Enrich and enhance your Orff and/or Kodály experience and discover emerging techniques/ methods with music pedagogy field experts. These courses will help you to expand your knowledge and invigorate your teaching methods. Supplementals may be taken for graduate-level course credit or non-credit and are eligible for teacher Recertification Points in many school systems. Please check with your county/district for verification.
Summer Registration is closed and will reopen in January. You can view Summer 2023 Programs below.
View our Fall/Spring programs.
Summer 2023 Courses
Orff: Creative Movement
If you are tired of trying to get your students to sit still, maybe it’s time to tap into their natural proclivity for movement. Creative movement harnesses wiggles by creating simple structures within which artistry and creativity can flourish. We’ll utilize props, literature, instruments, and the imagination. We will focus on the intimate relationship between movement and music and take time to explore our own artistry as both movers and music makers. Time will be set aside to flesh out projects we wish to bring back to our classrooms, thus benefitting from the collective creativity of all.
Instructors: Kris Olson
Dates: July 10 – 14, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 4:30 pm (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 2 credits
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course. Students can purchase their materials via West Music.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Orff: Early Childhood Music & Movement
Learn how to create a strong foundation for musical skill development and lifelong artistry in your youngest students. Participants will experience early childhood activities that utilize song, instruments, dance, props, rhymes, and literature. We will examine lesson planning and share and organize our combined resources.
Instructors: Kris Olson
Dates: July 10 – 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 1 credit
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course. Students can purchase their materials via West Music.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Orff Electronique: Exploring Electronic and Digital Media for Elemental Music Making
This exploratory course will focus on elemental music making using a variety of electronic and digital media appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. Topics will include elemental approaches for digital composition and improvisation within a digital audio workstation/DAW, basic step sequencing, an introduction to sound design, and building bridges to traditional approaches in Orff Schulwerk. Electronic instruments (synths, drum machines, and samplers) will be provided for use during this course but participants will need to have a laptop available for some in-class activities.
It is recommended that participants have completed Orff Schulwerk Level I or higher prior to enrolling in this course.
Instructors: Matt McCoy
Dates: July 10 -14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 1 credit
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course. Students can purchase their materials via West Music.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Orff: Process & Play: An Orff Schulwerk Repertoire Class
The primary sources for Orff Schulwerk are a treasure trove of pieces that can inspire artistry and creativity in students and teachers alike. Participants in this course will have the opportunity to learn, perform, and extend repertoire drawn from the Music for Children Volumes and Supplementals while also digging deeper into the processes that make these pieces accessible and appropriate for use with students of all ages.
Instructors: Matt McCoy
Dates: July 10 -14, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 2:30 pm (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 1 credit
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course. Students can purchase their materials via West Music.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Orff: Ukes, Buckets, and Orff, Oh My!
Ready to rock out on the ukulele or jam out on a bucket? It’s ok if you’ve never played, but are intrigued…So are our kids! All experience levels are welcome! This class will lead you to fostering a symbiotic relationship with your current Orff process. Daily we’ll work on techniques to build an approach that makes it easy to effectively create and facilitate. Through drumming and ukulele we can help guide our students to develop valuable life skills and embrace the joys of music. Communication, team building, active listening, and creativity will be developed through our sing, say, dance, and play. As we spend time In this wild adventure we’ll explore ways to make these instruments accessible to all students using simple modifications. We’ll explore the flexibility for in person and online instruction and how these tools can help bring more joy and excitement to your already existing curriculum.
Instructors: Leah Kmetz
Dates: July 10 -14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 1 credit
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course. Students can purchase their materials via West Music.
- Ukulele (soprano or concert)
- Drum sticks or pair of rhythm sticks
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Brush Up Your Kodály
“Brush Up Your Kodaly” is broken up into two parts each day. The first half of the afternoon will be spent working on your musicianship skills. The second half of the afternoon will be spent on Pedagogy.
Musicianship
Participants will continue to develop their personal musicianship skills in a classroom setting. This is a fantastic opportunity to refresh your solfege, dictation, and analysis skills, if time has passed since your Kodaly Levels program or a way to be ready and prepared for further summer study.
Kodaly and your “Older Beginners”
Are you interested in how to teach music to your upper elementary/middle school older beginners using a Kodály Sequence? Are you looking for methods and resources geared specifically for this age group? Join us this year as we look at where to start and how to write plans. We’ll give you repertoire and methods for keeping the older beginner engaged in making music, while laying the foundation of music literacy through the pedagogical Kodály sequence.
Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least Kodály Level One.
Instructors: Ginger Albertson, Beth Anne Young
Dates: July 10 – 14, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 4:30 pm (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 2 credits
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Alexander Technique
This introductory Alexander Technique class is for everyone who stands, sits, moves, sings, plays an instrument, conducts an ensemble, gets up and down from the floor, writes on a board, or does any one of a myriad of activities music teachers are called upon to do each day with their students. Learn new ways to adjust to the daily physical (and mental) demands of music teaching, and have less pain and tension at the end of the day. Discover how to make everyday movement more comfortable by gaining deep structural support and developing an increased physical awareness. Explore how it is possible to be relaxed and ready, soft and strong, light and substantial, firm and flexible, awake to the world! Class size limited to 15.
Instructor: Robbin Marcus
Dates: July 10 – 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am (M-F)
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, Performing Arts Building
On-Campus Housing: See Details
Parking: More Info Here
Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023
College Credits (if applicable): 1 credit
- Students are expected to purchase required materials prior to course.
- Writing supplies: pencils, pens, and a notebook
Notes
Attention: For-Credit Registrations are managed by the Continuing and Professional Education office at George Mason University. 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.
- 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.
- Summer Program Refund Policy