Meeting Pattern

• October 10, 2026 [9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.], MSUM Roland Dille Center for the Arts, Room 146, Moorhead, MN
  
• January 30, 2027 [9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon], Washington Elementary School, 1725 Broadway North, Fargo, ND
  
• April 17, 2027 [10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.], Weld Hall, MSUM Campus, Moorhead MN 

Description

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.

Guest Lecturers:

Taylor Heinsen - Elementary music educator, Bismarck ND. Masters of Science - Music Education. Orff and Dalcroze Certified. Taylor Heinzen is a K-5 music educator at Lakewood Elementary in Mandan, North Dakota. Taylor grew up in the small town of Kindred before moving to Jamestown, ND to pursue her Bachelor’s in Music Education at the University of Jamestown, from which she graduated in 2015. She began her teaching career at Shiloh Christian School in Bismarck, ND where she taught elementary music, beginning band, middle school band, and high school band. Taylor received her Orff certification in 2018. In 2019, she transitioned to Mandan Public Schools as an elementary music educator. She finished her Master’s of Music in Music Education from North Dakota State University in 2021 and immediately dove into the world of eurhythmics with the American Eurhythmics Society. She served as secretary of the AES board from 2022-2025 before taking on the role of President in 2025. Taylor began Level I Kodály at the University of Mary in 2024 and completed her level III training there in June of 2026. Taylor sees a powerful connection between the musical approaches she has studied and strives to bring a well-rounded musical experience to all of her students. She lives in Mandan, ND with her husband, children, and pups!

Nicole Bernier - Elementary music educator, Bismarck ND. Masters of Science - Curriculum and Instruction MSUM. Kodaly and Orff Certified. Niki Bernier, currently teaches 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, president, and is the current past president. She has also been an active member of the Northern Plains Kodály Chapter having served on their board for four years as their ‘Public Relations-Member at Large.’ She was on the middle school choral staff at International Music Camp from 2013-2019 and teaches pedagogy and folk song analysis/collection in the University of Mary's Kodaly course. Niki 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 Docusign Envelope ID: 4A66090D-EA26-8F07-8021-CCE7CF5FC38A 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.

Krista Salzer - Elementary music educator, Eagles Elementary Fargo ND. Kodaly Certified

Melanie Popejoy - Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Dakota where she conducts the Allegro Choir and Vivo Chamber Ensemble, and instructs courses in Music Education Methods. In addition, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Grand Cities Children’s Choir, serving as conductor of the elite Primo Voce choir. She holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree and the Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Central Missouri State University, and has taught in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas prior to coming to North Dakota. In over 40 years of teaching, Mrs. Popejoy has taught at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. She has conducted numerous honor and festival ensembles, including the North Dakota ACDA JH/MS Mixed All-State Choir, the Northern Plains Kodaly Festival Regional Honor Choir, the Missouri Choral Directors Association 9-10 Honor Choir, and the UND Women’s Honor Choir. Mrs. Popejoy has earned numerous teaching awards throughout her career, including selection as the Raytown South Middle School (MO) Teacher of the Year; Meadowbrook Elementary (TX) Teacher of the Year; Waco Independent School District (TX) Teacher of the Year; the DeLay Middle School (TX) Teacher of the Year; a Community Leadership Award from the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce; Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club North Dakota Teacher of the Year; Distinguished Alumnus award from the Central Missouri State University Department of Music; an Athena Award for Professional Excellence and Community Leadership; North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leadership Award; Grand Forks Thursday Music Club Gold Note Award; the Phenomenal Woman Award from UND Multicultural Student Services; North Dakota Choral Director of the Year, North Dakota Music Educators Association Educator of the Year, as well as being nominated twice for the UND Undergraduate Teaching Award. The UND Vivo Chamber Choir has presented featured concerts at North Dakota American Choral Directors Conferences. Her Waco Girls Choir was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, while her Grand Cities Children’s Choir has presented concerts at the North Dakota Music Educators Association Conference, the American Choral Directors Association North Central Conference, and the North Dakota ACDA Conference, and two featured performances at Carnegie Hall. She is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, and is a member of the North Dakota Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, North Dakota Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and the Organization of American Kodaly Educators.

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."

"THE BEST PD IN THE FARGO AREA FOR ELEMENTARY MUSIC!"