Putting movement into the body is only the first step as we teach the student to respond to sound thereby giving the student an opportunity to learn the concept of empathy in music. What is often forgotten is the important step of teaching our students how to use movement not as a response but as an actual catalyst to change sound. It is what a conductor should be able to do beyond entrances, exits and tapping out the tempo but more often than not, that is all we really see. It is the same pedagogical sequence as teaching any other musical concept. Experience, Label, Notate. We will do several activities that you can do with your class to help them experience and embody sound. Then we will label the types of movement used and how it can affect sound. Lastly, we will create new sounds and change elements of music with the use of our bodies and movement. This will all be experienced in the context of speech, singing, and playing the Orff Instrumentarium.
Lochdale Elementary School
Dr. Adam Jonathan Con
Dr. Adam Jonathan Con is Assistant Professor of Music at University of Victoria School of Music. Conductor of the UVic Chorus, he also teaches Secondary Choral Rehearsal Techniques and Literature, Middle and Elementary School choir methods, Elementary Music Methods, Music Education Foundation, Choral Conducting, and supervises music education students. He is certified in Orff Schulwerk and embodies the philosophy in every aspect of music education at all levels. He previously served in both Choral Activities and in Music Education at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University, Long Beach, at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. A native of Vancouver, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master Degree in Music Education from the University of British Columbia. At the Florida State University, he earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education (Choral Conducting Emphasis) studying with Rodney Eichenberger, Andre Thomas, Clifford Madsen and Judy Bowers. In addition, Dr. Con has extensive study experience as a Tai Chi Chuan and Alexander Technique practitioner.
In high demand in the United States and Canada both as a clinician, guest conductor and choral conducting teacher, Dr. Con has been invited to present and conduct at prestigious events such as the Canadian and American National Orff-Schulwerk Conferences, Podium: the Canadian National Choral Conducting Symposium, the Canadian National GALA Conference, the Alberta Provincial Music Educator’s Conference, the British Columbia Provincial Music Educator’s Conference, the British Columbia Choral Federation, the British Columbia Kodaly Society, the Ohio State Music Educator’s Conference, the Georgia and California State American Choral Directors Association Conference, and the Georgia Music Educator’s Conference. His talent and ability to work with all levels of musical experience is grounded in 15 years of diverse K-12 public school music teaching in British Columbia which includes Orff, Kodály, and Dalcroze based general music, French immersion music, middle and secondary school choral, vocal jazz, concert band and jazz band. His professional conducting experiences include numerous All-State and honor choirs, civic orchestras, professional musical theatre, community choirs, concert bands, and 36 years as a church choir director and organist.
