Mrs. Sellers has been teaching music since 1994. She has a degree in Voice Performance from the University of South Florida and in Music Education from Old Dominion University. She was teacher of the year at her school in 1997. She is certified in two of the three levels of Orff Schulwerk training.  Mrs. Sellers is an active board member of the Phoenix Arizona chapter of Orff Schulwerk  Association. Mrs. Sellers started in Kyrene district in Feb of 2001 as the music teacher specifically hired for CASA Vida. CASA Vida is a program specializing in technology, physical education and the arts for homeschool families. For more information about CASA Vida please use this link: CASA VIDA.htm. Mrs Sellers also teaches part time general music in the Kyrene district  for various schools since 2002.

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Here's what we are learning:

For CASA Vida:                      Greeting song: K/1-Alabama Gal (solo singing, keeping steady beat, movement in conjunction with a song, folksong repetoire)                                         2-6-When I wake up in the Morning with body percussion accompaniment. Time Period: Baroque 1700-1750, The term Baroque is a derogatory term meaning "too much decoration"  or in the case of music..too many notes.  The term was later embraced by composers.  Musical joke: If it ain't "baroque" don't fix it,          Composers: Bach, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Handel                                        Song of the Month(voice lesson): K/1-America the Beautiful..with proper posture..."loud and pretty"..like you are performing before a Cardinals' game.                                               2-6-the same                         Solfege:K-1- pitch matching on S-M and S-M.....pitch dictation on the staff. Getting accustomed to singing solos so that feedback can be given to assist in singing on pitch. (Noteheads only because this indicates the up and down of music on the staff)*                      2-6 -In addition will be learning in order these additional pitches as they are ready for them: La, Do, Fa, Ti.  Then changing from all notes in key of C to different keys. Then minor keys and modes.                                    Rhythm: K-1-quarter note and quarter rest in iconic notation. (Mostly without the "notehead" of the note because rhythm indicates the amount of time a note is held or the amount of quiet)*   2-3-in addition..eighth notes and rests, half notes and rests, whole notes and rests.                                                4-6- in addition-sixteenth notes and rests and syncopation (uneven rhythm) Games and Instruments: K-6 ..our first unit of study for this year will be on rhythm. Rhythm is the second building block for music after the steady beat.  All other units build on top of these  concepts.  We just finished many Native American song and games.  We supplemented with instruments creating instrument "rounds" or "ostinati"( repeated patterns) which were layered upon each other.  This month we will do songs about Fall, Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, being thankful, and songs about turkeys                                        

Orff Schulwerk

For Lagos, Mariposa and Paloma Kindergarten:                            Greeting song: (solo singing, keeping steady beat, movement in conjunction with a song, folksong repetoire)       Alabama Gal                                  Time Period: Classical 1750-1800, Classical is a term that we use referring to "time".  Classical  is  a term that can also apply to "type" or "style" of music. Composers: Mozart, Hayden, and Beethoven (many musicologists say  that he is from the Romantic time periods or is the bridge composer between Classical and Romantic.)                                  Song of the Month(voice lesson): For Lagos, Mariposa and Paloma: America the Beautiful                                         Solfege: pitch matching on S-M and S-M.....pitch dictation on the staff. Getting accustomed to singing solos so that feedback can be given to assist in singing on pitch. (Noteheads only because this indicates the "up and down" of music on the staff)*                                 Rhythm: quarter note and quarter rest in iconic notation. (Mostly without the "notehead" of the note because rhythm indicates the amount of "time" a note is held or the amount of quiet)*        Games and Instruments: Primarily we are playing games that promote solo singing and the S-M interval reinforcement.  Instruments are played every week but not at every classes since we meet twice a week. We just finished Native American games or activities with instruments.  Now we are focusing on the Pilgrims, Turkeys, Thanksgiving and being thankful. _________________________________

Try these web links for composer information:

Classical Composers' Archive

Essentials of Music - Composers

WOMEN COMPOSERS / by KAPRALOVA SOCIETY

List of composers by name - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Mrs. Sellers has 6 parts to a lesson:

Greeting, Composer/Musical Time Period, Voice Lesson, Rhythm Practice, Solfege Practice, Instruments and/or Games, Closing/Review.

The theory is that there are musical skills that must be worked on continuously to master and improve. 

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Mrs. Sellers'  Music Rules are spoken every class to remind student of expectations.  They are:

*Raise your hand, wait to be called on , when you want to speak.                                     *Wait for the  "signal" to play instruments.       *Be kind to others.                                        *Be kind to the instruments and equipment.  *Follow directions by listening carefully.             *Body parts and objects to yourself.           *Only lips, tongue, teeth in your mouth.  *Everyone participate. 

Elementary General music uses small hand percussion and the flute-like Recorders.  We are not able to teach strings or orchestral type instruments. __________________________________

Private Music Lessons

Mrs. Sellers is prohibited from recommending specific music teachers, however, ASU has a very fine music academy associated with it.  Also, for very young children, Suzuki method is and excellent way for young learners to play string instruments and piano.  For regular piano methods, I recommend waiting until the student is at least 5 1/2 years old so they have the motor coordination necessary to go along with number and letter recognition.  Be prepared to have your child practice a minimum of 15 minutes per day which will have to be monitored by the parent.  ________________________________

What Is Orff Schulwerk?

(This explanation of Orff Schulwerk was adapted from the American Orff-Schulwerk Association web site.)

Orff Schulwerk is a way to teach and learn music. It is based on things children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance, and keep a beat on anything near at hand.

These instincts are directed into learning music by hearing and making music first, then reading and writing it later. This is the same way we all learned our language.

Orff Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as examples and basic materials. These may be traditional or original. Spoken or sung, they may be accompanied by clapping and stamping or by drums, sticks, and bells.

The special Orff melody instruments include wooden xylophones and metal glockenspiels that offer good sound immediately.

Played together as in a small orchestra, their use helps children become sensitive listeners and considerate participants.

Composer Carl Orff and his associate Gunild Keetman evolved the basic texts for the Schulwerk as models for teachers worldwide. Now translated into eighteen languages, Orff Schulwerk is based on the traditional music and folklore of each country in which it is used. At present more than 10,000 teachers in the United States have found the Schulwerk the ideal way to present the magic of music to their students.

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Mrs. Sellers also uses Kodaly process to teach singing technique and sight singing from the staff.   Pitches are taught on the staff in Key of C using G line for Sol, E line for Mi, A space for La etc.  until 3rd grade. After 3rd grade, the pitches are taught in the keys that are most appropriate for the songs to be sung  or played in.  Students use ear-training to "write" the pitches on the staff using manipulatives.