn University (Auburn, AL).  She was inspired to become a Kodaly specialist at Auburn under the tutelage of Dr. Barbara Kaplan, in the inaugural decade of OAKE.

Notes

  • Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding withdrawals, refunds, and more for summer programs.
  • All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least 1 week before the program starts with all necessary details including drop off, pick up, what to bring, etc. Feel free to contact the Academy office with questions at academy@gmu.edu.
  • Non-credit option: A tuition refund minus a $50 cancelation fee will be given provided that notice is received by the Mason Community Arts Academy no later than 2 weeks before the program start date. No refunds will be granted after this date without valid medical documentation.
  • For-credit option: A tuition refund minus a $125 cancelation fee will be given provided that notice is received by the Mason Community Arts Academy no later than 1 week before the program start date. No refunds will be granted after this date.
  • Housing: No refunds for on-campus housing will be given after June 1.