Master Class: Orff-Afrique

A Master Class with Immersive, Hands-On Experience in Orff-Schulwerk, African Indigenous Music Education, Children’s Games, Dance, Drum, Xylophone & Vocal/Choral Music in Ghana

Instructors: Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo, Prosper Gbolonyo, Aaron Bebe Sukura, Doug Goodkin, Sofía López-Ibor, James Harding, Guest Ghanaian teachers and students from Nunya Academy
Date: June 19 – 30, 2023 

The music of West Africa birthed an unparalleled musical explosion in the African Diaspora—blues, gospel, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, reggae, calypso, samba, salsa and more can all be traced back to the vibrant musical cultures still alive and growing in West Africa. Children in music classes throughout the world delight in playing, singing and dancing “African” music, but teachers are often woefully unprepared to do the music justice, presenting a watered-down version with no knowledge of cultural context.  This course offers a rare opportunity to learn and experience the music in its natural setting, taught by Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo, a remarkable teacher schooled in traditional ways in his home village of Dzodze, Ghana, while also trained in both Orff Schulwerk and Western university methods. He will be assisted by the above instructors, as well as select Ghanaian teachers.

Participants will learn songs, games, dances, xylophone and percussion music from Ghana’s diverse cultures, as well as touch on other African and African-inspired styles. Alongside the hands-on learning will be lectures, concerts, discussion groups, field trips, observation of and work with students in local schools including Nunya Music Academy and outside of schools in the traditional village environment.  The live Orff-Afrique Courses in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and the online versions in 2020 and 2021 had a life-changing impact on hundreds of music teachers. Don’t miss it!

Orff Schulwerk: Orff-Afrique (EDUX 9348) 
Dates: June 19 – 30, 2023 
Times: 6:30am – 9:30pm 
Cost:  $1,320.00 (no credit) or $1,540.00 (4 continuing education credits)
Location: Nunya Academy & White Dove Hotel, Dzodze, Ghana (in the Volta region)

**More Detail Course/Program Information click HERE**

To register, please click HERE.

For further information, please contact: 

Kofi Gbolonyo, Course Director
Email: kofigbolonyo@gmail.com