September 26, 2026 

9AM - 1PM 

In this workshop, we will explore repertoire, movement, props, and games for your youngest students. We will sing, move, and play in developmentally appropriate ways for children in early childhood and beginning primary grades. Participants will walk away with ideas they can use immediately as well as ideas for structuring both short- and long-range

plans. 

Come play with me!

Jamie Parker is an independent music educator at several early childhood and

elementary schools in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She has been teaching music since 2008, teaching children as young as six months to adults studying for advanced degrees. During the school year, she teaches toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary students. In the summer, she teaches Materials at the Indiana University Summer Kodály Institute as well as Elementary Methods at VanderCook College of Music. Jamie received her Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2008 and her Master’s Degree in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from The Kodály Institute at Capital University in 2012. She has served as the President of the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America and the President of the Chicago

Area Kodály Educators. She has presented workshops for Northern Illinois University, James Madison University, the Illinois Music Educators Conference, the Chicago Area Kodály Educators, and the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America Conference.

November 14, 2026

9AM - 1PM 

Get ready for an active workshop full of activities to affirm and expand your students’ musical knowledge! Including hip-hop and pop in the elementary curriculum unlocks a deeper comprehension of music for our students and connects what they know to what they have yet to discover. This workshop is designed for music educators who appreciate the power of folksongs and are curious about integrating hip-hop and pop repertoire into their existing lesson plans. Using the Five Tenets of Hip Hop as our foundation, we will dive into the history of hip-hop and the power of pop representation, with the goal of affirming our students’ lived experiences and opening their eyes to new perspectives. Get ready to get up and move!

Larena Code Boyle is an elementary music teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and national recipient of the 2022 OAKE Outstanding Emerging Educator award. She frequently presents at the local and national level, most recently as the keynote speaker for the 2026 OAKE National Conference. Larena holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from DePaul University and the University of St. Thomas. She is fully certified in both the Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk approaches and publishes articles on elementary pedagogy and inclusive repertoire. She serves as an active member on various music education committees as an advocate for creating joyful spaces for all students. 

Our favorite Things

January 9, 2027

9AM - 1PM 

April 24, 2027

9PM - 1PM

This workshop will combine Kodály-inspired teaching and ways to represent your student population by using a culturally relevant song collection project, story books, cultural context, guest musicians and community members, and a look into culturally responsive teaching resources. Using the music classroom as a vehicle to connect with students of all backgrounds, this workshop will help to emphasize the role that culture plays in a child's life, bridge the gap between home and school, use the music room as a safe space provided for self-expression and authenticity, how to partner with parents and families, and how to use equity tools to guide research and teaching.

Becca Buck (she/her) is a K-5th grade music teacher in ISD 191 (Burnsville-Eagan Savage, MN), living in Minneapolis, MN. She received her Bachelor of Music in K-12 Vocal Music Education (2012) and Master of Arts in Music Education with a concentration in Kodály (2018) from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. She teaches at the summer Kodály Institute at the University of St. Thomas, instructing Folksong and Materials II and III, and Pedagogy III. Becca has presented at the local and national level for her work in culturally relevant teaching in a Kodály-inspired classroom, served as treasurer for the Kodály Chapter of Minnesota for nine years, and received the Spirit of Excellence award in her district in 2020. She recently co-authored "The Rhythm of Somalia," received 2024 MMEA Elementary Music Teacher of the Year, and was a 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist.