Orff Schulwerk Certification & Supplementals
July 9 - 27, 2012 30th Anniversary Celebration!
Our superb faculty at Mason represent 3 decades of refined Orff pedagogy instruction and expertise, conducting AOSA-approved Certification Level courses and continued education Orff Supplementals.
Level I
Elaine Larson
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Elaine Larson is a music, movement and drama specialist in the Kaleidoscope School for Arts and Science, a public charter school, which she helped to found in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Schools, Alaska. She has taught classes in the integration of language arts with Orff Schulwerk at the University of St. Thomas, the University of Alaska, the Trevor Institute, and George Mason University and presented at numerous chapter workshops and AOSA national conferences. She teaches Level I at George Mason University, and has taught in Orff Certification Programs in Michigan and New Jersey. Elaine recently presented sessions in Hong Kong. She is the 1998 recipient of the Alaska Outstanding Music Educator Award.
Joyce StephanskyClick here to open Joyce Stephansky's bio! (click again to close)
Joyce Stephansky teaches music and movement in the Fairfax County Virginia Public Schools and Undergraduate Music Methods at George Mason University. She has experience as a choral, music, and movement teacher in kindergarten through sixth grade in the Prince George's County, Maryland public schools and the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. She completed her Master of Arts Degree and Orff Certification at George Mason University, with additional work in Orff studies and a Master Class at St. Thomas University. Stephansky has presented at AOSA National Conferences, and for Orff chapters in the areas of integration and Orff process.
Level II
Donna FleetwoodClick here to open Donna Fleetwood's bio! (click again to close)
Donna Fleetwood is the artistic and curriculum director of the Orff Schulwerk Certification Program at George Mason University, where she received her training. She has also taught in Orff Certification Courses in Florida and Massachusetts. She presently teaches music at the Bilingual Montessori School in Paris, France and has presented sessions in France, the UK and Hong Kong. In the U.S. she has experience as a general music and choral teacher at the Oak Knoll School in Summit, New Jersey, the Saint Albans School for Boys in Washington, D.C., and 23 years in the public schools of Prince William County, Virginia. Donna has been an AOSA national conference and chapter presenter, and has completed studies at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria.
Matt McCoyClick here to open Matt McCoy's bio! (click again to close)
Matt McCoy most recently taught music and movement at the Potomac School in McLean Virginia. He has also taught in the Howard County Public Schools in Maryland, and at the St. Albans School for Boys in Washington, D.C. He is the assistant Curriculum Director for George Mason's Orff Certification Program where he taught Recorder for many years as well as Level II. McCoy has also taught in Orff Certification Programs at the Peabody Institute of John's Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was director; the University of Northern Colorado and at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is an active presenter in Orff Schulwerk process for both AOSA national conferences and chapters throughout the country. Matt is currently a doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
Level III
Steven CalantropioClick here to open Steven Calantropio's bio! (click again to close)
Steven Calantropio taught music and movement for 31 years in the River Edge, N.J. public schools. He is a specialist in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy and practice on all levels. Steven has presented workshops at numerous regional, state, and national music conferences and has taught throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Korea and at the Orff Institute in Salzburg , Austria. His innovative Master Class in Elemental Music has been presented numerous times in the United States and Canada. Steve's most recent work, Pieces and Processes is published by Schott Music Company. He also serves as AOSA's first Education Director.
Special Level Sections
Victoria Redfearn Cave / Movement Levels 1-3
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Victoria Redfearn Cave graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She has spent 17 years teaching music and movement and choral studies to children and has worked in Washington, D.C. in independent schools and at music programs like the Levine School of Music and the Washington Opera. She received her Orff training at George Mason University and received a scholarship from the Orff Foundation to study at the Special Course in Salzburg, Austria. In addition to being a faculty member at the Mason Orff training program, she also trains teachers at the program at the University of Northern Colorado. She is a national presenter and has written articles for the Orff Echo on creative movement topics for children. She lives in Charlottesville, VA where she teaches at St. Anne's-Belfield School. She is also pursuing a Masters in Education Leadership from Mary Baldwin College.
Anne Puckett / Recorder Level 1
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Anne Puckett teaches music at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. She also spent 10 years in the Baltimore County Public School System, where she was a finalist for Teacher of the Year. Anne received her Orff Certification and Level IV training from George Mason University. She has taught recorder in the Orff Certification Programs at George Mason University and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Anne has been a presenter in several AOSA national conferences and chapter workshops.
John Crandall / Recorder Levels 2-3
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John Crandall currently teaches choral music and piano to 8th through 12th graders at Amelia High School and Middle School in suburban Cincinnati, OH. He previously taught grades K-5 music and movement at Amelia Elementary for eight years. In addition, John serves as assistant organist at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Cincinnati and directs one of the Satellite Choirs of the Cincinnati Childen's Choir. John has completed all three levels of Orff training. In his spare time John performs as a recorder soloist and serves as Webmaster of the Greater Cincinnati AOSA Chapter.
2012 Supplementals*
Steven Calantropio: Masterclass in Orff Schulwerk
Sarah Bright: Music in Early Childhood
Robbin Marcus: Alexander Technique; Brush Up Your Kodály
Matt McCoy: Elemental Improvisation
Christine Shuart Saunders: Creative Choral Process
Jim Solomon: Rhythmic Training & Percussion, Elementary & Middle School
Joyce Stephansky & Donna Fleetwood: Strategies & Processes for the Classroom
Sarah BrightBio coming soon!
Coming soon!
Robbin MarcusClick here to open Robbin Marcus' bio! (click again to close)
Robbin Marcus currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is the director of the summer Kodaly program at George Mason. Additionally, she teaches in the Kodaly summer course at Webster University, and is an ATI certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Marcus recently retired after twenty-five years as the lower school music specialist at St. Paul's School in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a well-known traditional dance leader and an advocate for accurate performance styles in the music classroom. She has conducted numerous Kodaly-based workshops at Organization of American Kodaly Educators national conferences and local workshops throughout the country. Marcus served on the faculties of the American Kodaly Institute at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Children's Chorus of Maryland.
Christine Shuart SaundersClick here to open Christine Shuart Saunders' bio! (click again to close)
Christine is the PreK-12 Arts Department Chair at The Blake School in Minneapolis, MN where she oversees programs in Music, Visual Arts, Theater, and Speech & Communications. Christine has directed youth choruses at the Norwood School in Bethesda, MD, Fairfax Choral Society in VA, Peabody Children's Chorus, and the National Cathedral School for Girls. In recent years, her singers have performed with the Joffrey Ballet, National Cathedral Choral Society, and Washington Bach Consort. Christine is an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. She received her Orff Certification (I, II, III, post-III) from Southern Methodist and George Mason Universities, and her Kodály certification (I, II, III) from Webster University and George Mason University. She earned her Dalcroze License from the University of Maryland, and holds dual Master degrees in Vocal Pedagogy and Music Theory from Peabody Conservatory.
Jim SolomonClick here to open Jim Solomon's bio! (click again to close)
Jim Solomon is a National Board Certified Teacher, author and national clinician. He teaches General Music classes, Chorus, Recorder Club, and D.R.U.M., a special percussion group for 5th grade students in St. Augustine, FL. Each summer he teaches the Orff Level I teacher training course at The Eastman School of Music, teaches Rhythmic Training and Percussion Ensemble at George Mason/Anderson/St. Thomas, and works with Kdgn-High School students at Eagle Arts Camp. Jim has been Teacher of Year for St. Johns County, and has presented at twelve previous AOSA National Music Conferences.