Meeting Pattern

• September 14, 2024 -  {9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.} Roland Dille Center for the Arts, Rm 144, MSUM Campus, Moorhead, MN
• January 25, 2025 - {9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.} Washington Elementary School, 1725 Broadway N., Fargo, ND
• April 26, 2025 - {9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.} Olivet Lutheran Church, 1330 University Drive South, Fargo, ND

Description

Through attending three separate seminars; participants observe master teachers, collaborate and fully participate through singing and movement.

Guest Lecturers:

Christopher Underwood, Northern Plains Kodaly Chapter – Treasurer,  Elementary Music Education – Washington Elementary FPS                                   

Nicole Bernier, currently teaches K-3 elementary music at Fort Lincoln Elementary School in Mandan, ND. In addition, she serves as the instructor for Elementary Music Methods and is the Orff-Schulwerk/Kodály levels course director at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. She is an active member of the Prairie Winds Orff Chapter having served as the program chair, secretary, vice president, and is the current president. She has also been an active member of the Northern Plains Kodály Chapter having served on their board for six years as their ‘Public Relations-Member at Large.’ She was on the middle school choral staff at International Music Camp from 2013-2019 and had a blast teaching pedagogy and folk song analysis/collection in the University of Mary's Kodály level 1 course in 2024. Passionate about active music making that merges the Kodály method and the Orff-Schulwerk process, Niki creates an active classroom that focuses on singing, classroom instruments, composition, movement, and creativity. Niki is a Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk certified elementary music specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education and a bachelor’s degree in Audio Production from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree from The University of Iowa in 2011. She earned her Kodály levels certification from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Orff-Schulwerk certification from the University of St. Thomas.

Joshua Dahl, began his career in education in 2005 as a music teacher for the school on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 2008, he moved to Lake Park-Audubon Elementary School to be their music teacher. From 2012 – 2019, he was a music teacher for Fargo Public Schools until agreeing to serve as a student performance strategist at Bennett Elementary in Fargo. He came to West Fargo Public Schools to be the dean of students at Osgood Elementary School for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Mr. Dahl serves as the artistic director for the Fargo-Moohead Youth Choir, which serves over one hundred singers. Mr. Dahl holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Concordia College, a master’s degree in education from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota, and his principal’s licensure through the educational leadership program at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

Objectives:

This course is designed to help teachers promote musical learning in their elementary music students utilizing Kodály methodologies. The areas of musical learning will include creating formative assessments and studying matters of diversity.

Testimonials:

"LOVE THIS COURSE AND CAN STILL EARN CREDITS FOR THESE HOURS!"

"EACH SESSION HAD RELEVANT ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS, AND THE FINAL PAPER WAS A GREAT WAY TO THINK DEEPER ABOUT THE CONTENT LEARNED AND HOW I MIGHT APPLY IT TO MY OWN TEACHING."

"COURSE WAS WELL LAID OUT. I KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WAS EXPECTED OF ME BEFORE I REGISTERED FOR THE COURSE."

“THE FALL WORKSHOP WAS EXCELLENT. THERE WERE SO MANY GREAT TAKE-AWAYS, READY USE LESSON PLAN IDEAS AND THOUGHTS! WHILE I APPRECIATED THE WINTER WORKSHOP, I PERSONALLY PREFER IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, JUST AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL A BIT MORE INVOLVED. BEING PUT INTO BREAKOUT ROOMS WITH PEOPLE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS A BIT AWKWARD, THOUGH WE MADE IT WORK. IT IS A GOOD WINTER OPTION WHEN HAVING TO CONSIDER OUR WEATHER.”

 “IT WAS ALL VERY GOOD!”

"THIS IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY IMPROVE MY TEACHING CRAFT BUT TO RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT THAT IS RELEVANT TO ME AS A MUSIC TEACHER."

"IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE ACTIVITIES THAT I COULD USE AT SCHOOL RIGHT AWAY."

"THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THE KODALY CREDIT! THE WORKSHOPS ARE FANTASTIC, AND I'M THANKFUL TO LEARN FROM OUR GREAT MUSIC COMMUNITY."