Early Childhood Music

A DYNAMIC, INTERACTIVE ORFF APPROACH FOR PRESCHOOL TO GRADE 3

Participants in this workshop will experience music teaching ideas for

  • Stories. Find out how they enhance musicality and creativity.
  • Puppets. Parachute, scarves, felts, and visuals for increased participation and learning.
  • Ukulele. Make the classroom a happier place by incorporating this little gem.
  • Recorders. Sopranino for you. Soprano for the students. A unique, exciting approach.
  • Orff.  What’s best – the How and When of using pitched and unpitched instruments.
  • Transitions. Songs, sounds and signals for a more musical and magical experience.
  • Singing. A sequence of activities for success. Pitch matching and singing with others.
  • Gathering Drum. The benefits are as big as the drum. Hand drums too.
  • Dance and Movement. Free and creative. Structured and timed. 

This workshop includes a 100-plus page training resource book for early childhood and elementary, which will be sent to you digitally before the workshop and used in all sessions. The course is great for brand-new teachers, as well as long-time experienced teachers. New teachers and classroom teachers alike will love the online lessons sent prior to the training for an option to prepare ahead of time and review the week after as well.   

  • Dates: June 13 – 15
  • Times: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
  • Non-credit Cost: $300
  • Graduate Credit Cost: Additional $500 for one hour of graduate credit (paid separately to SMU after following instructions in the workshop registration confirmation email)
  • Housing: There is no on-campus housing available for this workshop. For a list of local Dallas hotels near the SMU campus and out-of-state discounts, go to 
  • Required Materials: A ukulele (soprano or concert size), as well as both a sopranino and soprano recorder are required. Three-piece Aulos or Yamaha recorders are highly recommended. Visit musicrhapsody.com/shop for the recommended models.

Early Childhood Music Faculty

Lynn Kleiner has been teaching from an Orff approach in public and private schools since 1978. She is a frequent presenter for school districts throughout the US, for the conferences of AOSA, NAfME, TMEA, and the National Association for Education of the Young Child, as well as for International Orff and music organizations in Asia, Australia, and Europe. In 1983, Kleiner founded Music Rhapsody in response to drastic cuts to California school music programs. Lynn and her team of teachers provide Orff-based programs in studios, schools, and community centers. Her line of Remo instruments and Alfred books/CDs have won several awards. Lynn offers live and online teacher training, curriculum, and resources, including Lynn Kleiner’s Music Box and Music Rhapsody membership. Her Orff levels and Master level teachers include Jos Wuytack, Richard Gill, and Grace Nash. She has taught in the Orff Schulwerk Teacher Educations courses at UCLA.

For further information about SMU Music Educators Workshops or to register for one of these classes visit  or contact Directors Julie Scott, Lisa Beyer, and Courtney Wilson at muedworkshops@smu.edu.