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Chinese International School - EARCOS Weekend Workshop - October 13 & 14, 2012

Chinese International School was proud to be the host of the EARCOS Weekend Workshop on October 13 & 14, 2012, with Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo, who is a well-known music educator, scholar, performer, and clinician in African music and dance, Orff-Schulwerk and Multicultural Music Education. Topics in the 2-day workshop included ‘Analysis and Performance of African Games/Songs/Movement’, ‘Analysis and Performance of African Instrumental Rhythmic Exercises’, ‘Historical, Pedagogical, and Conceptual/Philosophical Relationships between Orff Schulwerk and Traditional African Music and Dance Education’, ‘Exploration of Orff 

and Traditional African Techniques’, ‘African Traditional Formats and Contemporary/ Modern Theatrical Models’ and ‘West African Children’s Traditional Choral Music’.  The workshop was totally interactive and hands on, with reflection and recap at the end of both days.

All of the 38 participants from all over South East Asia thoroughly enjoyed the 2-day workshop.  As reflected in the evaluation questionnaire, all the teachers’ comments were praises and appreciation of how much they have learned from the presenter.  The teachers reported that their favorite parts were drumming, dancing, singing, movement, and seeing how music (sound), dance and rhythm came together, and being a part of it.  Everyone participated fully and enthusiastically.  In addition, many teachers also said that they loved the food and the fellowship, meeting teachers from other schools and countries. 

Again, we at the Chinese International School are thankful that we were able to organize this event which benefitted not only our school, but the larger community of music educators in surrounding countries.  We hope to build a network of music educators in order to share ideas and visions, so that our children will benefit and grow to become, not only music lovers, but global citizens that contribute to humanity.

International school teachers, leaders, and middle managers from Brent International School Baguio, Brent International School Manila, Brent International School Subic, Chinese International School, Cebu Learning Center, Concordia International School Shanghai, the Multiple Intelligences International School,  Cebu Learning Center,  Morrison Academy (Taiwan),  and Shekou International School joined their fellow colleagues from Cebu International School (CIS) during the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) Weekend Workshop hosted by CIS in Cebu, Philippines last October 13-14, 2012. 

Ms. Bambi Betts, CEO of the Academy of International School Heads and the Principal’s Training Centre (The PTC), leading educational professional development organizations, facilitated the workshop. She is renowned worldwide for her work as an educator to teachers, administrators, and Board of schools. 

The forty participants from the Philippines, as well as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzen, and Taiwan, spent two days with Ms. Betts focusing on essential leadership practices to learn more about the skills and tools required to support the work of middle management in schools. 

Ms. Betts presented how an effectiveness of a team is developed and measured using comprehensive checklists, questionnaires, and surveys. Through several exercises, participants also discovered their various leadership styles using the leadership compass directions. Knowing the direction can help maximize leaders to be effective and create an environment for collaborative work. The workshop also focused on understanding change and how leaders can adopt new initiatives to address various stages of concerns that people go through when change is implemented. The participants also considered and discussed leadership issues and best practices related to communication specifically in creating and monitoring team norms and facilitating decision-making sessions.

Through the weekend workshop, Ms Betts emphasized this message that teams in schools must be focused on the learning results of the students. Effective teams have: a clear, common purpose; efficient processes, and; complementary skills among team members, which lead to improved learning. Teams are needed in schools to ensure equal access to the curriculum and to build a shared understanding of what student achievement looks like.

Play, Sing and Dance - an overview of Orff Schulwerk with Doug Goodkin Yokohama International School October 6-7, 2012

  Doug Goodkin looks at a lesson in the classroom as a musical composition. It needs an enticing beginning, a connected middle and a satisfying ending. Doug took the workshop group through these stages over this sensational musical weekend.

The day started in silence with physical warm-ups.  All activities started with a simple rhythmic or melodic pattern and gradually became more complex with each additional step. At times problem-solving in groups became a challenge as we learned how to break up a simple dance into smaller group components.

Body percussion has always been an integral part of the Orff Schulwerk methodology.  This universal instrument was explored in-depth through mastery of simple 3-5-7-9 patterns and 2-4-6-8 patterns.  Vocal sounds were incorporated with the body percussion as well to enhance the overall rhythmic experience.

Orff instrumentation was explored through several songs including “Rain, Rain”, “Funga Alafia”, “Marko Skace”, “Ulan Ulan”, and “Boom Chick a Boom.”  Participants learned about the four elements:  drone, ostinato, color and melody.  Through exploration of various harmonic elements, scales, songs and Orff instrumental techniques workshop participants gained invaluable knowledge on how to  build an Orff orchestra at their own school.

“Funga Alafa”, a call and response African song,  gave workshop participants an opportunity to experience African drumming with percussion instruments,

movement and song.  As the circle of dancers surrounded the instrumentalists with beautiful harmonic sounds an overwhelming sense of community and cooperation filled the air.  Everyone felt a deep connection to a true musical experience - music as vibration.

The importance of games and stories in the Orff Schulwerk methodology were discussed.  Games help students predict patterns.  Stories can help students develop their imagination and project themselves into the future. 

The importance of continual assessment was emphasized as the group worked through the steps of building an activity.  After every activity the group reflected on the challenges they experienced -- “What worked and didn’t work?”  In this way everyone could express their feelings about the success and possible improvements for the future.

Overall, workshop participants thoroughly enjoyed singing, dancing and playing instruments during an incredible workshop.  Not only did the workshop participants learn many great activities through body percussion, instruments, dance, movement and song but they explored the many possibilities of how to build a great lesson -- like a musical composition.  Doug Goodkin shared his vast musical knowledge, instrumental expertise and music education methodology with the workshop participants.  His vast knowledge of world music and particularly jazz has inspired teachers from around the world.  All workshop participants were truly inspired and felt fortunate to spend two days with Doug Goodkin.

Doug Goodkin is internationally known for his work as a music educator and particularly as a proponent of Orff Schulwerk, a dynamic approach to music education developed by composer Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. He is beginning his 38th year at The San Francisco School, where he works with children between three years old and eighth grade, Doug also maintains a rigorous schedule of teacher training, presenting at conferences and giving workshops and courses in 39 countries throughout the world. Doug is particularly well-known for his innovative application of Orff practice to the teaching of jazz and music of diverse cultures, as well as connecting Orff’s generative ideas with the whole of education, culture and human potential.