Music Teaching Workshops & Residencies


Robbin Marcus specializes in music teaching workshops on the following topics:

  • Building and Playing the Appalachian Lap Dulcimer

  • Folk Dance in the Music Classroom

  • A Festival of the English May
 

Building and Playing the Appalachian Lap Dulcimer
The Appalachian lap dulcimer is a wonderful folk instrument that everyone can play. Robbin Marcus will assist you in a half day dulcimer building workshop (using cardboard dulcimers from Backyard Music) and then teach you some basic folk songs and rudi­mentary dul­cimer skills.  Robbin also presents this workshop as a residency at your school, working with your students to build their own instruments.  (See further information in the next column)

Both a building and a playing session can be held on the same day. Music masters will be provided for you to copy. Dulcimer kits are available from Backyard Music for an additional fee. Please contact Robbin Marcus for more information on these instruments.

Presented for the following organizations:
  • Maryland United Specialists in Kodály (MUSIK)
  • The American Kodály Institute
  • The Peabody Conservatory Saturday Series
  • Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators (VOKE)
  • Kodály Educators of Southern California (KASC)


Folk Dance in the Music Classroom –
A Natural Progression from Singing Games and Play Parties
Music teachers need quick and easy ways to incorporate folk dance into the music curriculum.  Let Robbin show you how to link folk dance to the singing games and play parties you are already teaching - thus saving time and adding to the FUN factor for your students!

Presented for the following organizations:
  • Organization of American Kodály Educators
  • Maryland United Specialists in Kodály
  • The Peabody Conservatory Saturday Series
  • Kodály Educators of Eastern Pennsylvania 
  • Association of Independent American Schools
  • Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators
  • Maryland Orff Schulwerk Association
  • The American Kodály Institute
  • Webster University
  • George Mason University
  • Southeastern Chapter of Kodály Educators (SECKE), Univ. of TN
  • Kodaly Educators of Georgia (KEGA)
  • University of Georgia Orff certification program special topic session
A Festival of the English May – May carols, dances, and Maypole dances
From English Country dances (think Jane Austen!) to Morris dances (ritual dances to wake up the earth), your students will dance softly, and then get to carry a big stick! The dances you will learn are adaptable for children from early elementary through middle or high school, and make great spring programming ideas.   If you would like Robbin to incorporate Maypole dances into this workshop, you will need to provide the pole!
    
Presented for the following organizations:
  • Organization of American Kodály Educators
  • Maryland United Specialists in Kodály
  • Kodály Educators of  Eastern Pennsylvania 
  • Association of Independent American Schools
  • National Association of Independent Schools
  • The Peabody Conservatory Saturday Series
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        School Residencies

Workshops on Folk Dance, English Folk Dance and Dulcimer Building are also available as school residencies.  Click here for a downloadable PDF brochure and more information.


           Other Workshop Topics

Basic Kodály Pedagogy
Improvisation and Composition in the Music Classroom
Teaching music literacy through children’s choral music – techniques for non-rote learning.
Using Moveable “Do” Solfege in the Secondary Choral Rehearsal
Teaching Key Signatures through Solfège


Workshops  and residencies vary in price depending on the duration, which can be from one hour to a full day.  Travel expenses from Atlanta Georgia may also need to be figured into the final cost.
Contact Robbin for more information.




"Robbin's vast experience and knowledge of contra dance & play party dances was thrilling.  She has inspired me to find time to dance more with my students."     --Debbie, KEGA workshop participant



"The session today was a great model for 'purposeful teaching.'  It created a hunger for more."      --Gary, curriculum specialist