Graduate Certificate in
Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education
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Why Study Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education?
The Orff-Schulwerk program at Elizabethtown College is designed for music educators, including elementary and middle school teachers as well as choral and general music instructors, who are eager to elevate their teaching methods and classroom engagement. Endorsed by the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), this intensive program provides hands-on learning in the core components of the globally recognized Orff approach. Participants will develop creativity, musicianship, and effective teaching strategies to meet the growing demand for innovative and inclusive music education. This certificate program is led by renowned AOSA-certified instructors, including faculty from the esteemed Philadelphia University of the Arts program, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise.
Students can complete Orff-Schulwerk levels in the nine-credit Orff graduate certificate, through electives in the Master of Music Education (MME) program, or as individual courses that count for graduate credit or a certificate of completion.
Program Outcomes:
- Utilize the media of singing, saying, dancing, and playing to facilitate active music classes and ensembles.
- Articulate the concept of elemental music and movement and how this concept supports student learning.
- Facilitate music classes that are curricularly sound.
- Connect the Orff-Schulwerk practices with peacebuilding concepts and implement them to create a classroom community of support, hard work, and high expectations.
- Differentiate lesson planning and instruction to meet the needs of different abilities within an active music classroom.
Orff-Schulwerk Coursework
The Graduate Certificate in Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education from Elizabethtown College requires 9 credit hours of academic work. AOSA requires a two-consecutive week intensive, in-person instruction during the summer, with certified AOSA instructors delivering the training. Levels I – III are offered, and certification is awarded upon successful completion of Level III – you can sign up for one course per summer.
2025 classes will be held at Lancaster Mennonite High School, July 7-18.
Course Levels:
- MME 522 Orff Level 1
- MME 523 Orff Level 2
- MME 524 Orff Level 3
in-person
Program Format
Advance in Your Music Education Career
The Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Graduate Certificate empowers educators with practical, hands-on skills to transform classroom instruction. Grounded in the Orff approach, the program emphasizes the application of pedagogy, recorder, and movement to foster creativity, engagement, and a deeper understanding of music. By completing this program, educators will gain the tools to introduce innovative, curricularly sound practices into their classrooms.
What sets this program apart is its flexibility, allowing participants to tailor their learning experience to professional goals. All credits earned can be applied toward Etown's Master of Music Education (MME) program, offering a streamlined path for continued educational advancement.
My MME degree and experience in Orff have moved my vision of ‘mattering in the music room’ forward, creating a space where my students experience belonging through singing, moving, playing, and creating. My teaching would not be the same without my master’s degree and Orff experience.
Program Faculty
Becky Burdett
Becky currently teaches grades K-6 at Lackawanna Trail School District. She is passionate about music education and music pedagogy. She completed three levels of Orff-Schulwerk training through the University of the Arts at Villanova, as well as MasterClass and supplemental courses since earning certification. In addition to Orff Schulwerk training, she completed the Kodaly Certification Program at Hartt University and is a candidate for certification through the American Eurhythmics Society.
Her goal is for each of her students to be joyful in the act of making, expressing, and creating music. She believes that students can be capable musicians when allowed the guided freedom to explore all areas of musicianship.
Ardith Collins
Ardith Collins teaches Orchestra and General Music at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City and is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. She earned her certificate in Orff Schulwerk from the University of the Arts at Villanova, a Kodály certificate from Westminster Choir College, and Dalcroze training from Anderson University. Collins is also an active writer, presenter and American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA) teacher trainer and serves on the AOSA Reverberations Editorial Board and the Curriculum Oversight and Review Subcommittee and is past president of the Northern New Jersey Orff Schulwerk Association.
She is pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and is a folk music, dance, rounds singing, and ping pong enthusiast.
Janie Vance
Janie Vance is an active educator, clinician, and researcher in the field of music education. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University, a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Miami (FL) and a Master and Doctor of Education in Music Education and Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received her certification and Master's certificate in Orff Schulwerk from George Mason University. Janie has taught movement for the Orff Schulwerk certification courses at University of the Arts, Villanova University, Peabody Conservatory, and George Mason University. She is an active presenter in Orff Chapter Workshops and National Conferences.
Janie has taught general/vocal/instrumental music Pre-K through 12th grade for 29 years and is currently the Academic Dean, and a Music Teacher at The Town School in New York City.
Kristin Showalter
Kristin Showalter teaches early childhood and elementary general music in Howard County, Maryland. A native of Pennsylvania, she holds B.S. and B.A. degrees in music education and flute performance from Lebanon Valley College. As an Orff Schulwerk educator, Kristin completed her levels training and certification through the University of the Arts (Villanova University) and the Master Class in Orff Schulwerk through George Mason University. She serves as a recorder pedagogy instructor for AOSA approved levels courses and is a past president of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of AOSA.
Kristin’s experience includes teaching general as well as choral and instrumental music, focusing primarily on early childhood and elementary music instruction. She finds inspiration in helping to foster individual creativity and collaborative artistic experiences in all learners and values the opportunity to help nurture this approach to musicianship, exploring ways it can positively impact our world.
Understand Tuition Costs and Explore Scholarship Opportunities
The Graduate Certificate in Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education is priced at $525 per credit. Scholarships and financial aid are available to make your Etown SGPS education even more affordable. Below are just a few of the scholarships and programs available to students:
- Alumni Scholarship: 15% tuition discount, available to Elizabethtown College alumni.
- Affinity Partner Scholarship: 15% discount, offered to employees of organizations partnered with Etown SGPS.
- Jay Fellowship Referral Program: This is a referral program that benefits both current students/alumni and prospective students. When a student or alum refers a new student, both the referrer and the referred student receive a complimentary credit for their program of interest.
Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.
Tuition & AidApplication Requirements & Process
To be eligible to apply to any of our graduate certificate programs you will need to:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (waivers can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
- Provide a statement demonstrating interest and musical investment.
- Have time to devote to your coursework; in an accelerated program, time spent outside of class is considerable.
- Contact or meet with our admissions staff for guidance and to find out more information.
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Complete the graduate application via the online portal which includes the submission of a $25 nonrefundable application fee, which is waived for Elizabethtown College graduates.
- You will need to request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended and upload your current resume.
- Additionally, prepare a 1-2 page essay addressing your motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate, a statement of professional goals, and goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life.
- After submitting your application, the SGPS Team will review it and make an admissions decision.
- If accepted, you will receive an initial offer letter via the applicant portal, which you must accept to proceed with matriculation.
- If there are any questions or concerns, the admissions team will contact you for further discussion.
- After successfully completing your Elizabethtown College graduate certificate, students may complete the Advance in Graduate Certificate or Degree form in the JayWeb student portal to apply to a future graduate certificate or graduate degree. Additional materials may be required, depending on the program of interest.
Etown seniors, alumni, and employees may be able to take advantage of our two-step, fast-tracked application process.
