I just returned from the Orff Jazz Course by Doug Goodkin and it was everything and more that I could have hoped for or imagined.
In my early years I enjoyed ten years of musical instruction but it was this 5-day class that helped me understand music and creativity as never before.
If America or any other nation wishes to develop children's creativity and problem solving skills, we should be including Orff musical methods under the direction of Doug Goodkin and his colleagues at the San Francisco School and the JaSeSoi Orff Foundation in Finland. Truly, these teachers are artists in their ability to scaffold lessons and inspire creativity. Amazing. These teachers are not alone, either, as they've been working with teachers from around the world for many years - at our 5-day class we had teachers from Thailand, China, Japan, Canada, Germany, and the U.K. In the next room were people from Venezuela, Brazil, and I don't know where else, but it was a rich and varied group. And this has been going on for many years. Such a talented and varied group!
I'm feeling anxious about compiling in video and written form what I learned in Finland before I get back to teaching my students but I had to take this class when it was offered and I'm so glad I did. I'm better for it, and more creative, too. :)
