Summer Music Program Faculty

Rachel Grimsby
First Steps in Music
Rachel is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Illinois State University. Rachel has over fifteen years of experience teaching elementary general music. Her research interests include the professional development and collaborative needs of in-service teachers and paraprofessionals, course work for undergraduates and graduate students in teaching music to students with disabilities, and music and language acquisition in students with language delays. Rachel is the co-author of two publications: First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk, and Feierabend Fundamentals: History, Philosophy, and Practice; and has also been published in the Orff Echo and the Journal of Music Teacher Education. Rachel is fully certified in Feierabend, Kodály, Orff, and holds GIML Elementary I and II certificates. She also is a teacher trainer for both First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege Levels 1 and 2. Rachel is a member of AERA, AOSA, GIML, NAfME, ECMMA and is a founding member of FAME. She lives with her husband and two children in Bloomington, Illinois.

Craig Knapp
Conversational Solfege – Beginning Music Literacy
First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk
Email | WWW
Craig B. Knapp is an elementary choral and classroom music specialist. He has been teaching Classroom Music and Chorus, grades 3 through 5, at the Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School in the Rocky Point School District since 1998. Craig has studied closely with Dr. JohnFeierabend earning OAKE and FAME certification, and is a FAME endorsed Teacher Trainer. Craig believes in fostering a tuneful, beautiful, artful learning community based on the music education curriculum of Dr. John Feierabend. Through Dr. Feierabend’s approach, Craig passionately teaches his children through research-based and developmentally appropriate pedagogies that use quality literature, while strategically infusing elements of the Orff-Schulwerk approach and Kodály concept into his music teaching. With his innovative and energetic approach to music education, Craig Knapp directs the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York’s Children’s Treble Choirs www.myo.org where he has conducted at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has conducted several commissioned pieces by renowned composers including Nick Page, Jim Papoulis, and Melissa Keylock/Jill Friedersdorf. Craig has presented elementary classroom music and choral workshops at various state, regional and national music education conferences and has been a guest conductor for many All-County and regional honor choirs throughout the Northeast. Mr. Knapp is a Past-President of Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association and is actively involved with New York State School Music Association, currently serving on their Curriculum Committee. Craig is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hofstra University where he teaches “Conversational Solfege,” and “First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk.” He is the co-author of the GIA published books, “First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk: Sing, Say, Dance, Play” and “Feierabend Fundamentals.” Craig is also the director of the Early Childhood Community Music Program at Stony Brook University. Craig Knapp is a Lifetime Member of the ACDA, FAME and OAKE. For more information, visit www.craigknappmusic.com.

Billy Ferguson
Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education Program
Level I – Pedagogy & Ensemble
Special Topics
Billy Ferguson is a 31-year veteran of music education in Texas public schools. He recently retired as the music specialist at McKamy Elementary in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and bought Sweet Pipes. Sweet Pipes publishes music for recorders and hand bells as well as a retailer for all things elementary music. Billy completed Orff levels 1 and 2 at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and Level 3 and Master Class at the University of Memphis. In 2008 he attended the International Summer Course for Movement and Music Education at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. His Orff ensemble was invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Convention in 2007 & 2014 and at the 2017 AOSA National Conference. Billy has presented workshops at local, state, and national level and is a Past President of the North Texas Chapter of AOSA.

Patrick Ware
Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education Program
Levels I and III – Movement
Special Topics
Email
Patrick Ware is an internationally known Orff - Schulwerk clinician and choral conductor. With a service to education spanning more than 20 years, he holds a B.A. in Music from Westfield State University, an MS.Ed from Radford University, and a DMA from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Dr. Ware is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music/Elementary and Middle Childhood. He teaches movement and recorder for the Hofstra Orff Certification Program as well as teaching Level II Basic Pedagogy for the LA County Orff Program. Dr. Ware is currently the AOSA Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is a former President of the Virginia Elementary Music Educators Association. Patrick has several compositions in print through Beatin’ Path Publications including works for treble choir with Orff Ensemble. Patrick teaches k-5 General Music and Chorus in Prince William County Virginia. Special focuses in his classroom and courses include Jazz in the elementary setting and the use of children’s literature.

Dr. Robert Amchin
Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Education Program
Level III – Pedagogy & Ensemble
Special Topics
Dr. Rob Amchin is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and Concentration Coordinator in Music Education at the University of Louisville (KY/USA). He teaches courses in music education including Elementary and Secondary General Music Methods and an Introduction to Orff Schulwerk course. He also teaches graduate level courses in history, philosophy, and research. He has degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan, and has Orff training from NEC, Hofstra University, Memphis State University, and Hamline University. He attended the “Special Course for English Speaking Students” at the Orff Institute (Salzburg). Dr. Amchin has presented workshops, artist-in-residencies, Orff teacher-training courses, and master classes throughout the US and around the world including Poland, Turkey, China, Singapore, Finland, Russia, Hong Kong, Austria, Canada, and Israel. He has published many books and articles on Orff pedagogy.