The Los Angeles County
Orff Teacher Education Course
Registration begins January 07, 2026
Orff Curriculum Supplemental
June 15 - 18 2026
Levels I, II, & III
June 22 - July 3 2026
Master Class "Elemental Exploration"
July 6 - 10 2026
Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Pasadena, CA
June 15 - 18 2026
Levels I, II, & III
June 22 - July 3 2026
Master Class "Elemental Exploration"
July 6 - 10 2026
Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Pasadena, CA
The Los Angeles Orff Chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association is pleased to offer the 2026 Los Angeles County Orff Teacher Education Course (formerly the LA Orff Course). We hope that you will join an energetic and supportive community of arts educators as we explore practical, real-world strategies for using the Orff process in a variety of classroom settings.
LACAOSA is working in partnership with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, who will host our course at their North Hill Street campus in the shadow of the beautiful San Gabriel mountains.
LACAOSA is working in partnership with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, who will host our course at their North Hill Street campus in the shadow of the beautiful San Gabriel mountains.
Established in 1984, Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) is an independent, nonprofit, nationally-accredited community school whose mission is to educate, advocate, inspire, and share through music study and performance. PCM offers a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses traditional and contemporary music for children and adults. More than 1,200 students attend the school annually and over 3,000 students in schools throughout the Pasadena, CA community benefit from its extensive outreach programs.
What is Orff Schulwerk Levels Training?
"Orff levels" are the primary way in which the philosophy and instructional practices of Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman are taught to music educators in the United States. The AOSA-NBT curriculum standards describe the first task of Orff levels instruction to be familiarizing participants with an exploratory learning approach in part “by experiencing music learning from the perspective of children.”* In Orff, musical understanding is developed through creative play, peer collaboration, and, above all, joyful music-making where, more often than not, children are the composers.
The goal of levels training is to first introduce (in level I) and then develop (in levels II and III) strategies and techniques to construct musical understanding through experience. In this way the Orff Schulwerk method is aligned with the creative, problem-solving approach at the heart of our National Education Standards in language and math, as well as the arts.
* From “What is Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education” © 2012, The American Orff Schulwerk Association
What is Orff Schulwerk Levels Training?
"Orff levels" are the primary way in which the philosophy and instructional practices of Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman are taught to music educators in the United States. The AOSA-NBT curriculum standards describe the first task of Orff levels instruction to be familiarizing participants with an exploratory learning approach in part “by experiencing music learning from the perspective of children.”* In Orff, musical understanding is developed through creative play, peer collaboration, and, above all, joyful music-making where, more often than not, children are the composers.
The goal of levels training is to first introduce (in level I) and then develop (in levels II and III) strategies and techniques to construct musical understanding through experience. In this way the Orff Schulwerk method is aligned with the creative, problem-solving approach at the heart of our National Education Standards in language and math, as well as the arts.
* From “What is Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education” © 2012, The American Orff Schulwerk Association
Course Descriptions
Level I
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level I will introduce and develop basic elemental Orff-Schulwerk musicianship, through the study of pentatonic melodies, rhythmic speech, simple accompaniment styles using a variety of classroom instruments, and pathways to improvisation. This initial course also features skill development in playing the soprano recorder and its applications to learning music in the Orff Schulwerk pedagogy. In addition, students explore creative movement vocabulary and folk dance as a tool for musical understanding.
Instructors: Kerri Lynn Nichols, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: None
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level I will introduce and develop basic elemental Orff-Schulwerk musicianship, through the study of pentatonic melodies, rhythmic speech, simple accompaniment styles using a variety of classroom instruments, and pathways to improvisation. This initial course also features skill development in playing the soprano recorder and its applications to learning music in the Orff Schulwerk pedagogy. In addition, students explore creative movement vocabulary and folk dance as a tool for musical understanding.
Instructors: Kerri Lynn Nichols, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: None
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
Level II
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level II focuses on classroom applications through the further study of Orff Schulwerk pedagogy. Diatonic major, minor, and modal melodies and improvisation are introduced and developed, along with more advanced accompaniment structures. The alto recorder is introduced as a melodic instrument. Movement exploration continues, along with folk dance, play parties, and small group choreography.
Instructors: Patrick Ware, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: Orff Level I at an AOSA approved course
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level II focuses on classroom applications through the further study of Orff Schulwerk pedagogy. Diatonic major, minor, and modal melodies and improvisation are introduced and developed, along with more advanced accompaniment structures. The alto recorder is introduced as a melodic instrument. Movement exploration continues, along with folk dance, play parties, and small group choreography.
