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
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), Alison Thompson (Upper Orff)

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.

Non-refundable booking fees are added to all registrations by our ticketing partners Humanitix

Registration typeEarly Bird
(paid before 1 February)
Standard
(paid after 1 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
9.00am Session 1
Lower Orff Upper Kodaly
10.15am Break & Trade Exhibits
10.45am Session 2
Upper Orff Lower Kodaly
12.00 noon All out
12.30pm Finish

Venue Information

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.

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.

2024 Back to School Day

2023 Back to School Day

2022 Back to School Day

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

Alison Thompson – Upper Orff

Alison Thompson is an experienced music educator, with a career spanning both primary and secondary education, in independent and government schools. As Vice President of the Victorian Schulwerk Association, she is a dedicated advocate for the Orff approach, integrating this wonderful pedagogy into her classroom to promote exploration, movement, and active engagement with music. Alison’s work focuses on creating an inclusive environment where students experience music interactively, fostering their musical growth and deepening their appreciation for the art form.