Our Summer Classes

I had an Orff class for my masters program mid July. Rebekah started all day marching band the same time. It was back to school for the both of us!  

I severely underestimated how my back would respond to at campus work, not to mention the movement inherent in elementary music. After day one I was in so much pain. By Wednesday I knew I couldn't continue as I was doing and made some changes. I would not be carrying my backpack to the second building. I told my instructors and they said it would be fine. So I took notes on my phone and looked over other's shoulders for the written words. About that same time a nice lady in the class suggested they bring in one of the couches I had been laying on between class periods. Now, when everyone was sitting taking notes, I would do so on my back. It helped, but the damage was done. I'm still recovering. 

Having said that, the class was fascinating. I truly loved the philosophy! Teaching kids to improvise with music while learning the music is brilliant! I think for my masters project I want to do something with combining Kodaly elements with Orff. Maybe how to use them both at a middle school level. 

We worked with bells a lot - in pentatonic modes. And it's very hear, play - using words (or phrases) to represent rhythms. The only thing I didn't like about it was the lack of emphasis on vocal singing. Many times the instructor would sing something that wouldn't sit quite right, then she'd play it on the recorder and it would make sense. Many times the class would sing it back incorrectly and the instructor didn't correct the issue. That was hard as well. 

Most of my peers are elementary music educators, so I was definitely the odd man out - which compounded with my age and back, well, I felt it. But the good news was I didn't truly care all that much. And eventually found that some people, after learning that I knew what I was doing, requested to partner with me. Even the "cool" kids. I will say it's slightly hard to be in a room full of music teachers. Towards the end a lot of them wanted to be "in charge" and it got kind of dicy. 

While I was in class I got this picture from the marching band. I zoomed in looking for Rebekah and couldn't find her. Eventually I had Rebekah help me when I got home. She zoomed in only to find that she was checking out her phone in the picture. So, I won't point her out.... But she's in the back left. On her phone.... 

But I'm still a mom so we volunteered one night to help out with band camp. These were some hot days so we were manning the water and first aid tent. While there I did my job as a mother and documented the occasion. 

She's in the middle towards the right side wearing a green shirt and black hat, arms in front holding her Melo in set position. 

Again, towards the middle right. Kind of the back row of students. 

Couple of beginning run-throughs. 

Tried to get the entire group.

Better (easier to see) picture of her. Smack in the middle. 

I completed the class and we had our final performances. These were some of the pictures they took. I'm on the floor, left side. I got to play the big bass E. Love those bass xylophones. 

This was an open about butterflies that we improvised on using a pentatonic scale. I think I'm behind the yellow scarf (towards the left). 

Level One Orff, I'm in the back. Teachers in the front. 

The entire Orff program (Level 1 - 3). I'm back left.