Instructors: Patrick Ware, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: Orff Level I at an AOSA approved course
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
Level III
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level III is sometimes referred to as, "The Teacher's Course". Although the development of the teacher’s own musicianship and creative potential is at the heart of Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education, the ultimate goal of this personal growth is to make the individual a better teacher of students of all ages. The role of pedagogy must go beyond the teaching of a piece in the elemental style—the piece is not an end in itself but a means to musical understanding, opening doors to greater sensitivity, imagination and inspiration for the student. Lessons developed by participants at all levels should be designed to bring students to an understanding of musical elements and develop their musical skills in the active and creative atmosphere that characterizes the Orff Schulwerk approach. In this process, the participant must always be a model of expressive musicianship and artistry while teaching through the Orff Schulwerk media.
Instructors: Charles Tighe, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: Orff Level II at an AOSA approved course
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
June 22 - July 3 2026
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Level III is sometimes referred to as, "The Teacher's Course". Although the development of the teacher’s own musicianship and creative potential is at the heart of Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education, the ultimate goal of this personal growth is to make the individual a better teacher of students of all ages. The role of pedagogy must go beyond the teaching of a piece in the elemental style—the piece is not an end in itself but a means to musical understanding, opening doors to greater sensitivity, imagination and inspiration for the student. Lessons developed by participants at all levels should be designed to bring students to an understanding of musical elements and develop their musical skills in the active and creative atmosphere that characterizes the Orff Schulwerk approach. In this process, the participant must always be a model of expressive musicianship and artistry while teaching through the Orff Schulwerk media.
Instructors: Charles Tighe, Mika Inouye, Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: Orff Level II at an AOSA approved course
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
Orff Curriculum
June 15 - 18 2026
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Curriculum Course will focus on Orff Schulwerk philosophy and concepts for the typical classroom application. Implementation of typical Orff activities for elementary students with in-depth grade level objectives; development of instructional strategies and lesson plans; connecting these activities to the teaching standards; establishing an integrated curriculum map will be discussed, with a special focus on how to teach and assess improvisation. Suitable for teachers at any stage of their Orff journey.
Instructors: Rachael Denny and Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: None
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
June 15 - 18 2026
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Curriculum Course will focus on Orff Schulwerk philosophy and concepts for the typical classroom application. Implementation of typical Orff activities for elementary students with in-depth grade level objectives; development of instructional strategies and lesson plans; connecting these activities to the teaching standards; establishing an integrated curriculum map will be discussed, with a special focus on how to teach and assess improvisation. Suitable for teachers at any stage of their Orff journey.
Instructors: Rachael Denny and Richard Lawton
Prerequisite: None
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
Masterclass: "Elemental Explorations"
July 6-10 2026
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This masterclass explores the cohesion of elemental movement and music and the philosophical underpinnings of the Schulwerk. The primary focus of this masterclass is to free ourselves of the pre-written compositions and create new starting points inspired by a myriad of sources: movement, poetry, artifacts, etc. The participants create pieces organically with peers, the week is very collaborative, and movement is embedded throughout each day.
Participants will study the historical foundations of the Schulwerk and explore creating elemental music throughout the week. Beyond classroom pedagogy, this masterclass focuses on creating as teacher-artists through the extended development of elemental material.
PLEASE NOTE: This course is movement-intensive.
Notes will be done electronically & assignments via a Google Classroom
Required Text:
Elemental Dance-Elemental Music: The Munich Guntherschule 1924-1944 Michael Kugler, Margaret Murray Translation Schott
Stucke fur Sprechchor Carl Orff Schott Publications
Instructors: Beth Ann Hepburn
Prerequisite: Completion of AOSA-approved Level 3 course.
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
July 6-10 2026
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This masterclass explores the cohesion of elemental movement and music and the philosophical underpinnings of the Schulwerk. The primary focus of this masterclass is to free ourselves of the pre-written compositions and create new starting points inspired by a myriad of sources: movement, poetry, artifacts, etc. The participants create pieces organically with peers, the week is very collaborative, and movement is embedded throughout each day.
Participants will study the historical foundations of the Schulwerk and explore creating elemental music throughout the week. Beyond classroom pedagogy, this masterclass focuses on creating as teacher-artists through the extended development of elemental material.
PLEASE NOTE: This course is movement-intensive.
