The morning lecture was absolutely wonderful. The presenter, Christine Schronner, has devoted the last 10 years of her career to working with the elderly. She set up a music class at a local nursing home where she taught once a week for an hour. She had quite a collection of video clips from her early years working with her "students" up until the present. Using the Orff approach in this atmosphere created a sense of community, laughter, and a special bond between class members that was evident just through observing the video clips. Her joy and energy to work with this group of people is truly inspiring. She compiled these video clips onto one DVD that I couldn't leave without buying. From a practical standpoint several of the activities she did with her "students" would be perfect for me to use with kindergarten and first grade. I'm looking forward to watching this video from start to finish. If any music friends would like to borrow it, you are more than welcome to do so. I'll promise you'll love every minute of it.
Sonja's class was centered on movement with stockings. We used them like elastic bands in individual, partner and group work. I think my students from young to older would really enjoy some of the ideas she presented with this manipulative.
Doris' class was also filled with fun ideas to couple chant, singing, and games together in such a fun way. It was a combination of a nonsense syllable song with a foot game (like a complicated hop scotch). Perhaps at some point I can share this activity with some of my Tulsa music colleagues?!
That night for the closing session Ari and another staff member, Michel Wilhemd presented several activities using body percussion, voice and instruments. It was a lot of fun and there is one particular lesson that I'd also like to share with my music friends using improvisation on boomwackers.
That evening we went back to the city center and had a nice, delicious German dinner of wiener shintzel. As expected, dinner was definitely a good time!
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