Levels Course Info

Learn the fundamentals of Orff Schulwerk, an active approach to music education. This course will include speech, singing, and movement activities, as well as playing recorder, Orff instruments, and unpitched percussion. Spend two weeks in Des Moines at Drake University learning the fundamental principles of the Orff Approach. This child-centered way of learning music will encourage your students to enjoy music-making while enhancing their awareness of space, time, form, line, color, design, and mood. Both individually and in groups, children must learn important concepts by doing hands-on activities that allow them to explore and create.

This course is offered in person, on campus, from July 21 – August 1, 2025. 

Classes meet Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Required Materials:

• Soprano Recorder – Specifically, the Yamaha 300 series model

• Descants for Recorder by Kenneth Simpson

• Sweet Pipes Recorder Book for Soprano (blue) by Burakoff & Hettrick

• Music For Children Vol. 1 by Margaret Murray

• Elementaria by Gunild Keetman

Recommended Materials:

• Spielbuch fur Xylophon 1 by Orff & Keetman

• Rhythmische Übung by Gunild Keetman

• Either Staff Paper or Music Notation Software to complete assignments

The 2025 course costs $810 with the option to add on printed notes for $10. 

You may also sign up for three graduate credits through Drake University for $303.

Applicants must be current AOSA members and must be enrolled in this summer’s Levels Course at Drake University to be considered for the scholarship.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact the FIO Exec Board at firstiowaorff@gmail.com

📌 Scholarship Details: Three scholarships of $200 each will be awarded to selected applicants. Winners will receive their scholarship payment on-site during the summer Levels Course.

📅 Application Deadline: June 30th, 2025

📢 Results Announcement: Applicants will be notified via email by July 14th, 2025

Apply here: https://forms.gle/vjViGz3FCW1V6egN6

Please use our course registration link to express your interest in Grad Credit through Drake University. 

The tentative quote from Drake is $303 for three credits!

The Continuing Ed Department at Drake has asked that we send the contact information of interested attendees to them directly. Then they will send you the directions for grad credit registration. Since this is through Drake, it is subject to their terms and conditions. First Iowa Orff is not affiliated with this process beyond sharing the contact info of those who expressed interest.

An official link to sign up for housing will be here soon!

These are the official quotes:

• $42 per night for a single room

• $30 per night, per bed for a double room (with a roommate)

• $15 for a linen packet, if requested (includes a fitted sheet, top sheet, heavier blanket, pillow, pillowcase, hand towel, washcloth, and bath towel).

• If individuals want to "check out" over the weekend to save costs, they'll need to take all their belongings, then "check in" again. If a linen packet was purchased, they'll need to return it before checking out, and it will need to be purchased again if desired. 

Parking passes are not required, but they can make the morning commute easier!

The price from Drake is $30 for a two-week pass on campus. The link to purchase it is here!

Other alternatives include:

• Finding free parking around campus each day. This could result in a 10-15 minute walk to the Harmon Fine Arts Center.

• Using the Park DSM app.