Notes will be done electronically & assignments via a Google Classroom
Required Text:
Elemental Dance-Elemental Music: The Munich Guntherschule 1924-1944 Michael Kugler, Margaret Murray Translation Schott
Stucke fur Sprechchor Carl Orff Schott Publications
Instructors: Beth Ann Hepburn
Prerequisite: Completion of AOSA-approved Level 3 course.
For additional information please contact Course Director Rachael Denny at [email protected].
Faculty
Kerri Lynn Nichols — Basic Pedagogy I
Kerri Lynn Nichols has been a teacher of Orff-Schulwerk for over thirty years, receiving her Master level Orff certification from UC Santa Cruz and the University of Memphis and attending the international course at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She is a composer, recording artist, choreographer and accomplished vocalist. Her compositions, choreography and musicals have been commissioned for community projects with children and dance companies such as Kaleidoscope and Enertia of Seattle and local children’s theatre groups.
Kerri Lynn has taught all ages in both the public and private sectors and has presented multiple workshops for state, national and international conferences. She has designed and implemented courses for educators in music through movement, academic integration and brain-based learning. Currently, she teaches PreK-8th grade music at Evergreen Christian School in Olympia, WA and directs The Olympia Peace Choir, which she founded. She is the author of several books and recordings for educators and children. The core of her work is to encourage others to become aware of their abilities and gifts through the magic of music and movement.
Kerri Lynn Nichols has been a teacher of Orff-Schulwerk for over thirty years, receiving her Master level Orff certification from UC Santa Cruz and the University of Memphis and attending the international course at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She is a composer, recording artist, choreographer and accomplished vocalist. Her compositions, choreography and musicals have been commissioned for community projects with children and dance companies such as Kaleidoscope and Enertia of Seattle and local children’s theatre groups.
Kerri Lynn has taught all ages in both the public and private sectors and has presented multiple workshops for state, national and international conferences. She has designed and implemented courses for educators in music through movement, academic integration and brain-based learning. Currently, she teaches PreK-8th grade music at Evergreen Christian School in Olympia, WA and directs The Olympia Peace Choir, which she founded. She is the author of several books and recordings for educators and children. The core of her work is to encourage others to become aware of their abilities and gifts through the magic of music and movement.
Patrick Ware — Basic Pedagogy II
Patrick Ware is an internationally known Orff - Schulwerk clinician and choral conductor. With a service to education spanning more than 25 years, he holds a B.A. in Music from Westfield State University, an MS.Ed from Radford University and a DMA from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Dr. Ware is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music/Elementary and Middle Childhood. He is an AOSA Teacher Educator for all levels of movement and recorder as well as Levels I and II Basic Pedagogy.
Patrick is published through Beatin’ Path Publications including works for treble choir with Orff Ensemble. Patrick teaches k-5 General Music and Chorus in Prince William County Virginia. His focuses include Jazz and the use of children’s literature.
Patrick Ware is an internationally known Orff - Schulwerk clinician and choral conductor. With a service to education spanning more than 25 years, he holds a B.A. in Music from Westfield State University, an MS.Ed from Radford University and a DMA from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Dr. Ware is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music/Elementary and Middle Childhood. He is an AOSA Teacher Educator for all levels of movement and recorder as well as Levels I and II Basic Pedagogy.
Patrick is published through Beatin’ Path Publications including works for treble choir with Orff Ensemble. Patrick teaches k-5 General Music and Chorus in Prince William County Virginia. His focuses include Jazz and the use of children’s literature.
|
Charles Tighe — Basic Pedagogy III
Charles Tighe is on the faculty at Kennesaw State University where he teaches Elementary Music Methods and the Honors Section of Music and Society. Charlie holds degrees from Kenyon College, the University of Colorado - Boulder, and Boston University and received his Orff training at the University of Memphis, University of Nevada - Las Vegas, and the Orff Institute at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg. For twenty five years, he was an elementary music specialist in the Cobb County (GA) Schools(Murdock Elementary School). |
Charles’ children’s choirs have been featured at the National Convention of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and the Georgia Music Educators Association. He has presented Orff and choral workshops throughout the United States and internationally in India, Singapore, and Canada.
