The Course
Mississippi Orff #100 & Jackson State University · 30th Orff-Schulwerk Summer Certification Course
July 6 – 17, 2026 – Level I, II, III · July 6 – 10, 2026 – Masterclass
The Jackson State University Department of Music in partnership with the MS Orff#100 Chapter is pleased to offer the 30th Orff-Schulwerk Summer Certification Course. We will offer Level I, II, III and Masterclass of the Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education Course this summer. Orff-Schulwerk centers around the development of the whole child, while encouraging the continued development of the teacher. Orff-Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as its foundation for teaching music; the melodic and percussive musical activities are easily learned by the students. Designed for all children, the Orff-Schulwerk technique enables students to create good music immediately. The course itself provides a non-competitive atmosphere, where one of the rewards is the pleasure of making good music with others.
Course Levels
Level I
This course is recommended for those with no previous Orff-Schulwerk training and will include:
- Studying Level I music curriculum concepts in time, rhythm, meter, melody, accompaniment texture, timbre, elemental forms, expression, and pedagogy
- Experiencing learning objectives through speech, body percussion, unpitched percussion instruments, singing, playing pitched instruments, playing recorder, movement, orchestration, and composition
Level II
Level II extends the foundation built in Level I with increased attention to how the Orff-Schulwerk approach facilitates conceptual understanding of music and movement. The roles of rhythmic speech, singing, playing instruments, movement, and improvisation will be considered in greater depth. Recorder instruction and performance activities will involve the alto recorder, as well as the soprano instrument. Participants also will engage in a broadening range of musical experiences that include more complex compositional elements, including modal melodies, changing meters, and varying accompaniments and textures.
Level III
Explores polymeters and functional harmony to include I-V, I-IV, and I-IV-V accompaniment settings. Forms include theme and variations, chaconne & passacaglia, decoration of the third, and ground bass. In pedagogy, students apply the Orff process to conceptual teaching. All recorder voicing are explored in a variety of combinations.
Participants will leave with:
- A practical way to diagnose classroom and ensemble culture using the 4P lens (People, Place, Process, Power)
- An intersectionality-informed approach to understanding participation, voice, and authority in rehearsals and classrooms
- Tools to reset norms around feedback, discipline, classroom etiquette, student leadership roles, and peer influence
Strategies to reduce “quiet exclusion” and build high-trust, high-expectation learning environments
Registration, Tuition & Credit
- No Credit: $175 non-refundable Application Fee
- Undergraduate & Graduate Academic Credit (3 hrs) (Contact Dr. Ramon Jackson for more information)
- Non-Credit Continuing Education Units – TBD
All registration applications/payments are due by May 1, 2026.
Reserve your spot today by registering and submitting payment: Register and submit payment.
On-Campus Housing is available at $75 per night. Spaces are limited for each level. 1st come 1st serve.
Note: If you are applying for graduate credit you must complete a graduate application through the graduate school by June 1st. Special documents are required for admission. Contact Dr. Ramon Jackson for more information.
Faculty
Dr. Kimberly Collins
Level I
Mrs. Lauren Summa
Level II
Dr. Patrick Ware
Level III
Ms. Sandra Kaetsu
Movement
Mr. Richard Lawton
Recorder
Required Texts
All course materials are available through West Music’s Jackson State University Orff Workshop 2026 page.
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Course Details
Meals
Meals may be purchased on campus at the University Student Center Food Court, in addition, there are numerous restaurants near the F.D. Hall Music Center.
Parking
A parking pass is included for those who enroll. To reserve please go to this link.
What to Bring
You should plan to wear comfortable clothing for movement, comfortable shoes, and have a sweater on hand in case the air-conditioning gets too cool. Also, nursery rhymes and children’s poetry books. All course material can be purchased from West Music at a special discounted price.
Course Daily Schedule
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Course Requirements
100% attendance; Participation in all activities; Successful completion of all written assignments.
What to expect
- If you’ve never been to an Orff class, you are in for a wonderful surprise! We will spend as much time experiencing activities, games, songs, traditional dances, creative movement, and playing child-centered instruments as we will be sitting in a chair. We will work individually, in small groups, and all together with the other participants standing, and on the floor, so wear comfortable clothes in layers to pull off and put on when necessary. We will laugh, be able to artistically express ourselves, and take deep dives into serious aspects of music education.
- There will be homework every evening including readings, journaling, and compositions that should take about an hour of concentrated time.
- We hope you will leave this course with friends who can support you and help you in your music teaching journey throughout the year.
Resources
Personnel
Contact
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-2141. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
LOCATION
Department of Music
F.D. Hall Music Center
JSU Box 17055
Jackson, MS 39217-0155
CONTACT
