Building Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful Singing Communities

Educators will explore joyful examples of Singing Games and Songtales that focus on what is ARTFUL in music.
1. Pitch Exploration - Awakening the Singing Voice
2. Fragment Singing - Echo & Call and Response Songs
3. Simple Songs - Developing Independent Singing 4. Arioso - Vocal improvisation
5. Songtales - Modelling Expressive Singing

Teaching the Tuneful, Beatful and Artful Part of Movement

This energetic session is full of joyful movement activities that are focused on developing expressive sensitivity to music, moving with formal structure, and developing and maintaining a steady beat. Children who can effectively move expressively will understand how to artfully interpret music with their body, voice and/or instrument.

An Ear-First Approach to Musical Thinking: the Feierabend Way and Music and Movement in the Early Years, the Feierabend Way with the First Steps in Music Framework

All children possess natural musical potential, and regular exposure to rich musical experiences can enhance their innate abilities. With over 40 years of research and as a former OAKE National president, Dr. John Feierabend has developed the 8-part workout to nurture a child’s inherent musical skills using traditional songs, rhymes, games, and movement activities. This session explores how to cultivate tunefulness, beatfulness, and artfulness in young children, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling musical life.

First Steps in Music is a music readiness curriculum intended for implementation prior to beginning music reading studies. Key areas include fostering tuneful independence through pitch exploration, song fragments, solo singing, and arioso improvisation, as outlined in the book. The session also addresses movement and beat development strategies to enhance beatfulness and musical expressivity through movement exploration, beat-keeping activities, and expressive movement. Designed for educators teaching children aged three to nine, this interactive session offers a model First Steps lesson and practical insights into the Feierabend approach and its outcomes in the lower elementary music classroom.

Exciting Games to Teach Music Literacy

The fun and exciting activities explored in this session are designed to develop music literacy for children in lower to upper elementary and beyond. Participants will develop Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful skills along with a deeper understanding of rhythm and melody using exciting games

First Steps in Music – Overview

First Steps in Music (™) is a research-based, curricular framework combining the development of singing and movement skills in order to maximize musical aptitude in young children, typically grades PreK-2. The eight-part “workout” is designed to encourage musical independence and creativity through joyful activities and experiences shared with others while developing the prerequisite skills needed for notational literacy: singing in tune, keeping a steady beat, and developing sensitivity to the expressive elements of music.

Conversational Solfege – Overview

With the Conversational Solfege approach, music literacy starts with an “ear-before-eye” philosophy. Songs are broken down into their component parts and then reassembled so students grow in musical understanding. This session is a basic overview of the 12-step teaching method created by Dr. John M. Feierabend.

How to Host a Family Folk Dance

Hosting a Family Folk Dance is an inclusive, inviting, inexpensive and immediately gratifying experience that provides a wonderful opportunity to build a bridge from school to home and connect to your community in a meaningful and musical way. Learn how to structure and sequence a folk dance that will guarantee an enjoyable and successful experience for all members of your school community. Learn effective strategies that make learning each dance effortless and immediately satisfying. Participants will be introduced to dances from several countries and cultures around the world. A detailed handout will be provided. Wear your dancing shoes!