|
Mika Inouye — Movement
Mika Inouye is a performing artist and educator in Durango, Colorado and the Four Corners region. She is a member of 20Moons, a contemporary dance theatre company in Durango, teaches inclusive creative dance classes throughout the school district, and is the elementary music and movement specialist at Juniper School. Mika performs regularly as a pianist with 3rd Ave. Arts, is the artistic director of 3rd Ave. Arts Chamber Music Festival, and co-director of Piano Academy at Fort Lewis College. |
Mika completed her Orff certification at the University of Montana, George Mason University and Southern Methodist University (Level III), and apprenticed in movement with Jacque Schrader at University of St. Thomas, with Christa Coogan at San Francisco Orff Course, and with Danai Gagne at Utah State University. She is the founding president of Four Corners Orff Chapter of AOSA and has presented workshops at the AOSA national conference, Hong Kong, Kuwait, and New Zealand.
|
Richard Lawton - Recorder and Curriculum Course
Richard Lawton teachers TK-5 general music/choral music for the Los Angeles Unified School District and is an adjunct faculty member at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, CA. Richard is a past-president of the Los Angeles AOSA Chapter Board and a graduate of the Los Angeles Orff Course. He received his M. Mus. and Orff certification at Cal State LA and has done post-level III work at the Arizona State, Villanova, University of St. Thomas, and University of Missouri, St. Louis Orff courses. In his classroom he has made blues improvisation and the use of vernacular music learning techniques an area of concentration. |
Richard has been a presenter at numerous state and national conferences, including the 2025 AOSA National Conference in Lexington KY, and is an Orff Curriculum consultant for Quaver Music.
|
Rachael Denny — Course Director and Curriculum Course
Rachael has been an enthusiastic teacher of classroom music to children aged 2-14 in Minnesota and California since 1993. She holds a Master’s Degree of Music Education, Orff-Schulwerk concentration, from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Her Orff journey began in 1994 at the special summer course at the Orff Institut in Salzburg, Austria. Rachael obtained her Orff certification at Cal State LA and repeated her levels at the University of St. Thomas as part of her graduate studies. |
Rachael currently serves as Young Musicians Department Chair, as well as Young Musicians instructor and Adult Studies instructor at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM). She supervises a school-wide general and applied music program for elementary students PreK-5 in Pasadena Unified School District and supervises student teachers for CSU East Bay. Rachael has presented at the AOSA National Conference, the California State Music Educators Conference, and locally in Southern California.
|
Beth Ann Hepburn — Masterclass: "Elemental Explorations"
BethAnn Hepburn, M.A. Music Education, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. BethAnn teaches general music and choir for Streetsboro City Schools. She serves as the North Central Representative for the NAfME general music council. She is a frequent presenter and Teacher Educator for AOSA. She teaches Level I Basic at the University of Hawai’i and Nazareth University in NY, and Orff Curriculum and Masterclasses throughout the US. BethAnn has presented Orff Schulwerk professional development sessions in China, Croatia, India, Malaysia, Nairobi, Scotland, Singapore, and Spain |
. BethAnn is co-author of Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom Books 1 -4. She is a Ph. D. candidate in Music Education at Kent State University.
Housing/General Information
PCM is located at 100 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107. There is ample free parking onsite and across the street.
Please note that PCM does not offer housing. However, there are several comfortable and affordable places to stay in easy walking distance. Out-of-area students who are interested in sharing a room can join our Los Angeles Summer Orff Facebook page or contact course director, Rachael Denny at [email protected] to facilitate a match.
Tuition for the 2026 course is as follows:
Curriculum Course: $500.00
Levels Course: $1250.00 for one level. AOSA does not allow a student to take more than one level per year.
Masterclass: $800.00
Price does not include materials, lodging, or meals.
A deposit of $200 holds your place in course and is refundable May 15th 2026. Full tuition is due June 1st.
For more details, please contact our course director, Rachael Denny at [email protected]
Hope to see you this summer!
Please note that PCM does not offer housing. However, there are several comfortable and affordable places to stay in easy walking distance. Out-of-area students who are interested in sharing a room can join our Los Angeles Summer Orff Facebook page or contact course director, Rachael Denny at [email protected] to facilitate a match.
Tuition for the 2026 course is as follows:
Curriculum Course: $500.00
Levels Course: $1250.00 for one level. AOSA does not allow a student to take more than one level per year.
Masterclass: $800.00
Price does not include materials, lodging, or meals.
A deposit of $200 holds your place in course and is refundable May 15th 2026. Full tuition is due June 1st.
For more details, please contact our course director, Rachael Denny at [email protected]
Hope to see you this summer!