Content
July 13-24, 2026 • 8:30-4:30 p.m. • UNL Music Building
Clinicians: Karen Benson, Kristine Wolfe, Dan Gullick, & Shelly Smith.
Most music educators recognize the importance of offering active and engaging learning experiences to their students. Orff Schulwerk is a child-centered approach that relies on rhythmic speech, physical movement, and musical play to actively involve students in educational music experiences. This approach uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances - all of which are natural and enjoyable to children - as springboards to learning. The cultivation of imagination and creativity is an important goal of Orff Schulwerk.
Level I of Orff Schulwerk training provides an introduction to Orff teaching techniques, as well as an understanding of the pedagogical processes of the Orff Schulwerk approach. Participants build a collection of immediately usable classroom materials and instructional strategies. Musical content emphasizes pentatonic folk songs, speech-based rhythm performance on pitched and nonpitched percussion instruments, structured and creative body movement, solo and ensemble playing on soprano recorder, and improvisation experiences (in music and movement).
Upon successful completion of the course, participants are awarded a certificate endorsing their achievement in accordance with the guidelines of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA). Participants also may choose to earn 3 hours of graduate college credit by additionally enrolling in MUED 893: Workshop seminar: Orff Schulwerk I.
Instructors
Karen K. Benson, Level III Basic, Level II Recorder
Karen K. Benson, Professional Development Director for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, is also an AOSA Past President and former National Conference Chair. Karen taught grades PreK-5 for 33 years and continues as an AOSA Level Courses Teacher Educator, a presenter at local and national workshops, conferences, and universities, and as adjunct faculty for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Ashland University.
Kristine Wolfe, Level II Basic, Level I Movement
Kristine Wolfe has been teaching PreK-6 Music & Band in the Papillion - La Vista (NE) Community Schools for over 25 years. She earned a BM from Iowa State University and a MM from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In addition to her Kodaly training, Kristine is a Level I & II Orff Schulwerk Instructor and is an active clinician at workshops throughout the United States. Kristine currently serves on the AOSA Fund Development Subcommittee and has attended the National Conference every year since 2006. She has been on the GPOC (Great Plains Orff Chapter) Board since 2005, having served as President, Vice President and Membership Chair before taking over as Program Chair in 2015. In her free time, Kristine enjoys singing and playing Oboe in the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, as well as Recorder with The Jewel Tones.
Dan Gullick, Level I Basic
Dan Gullick teaches kindergarten through fifth grade music at Liberty Ridge Elementary, part of ISD 833, in Woodbury, Minnesota. He directs a fourth and fifth grade choir and founded an Orff ensemble at his school. He holds a BA in music from Luther College and an MA in music education with an emphasis in Orff Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas. He is the department leader for elementary music teachers in ISD 833 for which he develops and presents professional development. He has taught Orff Schulwerk Level I Basic pedagogy at North Dakota State University, Lakeland University, and Portland Orff as well as presented workshops around the country. Dan is a past president of Minnesota Orff, was a member of the National Board of Trustees for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) as a regional Trustee, is the current Recording Secretary for AOSA, and is an AOSA approved teacher educator.
Shelly Smith, Level I and III Recorder, Level II and III Movement
Shelly Smith has been teaching students of all ages since 1990. She recently retired from her work as an elementary music specialist for Millard Public Schools in Omaha, Nebraska. Shelly has taught movement and recorder at AOSA Teacher Education courses since 2002 and has served as a workshop clinician at numerous professional development music conferences, school districts, and AOSA regional chapters. Published in 2015, she was a contributing author to Artful-Mindful-Playful in Action. Shelly has served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees and several AOSA subcommittees.
Program & Schedule
During the two weeks of July 13 - 24, 2026, the courses run Monday through Friday, beginning each day at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. In the course, participants attend classes in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy, movement, recorder, and special topics. The scheduled time includes morning and afternoon breaks and an hour for lunch.
Cost
The cost is $550. If participants want to receive graduate credit hours through UNL, they must additionally register for MUED 893 through UNL and will be assessed University tuition and fees.
Registration
To register click the following link ORFF SUMMER REGISTRATION
Housing
On-campus housing is available during the two weeks of the course. For more specific information about the accommodations, contact Guest Housing within UNL Conference Services at conferenceservices@unl.edu or (800) 809-8681
There are also several hotels within walking distance of the campus.
Parking
Two downtown Lincoln parking garages, Que Place Garage and Market Place Garage are located a block from the course site. A UNL visitor parking pass can be purchased from UNL Parking Service, parking.unl.edu, phone 402-472-1800, email unlpts@unl.edu.