Professional development programs

Our summer programs provide educational and professional development opportunities for university students, choral conductors and music educators.

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Orff Teacher Certification Program July 7-18, 2025

Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman have inspired a global movement in music education. Their approach encourages musical creativity based upon solid pedagogical principles and is structured on a sequential development of knowledge and skills.

What is the Orff Teacher Certification Program?

It is a child-centered philosophy of teaching music to children through doing, playing, exploring, improvising and creating. It combines elements of speech, rhythm, movement, song and dance to teach musical elements and provide children with tools to improvise and create. Teaching with the Orff approach provides opportunities for differentiated instruction, joyful music-making and creating a place for every child to grow as a musician and a person. 

The Orff approach is a process that relies on imaginative teachers who are confident and creative musicians! The three-level Orff Certification Program at the University of Manitoba offers an intensive course of instruction in Orff philosophy, pedagogy, orchestration and improvisation. As well as daily instruction in Basic Orff, particular attention is given to in-depth study of choral techniques, movement and recorder.

Orff’s philosophy and process is effective for elementary music educators and in the instruction for band and choral programs and private teaching studios. 

Program overview

Each of the program's three levels consists of three hours of Basic Orff and an hour each of movement, recorder, choral techniques, and study-ensemble, daily. Students from all levels come together in the morning for a half-hour interest session to introduce students to different types of musical genres and techniques such as Caribbean drumming, pop music in Orff or early childhood music education.  

  • Date: July 7-18, 2025
  • Levels being offered in 2025: Level 1 and 2 (Level 3 will be offered if there is enough interest) 

Level I

Level I lays a foundation in Orff pedagogy, rhythmic and melodic training.  The focus is on pentatonic materials, simple bordun, basic movement instruction, choral development at the primary level, and the introduction of the soprano recorder. Level I includes a half-hour of aural skills each day.

Enrollment is limited to 30 students.

Benefits of Level I: 

  • Learn to teach music concepts using speech, body percussion, movement, and song 
  • Learn the role of the instruments; how to integrate recorder and pitched and non-pitched percussion in the process 
  • Learn how to create, teach, and evaluate orchestrations to be used in music programs 

Level I prerequisites

A firm and recent knowledge of music rudiments at least equivalent to Theory 4 (Conservatory Canada) or Grade 5 Theory/Basic Rudiments (RCM). 
Practical experience on an instrument is very important.

In order to participate in Level 1, you must have working knowledge of reading and writing in the treble clef, and be able to read and write a variety of rhythms in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 time. The Desautels Faculty of Music has a Music Rudiments course offered by the Preparatory Studies if you need to brush up on your skills prior to the start of the course. Please visit the Theory Entrance Exam Preparation Class website for details or contact Donnalynn Grills, Program Coordinator at 204.474.9403 or e-mail Donnalynn.Grills@umanitoba.ca to inquire about individual piano and/or theory lessons. 

Level II

Level II includes a review of Level I skills and involves further exploration of Orff theory and pedagogy. Materials and activities are designed to further the musical growth of the participants and to encourage study of lesson planning and curriculum for the elementary years.  Recorder classes include the study of both the soprano and alto recorders.

Enrollment is limited to 16 students.

Benefits of Level II:

  • Build upon the understanding of the Orff media (speech, body percussion, movement, song, and improvisation) and use the media in an active and integrated way 
  • Explore the historical context of Orff Schulwerk; Who, What, Where, When, and Why? 
  • Develop alto recorder technique and discover the role of the alto recorder in the process 
  • Learn how to orchestrate and facilitate music creation in modal contexts

Level II prerequisites

Grade of C+ or better in Level I (U of M) plus consent of the instructors.

Level III

Level III continues instruction in the theory, philosophy, and pedagogy related to Orff process. Students are expected to create, orchestrate and perform at a high level and to reach a high standard of competence in the art of teaching especially at the middle school level.
 
Course work features mixed meters, and an exploration of melodies with I-V, I-IV, and I-IV-V harmonic accompaniment. Competence in composing and arranging in the Elemental style and familiarity with materials from the Schulwerk, and Medieval, Renaissance, and Contemporary sources is developed along with recorder work using the full complement of recorders. Fluency on alto and soprano recorder is expected prior to the start of the course.

Enrollment is limited to 12 students.

