(1 - 2 hrs.) Devise performance assessments to accurately assess students' skills and encourage growth.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Give your lessons a polish and let them shine! The arrangement of activities within a lesson can be the difference between a real gem or a hodge-podge of activities lacking luster.

*This presentation is geared specifically for the Kodály educator in mind.

(1 - 2 hrs.) "The characteristics of a good musician can be summarized as follows: 1. A well-trained ear. 2. A well-trained intelligence. 3. A well-trained heart. 4. A well-trained hand. All four must develop together, in constant equilibrium. As soon as one lags behind or rushes ahead, there is something wrong. So far most of you have met only the requirement of the fourth point: the training of your fingers has left the rest far behind. You would have achieved the same results more quickly and easily, however, if your training in the other three had kept pace." (1954)

Break the rules! Ditch the "Do this", "Don't do that" concept of classroom management and set a higher precedent involving critical thinking skills and ethics for your students by creating in them a desire to become a "whole musician". If a student does not understand a musical concept, we provide direction. The same should be said for behavioral mistakes. Based on a quote by Kodály, this mantra becomes a comprehensive method for simultaneously and intrinsically improving classroom behavior and musicianship skills. The four characteristics of a whole musician (well-trained heart, mind, ear, hand) create a positive, musically productive environment that is modeled, valued, and upheld by the students in each music activity. Leave the "rules for behavior" at the door, "criss-cross (applesauce)" out because I said so, and "line up" to four simple guidelines that direct students' actions with forethought, rather than hindsight.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Ah, the middle schooler... self-aware, confident, socially adept, and who am I kidding?! Middle School students are no longer elementary, but not quite high school students. Let's make the transition years a tad easier for them, shall we? Learn rehearsal strategies that are effective for the student who is re-discovering how to navigate their "new voice" for the first time and lead a rehearsal tailored for the middle-school student.

(1 - 2 hrs.) You’ve got the degree, the room, and the students… but no resources! A little creativity goes a long way, and so does a dollar. Make the most of your money, and the most engaging lessons.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Music instruction at the preschool and kindergarten levels set the foundation for building musical literacy skills. This foundation is "aural awareness". If they can't hear it, they can't read it! At the earliest level, sound awareness is approached through the comparatives (fast/slow, loud/quiet, high/low). These descriptors become the basis for teaching rhythmic, melodic, expressive, and form concepts. Help your students discern and produce the sounds they hear while guiding them to musical literacy through creative music-making! All of this is executed in a playful environment where students are actively engaged in the process through storytelling, puppets, singing, dancing, and instruments.

(3 - 6 hrs.) Improvisation, when compared to language acquisition, functions in the same manner as independent thought and free speech: an ever-expanding skill that begins in the early stages. Once we teach our students new vocabulary (rhythms or pitches), do we allow them time to become fluent with the language - to not only read and write but spontaneously speak their musical thoughts into creation? What skills are required? What are the process and sequences? During the session participants will extract the core tenants of improvisation (framework + choice + time); explore aural, kinesthetic, and visual preparation methods for improvising with movements, vocal explorations, words, instruments, rhythms, and melodies; and foster Kodály's vision for complete musicianship.

(2 - 3 hrs.) Engage in activities that heighten your personal musicianship.

(1 - 2 hrs.) The five-part lesson... it's a good thing! Find your recipe for success and plan a five-part lesson worthy of the top chefs (I mean, pedagogues) and learn how each section functions to nourish the musicianship of our esteemed guests - our students!

*This presentation is geared specifically for the Kodály educator in mind.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Retro throw-back! Test your musicianship skills with 'DDR' (Dictating and Dancing Rhythms), 'New Phone, Who Dis?', and 'Off to the Races'! Learn how to take an activity such as reading, writing, dictating, or improvising apply a 'skin' (theme), and make a completely new game to keep things fresh!

(1 - 2 hrs.) Kodály believed that anyone capable of lingual literacy is also capable of music literacy. Keep the literacy learning fun with challenges for multiple skill levels.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Embark on a journey! Students are naturally creative, curious, and ready for adventure! Learn how to make every minute of every lesson count through creative planning, weaving of song and story, and a variety of transitions. Through these techniques, students learn and internalize repertoire faster, develop critical thinking and prediction skills, retain musical content, and want to come back, next class. A child hard at play is a child hard at work!

(1 - 2 hrs.) We don't just read a book to our students, we share in a story. We open their affective domain and create a memory upon which to bookmark the learning. Expand your teaching library with suggestions for vocal exploration, rhythmic development, melodic development, and books for the soul.

(1 - 2 hrs.) Highlight, not just the final product, but also the learning process. Learn innovative ways to educate your students' families about all the learning going on in your classroom.