What a great two weeks! The Orff course at VCU was completed on Friday, July 27. Two weeks of high energy, concentrated learning coupled with a lot of fellowship made it a wonderful two weeks for me. The enthusiasm and youth of the students was inspirational and made me feel, once again, that teaching this type of class is just about the most fun one could ever have in the teaching profession.
Orff Schulwerk is wholistic, creative for the students AND the teachers, and inclusive of every learning style, culture, and type of music. The intellectual diversity of the students, their unique and lively personalities, and their varied learning styles proved an exciting challenge as we moved, played, and sang our way through the course.
Congratulations to all the students, each of who passed the course with flying colors. Thanks to Paul Bakeman for his lively and interesting recorder classes and especially thanks to Dr. David Greennagle, course director. Let’s all look forward together to more courses in the years to come.
Much talk was heard this week about Level 2 being offered next summer, along with a Level 1. Numbers will determine the course offerings. We’ll need a good strong number for a viable Level 2 course. The 19 students this year is just about ideal. Many more and it’s hard to give individual attention and many less and the activities become less productive. Singing, dancing and ensemble work all need strong numbers for the highest quality learning experiences.
Once again congratulations to all the students! These teachers were recharged, energized, and inspired to go back to their schools and their students and continue to give them the highest quality of music education. The new things they learned can now be shared with children and will certainly help grow the love of music in each of them. They gave two weeks of their summer, just to try and become better teachers. No better goal in education exists!
