Back to School Day
Saturday February 22, 2025
Join Kodály Vic and the Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association (VOSA) for our annual Back to School Day! The morning will include workshops run by Kodály and Orff experts! Brush off the cobwebs and kick-start the New Year. Be inspired by fresh and innovative ideas!
Venue: Melbourne Girls Grammar Morris Hall – This is the JUNIOR SCHOOL and a different venue to last year!
100 Caroline St. South Yarra
Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)
Times: 8am – Registration, 8.30am – 12.30pm Back to School Day
Presenters: Ruth Friend (Lower Kodály), Katie Hull-Brown (Lower Orff), Susan Searle (Upper Kodály), Alice Csabi (Upper Orff), Alex St Vincent Welch (Kodály all in)
Registration Rates
Become a Kodály Australia or VOSA member to save on your registration!
If you wish to pay by invoice, please select this option at checkout.
NOTE: Pay by Invoice will close on 20/02/25. After this time all registrations must be paid for at the time of booking.
Non-refundable booking fees are added to all registrations by our ticketing partners Humanitix
| Registration type | Early Bird (paid before end 8 February) | Standard (paid after 8 February) |
|---|---|---|
| Kodály Australia & VOSA Members | $97.88 ($95 + $2.88 booking fee) | $113.25 ($110 + $3.25 booking fee) |
| Non-member | $113.25 ($110 + $3.25 booking fee) | $133.75 ($130 + $3.75 booking fee) |
| Full time Student | $62.00 ($60 + $2.00 booking fee) | $67.13 ($65 + $2.15 booking fee) |
Program
| 8.00am | Registration | |
| 8.30am | All in – Kodály Alex St Vincent Welch |
|
| 9.00am | Session 1 | |
| Lower Orff Katie Hull-Brown |
Upper Kodály Susan Searle |
|
| 10.15am | Morning Tea & Trade | |
| 10.45am | Session 2 | |
| Upper Orff Alice Csabi |
Lower Kodály Ruth Friend |
|
| 12.00 noon | All out – Orff Katie Hull-Brown |
|
| 12.30pm | Finish | |
Venue Information
Parking
Please be aware that there is very limited parking surrounding the venue. Most of the streets close by offer a range of 2 or 3 hour parking.
There is $5 all day parking in Shipley St. This is a block’s walk from the venue.
Public Transport Options
Train:
- South Yarra Train Station, on the Cranbourne, Frankston, Pakenham and Sandringham lines – 15 minutes walk to venue
Bus:
- 246 Elsternwick – Clifton Hill via St Kilda
- Stop: Tivoli Pl/Punt Rd – 4 min walk to venue
Tram:
- 58 West Coburg – Toorak
- Stop #125 Punt Rd/Toorak Rd – 6 min walk to venue
Please visit PTV for up to date public transport information.
Check out some of the past Back to School Days for an idea of what to expect from this wonderful learning & networking opportunity.
Typically Lower Kodály and Orff sessions relate to early years & lower primary years, whilst Upper Kodály and Orff sessions relate to upper primary years.
Presenters
Ruth Friend – Lower Kodály
Ruth Friend is an experienced facilitator in training teachers in the Kodály approach to music education and is serving as Vice President of the Kodály Victoria. Currently teacher training at the Australian Catholic University, she has over 40 years of broad teaching experience and expertise encompassing classroom music and movement, instrumental and choral programs from kindergarten to university.
Her first publication, ‘Put the Beat in ya Feet’ for flute, focused on developing independent, creative young musicians. Ruth has since co-authored the highly successful ‘Take Note Music’ series of student and teacher books along with outstanding resources for the music classroom.
As a music education consultant, she leads professional development for music teachers, and provides coaching and mentoring to assist in maximising their teaching effectiveness. She passionately supports teachers and encourages quality music and movement education in Australia.
Katie Hull-Brown – Lower Orff
Katie Hull-Brown, a seasoned music educator with over 20 years of experience, excels in teacher mentoring and music making facilitation. Her expertise in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy and arts leadership has led to roles such as Music Mentor, Lecturer at Melbourne Polytechnic, National Arts Learning Manager at The Song Room, and President of the Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association. She completed her Master’s in Education in 2023 and Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Leadership Program in 2021.
Susan Searle – Upper Kodály
Susan Searle has been the Coordinator of Junior Music at Trinity Grammar School since 2017 and is a lecturer in the Australian Kodály Certificate. Susan has a passion for Choir, Pedagogy and Inquiry learning. She has taught in state and independent schools, in co-ed and in single sex boys’ and girls’ schools. Exploring new ideas and approaches in the classroom is a continual theme of Susan’s teaching.
She spends much of her spare time in the forests, taking pictures of birds.
Alice Csabi – Upper Orff
Alice Csabi is a dynamic and inclusive Performing Arts Teacher.
Alice has spent years working as a Classroom, Instrumental and Performing Arts Teacher across multiple settings within Victoria and the remote Northern Territory. She discovered Orff-Schulwerk as part of her university degree, and upon returning to Victoria from the territory, she joined the VOSA committee. Since then, she has attended various professional development sessions across Australia including Orff Levels 1&2 and most recently took part in Doug Goodkin’s Jazz Course in NSW.
She has always had a passion for incorporating Indigenous perspectives within the classroom and strives to ensure that it is done in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner. Alice worked closely with elders in Lajamanu and Ampilatwatja and is currently the Marrung Lead at Kallista Primary School. Within this role, she strives to reinforce the teaching of Woi-Wurrung language in a respectful manner through Orff-inspired Performing Arts lessons incorporating Music, Dance and Drama. Kallista Primary School has been working with Pallyan who delivers language lessons to students around various learning areas.
Alice believes that every child should have access to a rich music and movement program that encourages students to embrace their uniqueness and develops their confidence and creativity. Her skills and knowledge within the Inclusive Education space allows her to successfully support all students to engage and access The Arts. She draws on traditional and contemporary music sources to engage students across all levels. Additionally, Alice volunteers her time as the Musical Director for Whitehorse Showtime – a Scout and Guide Musical experience for youth in the Mount Dandenong and Whitehorse region.
Alex St Vincent Welch – All in Kodály
Alex St Vincent Welch teaches Music at Camberwell Grammar in Melbourne. He has taught in Queensland, Canada and the UK. He has just completed studying Educational Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne and has a keen interest in the intersection of how we teach music and how the brain learns.