Benefits of Level III:

  • Develop mastery of integrating all of the Orff media and teaching strategies of the Orff approach. 
  • Perform, compose and orchestrate melodies with I-V, I-IV, and I-IV-V harmonic accompaniment.
  • Create and teach complex orchestrations 
  • Fine tune recorder skills and development and experience of the recorder consort (SATB).

Level III prerequisites

Grade of B or better in Level II plus consent of the instructors.

The UM Orff program is endorsed by Carl Orff Canada.

Both Carl Orff Canada and the Manitoba Orff Chapter offer scholarships for participants in levels programs: COC Gunild Keetman Scholarship (Applications due April 15):  https://orffcanada.ca/scholarships/

MOC Helen Neufeld Memorial Scholarship usually awarded to a student in level 2 or 3 (Applications due sometime in May): https://manitobaorff.org/helen-neufeld-mem-schol

Note: Because this is a credit course, participants can claim the tuition fee amount on their Federal Income Taxes for a rebate. 

How to Register

Registration for non-UM students

Overview of fees

Estimate of fees

  • $100.00* - Application Fee (Special Student, General Students) payable online 
  • $998.38 - Course Fee, including 5% GST (due July 16th, visit umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees) 
  • $45.84 - Technology Fee
  • $18.00 - Endowment fee
  • $76.60 - Sport & Rec Fee 
  • $2.70 - Student Organizations Fee 
  • $13.45 - Registration Fee 
  • $13.45 - Student Services Fee 
  • $13.45 - Library Fee 

$1,221.87 Total 

For details see umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees/undergraduate#tuition-rates-per-credit-hour 

*If you were registered in a UM course last summer or in the 2024-2025 academic year, this fee is waived, provided that you have not attended any other post-secondary institutions since your last registration at UM. Please contact Karen.Nickerson@umanitoba.ca or Michelle.Kidd@umanitoba.ca to be reinstated as a special student before June 1, 2025.

Step 1 - Fill out Orff Program application form

Fill out and submit the application form online.

Orff Program Application 2025 Form

Upon receipt of your application form, the course director will contact you (normally within a week) regarding acceptance of your application and details for registration.

If you have any questions regarding the application form, the status of your application, or the registration process, please contact Dr. Jody Stark, course director for the University of Manitoba Orff Schulwerk program at jody.stark@umanitoba.ca. 

Step 2 - Apply to Extended Education, General Studies

Once you receive a confirmation e-mail from the Orff Program course director, apply to Extended Education, General Studies as a Special Student at umanitoba.ca/explore/undergraduate-admissions/apply . You are required to pay a non-refundable $100 application fee. 

Step 3 - Notification of decision

Keep checking your applicant portal for updates and an offer of admission which you must accept online. Once you accept the offer, you will be able to register in the course using U of M's online registration system (Aurora) which you can access through the U of M website here: umanitoba.ca/explore/undergraduate-admissions/apply 

Registration for Summer courses generally begins sometime in April. An override is required  from your faculty in order for you to register. For Extended Education, General Studies students, please contact general.studies@umanitoba.ca for assistance. Students enrolled in a program in the faculty of Education will need to contact their student advisor in that Faculty. ​​​​​​​

Once this step is complete, your spot is secured. 

Register in the appropriate 6 credit-hour course:

Orff level 1: MUSC 3200 

Orff level 2:  MUSC 3210

Orff level 3: MUSC 4212

Registration for current UM students

Overview of Fees

  • $998.38 - Course Fee, including 5% GST (due July 16th, visit umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees) 
  • $45.84 - Technology Fee
  • $18.00 - Endowment fee
  • $76.60 - Sport & Rec Fee 
  • $2.70 - Student Organizations Fee 
  • $13.45 - Registration Fee 
  • $13.45 - Student Services Fee 
  • $13.45 - Library Fee 

$1,121.87 Total 

Step 1 - Fill out Orff Program application form

Fill out and submit the application form online.

Orff Program Application 2025 Form

Upon receipt of your application form, the course director will contact you (normally within a week) regarding acceptance of your application and details for registration.

If you have any questions regarding the application form, the status of your application, or the registration process, please contact Dr. Jody Stark, course director for the University of Manitoba Orff Schulwerk program at jody.stark@umanitoba.ca. 

 

Step 2 - Notification of decision

Once you receive a confirmation e-mail from the course director, register on the following courses*: 

*You may need help of the student advisor from your home faculty if an override is needed. 

