Sounds Abound! (K-8)

We'll take a look at the justification and use of Orff instruments and marimbas in the music classroom. Exploration will ensue and the beautiful sound colors of the Orff orchestra will be used to play arrangements, improvisations, and tapestries of sound for movement. Focus: improvisation, timbre, orchestration, history of Orff instruments.

Singing to Learn (grades 4 - 8)

Using canons, movement, Orff instruments and recorders, we can learn the basics of singing in choir. This workshop highlights the basics: Posture, Breathing, Consonants, Vowels, and Rhythm. We’ll discuss process, materials, and techniques and we’ll sing and move and play! Focus: vocal and choral technique for children, part singing, movement, improvisation, Orff process.

The Rondo, an Orff classic. (Help, Help me Rondo!) (Grades 4 - 8)

We'll learn about the tried and true classic form used widely in Orff Schulwerk, the Rondo. We'll learn the basic form and then create activities using body percussion, hand drums, pitched instruments (Orff instruments). This workshop can be adapted for all grade levels. Focus: Orff process; form; movement; body percussion; improvisation.

Making Melodies (K-8)

Build your melodic "house" on solid ground! We'll take an adventure through the world of melody, discovering its beginnings in speech and chant and traveling all the way diatonic folk songs.  There will be movement, ensemble work, singing, and recorder activities highlighting the  building blocks of melody including notation, solfege, and hand signs. Focus: Orff process; active singing; ontogenesis of melody; ensemble; singing; recorder; movement; improvisation.

In the Mood for Modes (K - 8)

With our focus on the element of improvisation, we’ll use the classic modes as a primary tool for improvisation to composition.  Working with melody first, we’ll experiment with each mode and prepare a group composition. Next we’ll add a full orchestration with movement for a final piece. Focus: improvisation, orchestration, melody, modes, history, Orff process.

Jump, Jive, and Jazz (K - 8)

We'll start this session with some play party games and discover how these activities lead straight to Jazz. An original blues song is next and we'll learn an arrangement that can be played on the Orff instruments. A great finish will be a big band arrangement for Orff instruments. Warning! Dancing and happiness may ensue!! Focus: Orff process; improvisation; orchestration; speech and movement;

Beginnings (Level 1) (K-8)

How to begin? We’ll sing a canon and add some movement; learn some pulse games using names, and word chains; and get an introduction to the Orff instrumentarium and play a Rondo! Participants will get to learn some basic Folk Dances, and beginning movement techniques to share with their students. In the second half of the session, we’ll try out some simple bordun/ostinato ideas and learn some beautiful songs for basic Orff ensemble and singers. Focus: singing, orchestration, movement, Rondo, speech, basic Orff process.

Active Listening: Listening to Learn (grades K - 8)

We’ll learn the basics: listen, focus, quiet, start, and stop. Then we’ll study five pieces of music from classical to folk to jazz using activation techniques in the Orff Schulwerk model. We’ll use body instruments, Orff instruments, movement, speech, and unpitched percussion. We’ll demonstrate and discuss techniques, repertoire, and age appropriateness. Focus: Orff process, active listening, working together, appreciation of music, Grades K - 8.

Meters and Motion [Level 1] Grades K-8

The concept of Meter can be a generator for many musical activities in the general music class. In this session we’ll sing canons, play games, move and sing, always around the idea of organized pulses, strong and weak beats. Included are ideas about note reading skills, speech pieces with movement, active listening lessons, circle games, drumming, and beautiful songs combining orff instruments and choir. Focus: rhythm, meter, orchestration, singing and clapping games, sight reading, listening, choral and orff, Orff process.

Again and Again! [Level 1, 2, 3] Grades K - 8

The ostinato is a classic technique in the world of Orff Schulwerk. It is a wonderful tool for sight reading, building the ensemble, developing a feeling for form, learning to listen, and helping with improvisation. We’ll learn how to keep everyone involved, manage a large class, and how to overcome shyness with improvisation. We’ll explore, improvise, move, sing, and play using a real Orff classic, the ostinato. Focus: improvisation, instrument technique, composition, movement, singing, Orff process.

Open Fifths! What shall we do? [Level 1, 2, 3] Grades K - 6

In this session we’ll examine the history and development of the bordun accompaniment. We look at the original form used by Carl Orff as a piano accompaniment for dancers and then follow its development by Gunild Keetman into an instrumental accompaniment for children. Finally we’ll look at the use of the Bordun as developed by Jos Wuytack and find out many useful techniques for its use in the classroom. Our day will be filled with songs, dances, instrumental pieces, canons and recorder playing. Focus: singing, folk dance, orchestration, movement, canon, recorder, Orff process.

For More information go to www.brentholl.com