Weekends: May 2-3, 9-10, 23-24, 30-31

Instructor: Dr. Kathy Robinson

This course will be a comprehensive exploration of culturally responsive pedagogy and its extensions, including culturally sustaining pedagogy, in elementary music. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) aims to center the cultures, musics, languages and lived experiences of the students who we teach and learn from in our increasingly diverse Canadian society. Topics to be addressed in this course include: examining and broadening a personal mindset, developing cultural competence to teach to and through students’ personal and cultural strengths, caring for students and building a learning community, cross-cultural communications, culturally compatible instructional practices, moving beyond middle-class Eurocentric frameworks that shape North American music education, combining professional assuredness as musicians and teachers with cultural humility, and developing musicianship skills to facilitate learning in the aural tradition. Central to the course will be the investigation of current research on and best practices in culturally responsive/sustaining pedagogy for K-6 children. Hands on music experiences, guest presenters, video recordings, research and professional readings, and group discussion and presentations will be the vehicles for our learning.

July 7 - 18, 2025

Instructors: Anita Perlau and Marni Strome

Pre-course work required for each level.

These courses are designed for in-service and pre-service teachers and community musicians interested in strengthening their teaching skills to foster love and understanding of music through literacy. With singing as the foundation, pedagogical principles and practices to support children’s musical growth in the primary and elementary grades will be explored with a special emphasis on culturally sensitive, contemporary pedagogy inspired by Zoltán Kodály. The creation of a positive classroom environment for the development of musical understanding will be explored with daily hands-on experience of learner-centred materials, resources and teaching strategies appropriate for each grade level. Choral repertoire and vocal pedagogy suitable for children will be examined. Students will have the opportunity to develop and refine their personal singing, musicianship and conducting skills in the context of daily course activities.

Prerequisite: The ability to read, write, and analyze music using staff notation.

July 7 - 18, 2025

Instructor: TBA

This course provides an enriched experience for pre- and in-service teachers with renowned international faculty to explore Kodály-based pedagogical principles that can be applied to upper elementary, junior high and high school settings. Pedagogical principles and practices for musical growth will be explored with a special emphasis on current, contemporary practices. With singing as the focus the course will consist of hands on experiences with learner-centered materials, resources and teaching strategies appropriate for these settings. During this two-week professional development experience, course participants will attend relevant workshop and lecture sessions and will also hone conducting and musicianship skills.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Kodály Level II

July 21 - August 1, 2025

Instructors: Sue Harvie, Andy Funke and Laurel Nikolai

The Orff approach to music education is holistic, experiential and process-oriented. Students learn by active participation as they experience music through moving, speaking, singing, performing body percussion, and playing non-pitched and pitched instruments. Level I explores basic Orff techniques including the use of the pentatonic scale, ostinato, bordun (drone) accompaniments, and the elemental style developed by composer Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. 

Prerequisite: The ability to read, write, and analyze music using staff notation.

July 21 - August 1, 2025

Instructors: Kim Friesen Wiens, Andy Funke and Laurel Nikolai

This is a newly revised two-week course where educators consolidate the learning from Level I and go on to explore hybrid meters, hexatonic and modal melodies and accompaniments as well as extended forms, through movement, playing, improvising, and composing. Students develop practical skills in lesson-planning and teaching in a supportive environment. Recorder study focuses on learning to play Alto Recorder (Baroque Fingering) and continues to review Soprano Recorder. Movement vocabulary builds on Level I work through active participation in set dances and the concepts of elemental music as the creative and artistic expression of self.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Orff Level I.

August 5 - 9, 2025

Instructor: Dr. R. J. David Frego

Participants will engage in internalizing all elements of music through purposeful movement. Focus will include teaching this approach through all grade levels as well as therapeutic approaches for special needs and older adults. A brief pre-course history/philosophy paper will be required in order to familiarize the participants in Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

Tuesday evenings from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Instructors: Kim Friesen Wiens and Anita Perlau

This online seminar-style course is an examination of teaching and learning processes in the elementary music classroom based on the integration of research, content and pedagogy appropriate for K-6 music instruction. We aim to understand how music education has developed into its current forms, including a critical examination of music curricula (both broadly conceived as well as specific to the Alberta context). This course will move through major developments in the process of repertoire selection and delivery. Current and relevant pedagogy, with an eye towards equity, diversity and inclusion, that is immediately applicable in the context of today’s diverse classroom will be experienced.