At Westwood Primary, we are very fortunate to have 2 full time music teachers – Dorothy Dahn and Synthia MacEachern. Dorothy holds a Bachelor in Music Education, Masters in music education, and has completed Orff Training Level I. Synthia MacEachern holds a Bachelor in Music Education, Masters in Literacy Education and has completed all 3 levels of Orff training and is a registered Orff Specialist.
You may be thinking “What is Orff?” Orff Schulwerk is an approach to teaching music education that integrates singing, speaking, movement and dance, playing instruments, and creating. The students are engrossed in the creative process from the beginning and use what they are learning to create new connections, new music, and new discoveries.
What makes Westwood special?.
- Collaboration and Team Teaching – Ms. Dahn and Ms. Syndi don’t work as separate music programs. Team teaching occurs every 2nd school cycle. Our vision is to unify the school and our students through music. During the team teaching time, we model positive collaboration for our students. A model they incorporate into their creating and playing in music class.
- Everyone can sing – All children and adults have a singing a voice. You just need to find it. It may take a week of music learning or 6 years of music learning. We work on breaking free of our talking voice and discovering those higher and lower places our voice can take us.
- Music is not all about singing – Our Orff approach integrates movement, speaking, creating, playing instruments, drama. You don’t need to be the best singer to be musical. Many kids at the primary level find their musical power in movement and creating.
- Recorder – All of our grade 3’s learn recorder. We have a wonderful time teaching and learning together. Our Recorder Karate Program is very motivating.