Register in the appropriate 6 credit-hour course:

Orff level 1: MUSC 3200 

Orff level 2: MUSC 3210

Orff level 3: MUSC 4212

CREDIT AND FEES listed are for Canadian students. International students are most welcome and should please direct enquiries about fees to dfom.advising@umanitoba.ca

 

Kodály Teacher Certificate Program

Experience the Kodály approach first-hand while studying musicianship, pedagogy, musical materials, conducting and choral singing, all with an emphasis on the Canadian context.

  • What is Kodály teacher education?

    Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer and music educator who revolutionized music education in the 20th century. Kodály believed that “music belongs to everyone” and worked tirelessly to develop an approach where every person could become a functional musician, appropriate to their age and context.

    Kodály-inspired music education is well known globally for its systematic approach to musicianship, beginning with hands-on activities and children’s folk materials and progressing through to advanced harmonic and historical concepts and musicianship.

    Participants who successfully complete the course receive certification with the Kodály Society of Canada along with university credit. 

  • Course certified by the Kodály Society of Canada 

    Kodaly Society of Canada

Kodály course dates

Dates: July 6-17, 2026 (Levels 1 and 2)

Note: Because this is a credit course, participants can claim the tuition fee amount on their Federal Income Taxes for a rebate.

Registration option 1 - for non-UM students

Fees for 2024

  • $100.00* Application fee (Special Student, General Studies) payable online
  • $907.08 Course fee, including 5% GST (due July 13th, visit umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees 
  • $12.28 Registration Fee 
  • $12.28 Student Services Fee 
  • $12.28 Library Fee 
  • $41.94 Technology Fee ($6.99 / cr.hr)
  • $69.93 Sport and Rec Fee 
  • $5.29 Student Organization Fee 

$1,161.08 Total 

For details see umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees/undergraduate#tuition-rates-per-credit-hour
*If you were registered in a U of M course last summer or in the current academic year, this fee is waived. Please contact Karen.Nickerson@umanitoba.ca or Michelle.Kidd@umanitoba.ca to be reinstated as a special student. 

Step 1 - Fill out registration form

Fill out the registration form and mail or e-mail to: 

Dr. Jody Stark, Course Director
Desautels Faculty of Music 
150  Dafoe Road
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus)
Winnipeg, MB  R3T 2N2
jody.stark@umanitoba.ca

Registration form available in February 2026

Please contact Jody if there are any problems with the forms.

Step 2 - Apply to Extended Education, General Studies

Once you receive confirmation e-mail from the Kodály course director, you can apply to Extended Education, General Studies as a Special Student through umanitoba.ca/explore/undergraduate-admissions/apply where you will be asked to pay the non-refundable $100 application fee. 

Notification of decision

Keep checking your applicant portal for updates and an offer to admission which you must accept online. Once you accept the offer, you will be able to register in the course using the UM online registration system (Aurora) which you can access through the UM website at umanitoba.ca/explore/undergraduate-admissions/apply   

Registration for Summer courses generally begins sometime in April. An override is required from your faculty in order for you to register. For Open Studies please contact Karen.nickerson@umanitoba.ca or Michelle.Kidd@umanitoba.ca for assistance. Students enrolled in a program in the faculty of Education will need to contact their student advisor in that Faculty. 

Once this step is complete your spot is secured. 

Registration information for current UM students

Fees for 2024

  • $100.00* Application fee (Special Student, General Studies) payable online at time of application
  • $971.58 Tuition, including 5% GST (due July 1311th, visit umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees 
  • $13.09 Registration Fee 
  • $13.09 Student Services Fee 
  • $13.09 Library Fee 
  • $44.64 Technology Fee 
  • $73.55 Sport and Rec Fee 
  • $5.98 Student Organization Fee 

$1235.02 Total

Step 1 - Register for course

Fill out the registration form and mail or e-mail to: 
Dr. Jody Stark, Course Director  
Orff Certification Program 
Desautels Faculty of Music
136 Dafoe Road 
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Jody.Stark@umanitoba.ca
The registration form can also be delivered in-person to Jody Stark or the Desautels Faculty of Music Office (319-150 Dafoe Rd., Tache Hall)
 
Registration form available in February 2026
 

Notification of decision

Once you receive a confirmation e-mail from the course director, register in MUSC 3220: Kodály Music Education 1* for level 1 or MUSC 3222  Kodály Music Education 2* for level 2
*You may need the help of the student advisor from your home faculty if an override is needed. 

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