Say, Sing, Dance and Play – A Taste of Orff: Nelson

Celia Stewart MNZM
I am Music Director of the Christchurch School of Music where I also run foundation classes for pre-schoolers and primary aged children. I am passionate about the value of music in children’s lives and love working with teachers to share that passion. I have completed four levels of Orff Schulwerk and my Masters thesis focused on my Orff work in a primary school. I have been a lecturer in early childhood music and a primary music adviser so music has permeated throughout my career. I play flute, recorder and love singing in a local world music choir.

Heather Libeau-Dow
After general classroom teaching I specialised in primary music for eleven years then lectured at the University of Canterbury - College of Education for another eleven years.
Currently I have an interesting mix combining both areas. I appraise College of Education primary teacher trainees on school placements; deliver choir/ class music programmes in Christchurch schools and teach singing from my private studio. My Orff- Schulwerk journey started more than a decade ago with VOSA Levels 1 and 2 in Melbourne; later completing the University of Waikato Post Graduate qualification . Attendance at the 2010 Salzburg Summer School was followed by completing by Level 4 in Hamilton with inspirational Orff educator Mary Helen Solomon from Florida.
My practice is strongly influenced by my training in Orff-Schulwerk. In line with contemporary educational pedagogy, this creative child-centred approach scaffolds musical experiences through experiential learning. Integrating language, movement singing and playing; musical skills and concepts are explored in positive environment.

Jeremy Hantler
Is a Tauranga-based, Christchurch-born music educator who teaches music at Matua Primary and Otumoetai College, and runs workshops and bands in the weekends and evenings. He has travelled extensively to attend intercultural music and teaching workshops in Estonia, Sweden, Salzburg, and France, and brings a wealth of experience to the classroom context. Jeremy still delights in simple melodies sung and played by our youngest musicians, and values the process and benefits of making meaningful music on the way to making aesthetically pleasing music.