Who is Ms. Ginn? I have been teaching elementary music for 18 years at Shiloh Elementary. Prior to Shiloh, I completed my student teaching experience at West Central Elementary School in Rome, GA as well as at Foxfield Primary School in London, England. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Berry college and a Master's Degree in Education from Troy University. I am certified to teach grades Pre-K through 12 and have also had experience teaching Kindermusik. In the fall of 2012 I was selected as Shiloh Elementary's Teacher of the Year!!! I am an active member of the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter, the Georgia Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education.
My greatest passions are a tie between attending live, musical theater (I try to go to New York or London each year, if not both!), and traveling. For the past 14 years I have been involved with a student travel program which allows me the opportunity to travel abroad each summer. My travels have taken me to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Monaco, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City. As often as possible, I try to incorporate my travel experiences into my teaching of world music so that students can make meaningful connections.
What is Orff Schulwerk? 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 happens in a non-competitive atmosphere where one of the rewards is the pleasure of making good music with others. When the children want to write down what they have composed, reading and writing find their moment.
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.
With Orff Schulwerk, improvisation and composition start students on a lifetime of knowledge and pleasure through personal musical experience. Learning is meaningful only if it brings satisfaction to the learner, and satisfaction arises from the ability to use acquired knowledge for the purpose of creating. For both teacher and student, Orff Schulwerk is a theme with endless variation.
The title "Schulwerk" is an indication of the educational process taking place: Schulwerk is schooling (in music) through working, that is through being active and creative.
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.
How often does my child get to come to music? Students come to music every four school days for a 45 minute lesson.
How is my child graded in music class? Students are assessed in accordance with the board approved standards in the Gwinnett County Academic Knowledge and Skills as well as the National Standards. This includes strong participation on the part of the student as well as listening and following the directions given.
What is the best way to contact Ms. Ginn? E-mail! I check my e-mail in the morning and afternoon of each school day. You can contact me at [email protected] I truly answer e-mails much faster than I'm able to return calls :o)
Does music really make my child smarter? There have been many studies relating the study of music to increased academic performance. Studying music allows a child to develop spatial reasoning skills, problem solving skills, mathematics skills, self-discipline, teamwork, and a sense of pride in a job well done. All of these extra-musical benefits are wonderful, but the real reason to study music is to learn to love beauty, to learn about your culture and heritage, and to learn about the world's civilization.