Welcome to the FAME events page!

View a full calendar view of our upcoming teacher certification course classes and workshops below.

Jan
21
Tue
First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk with Betsy Greene Online
Jan 21 @ 6:00 pm – Mar 25 @ 7:00 pm

First step some music with off. Top by Betsy Greene. Spring 2025.

Begin by learning classroom-ready activities that follow the eight-part workout from First Steps in Music and integrate the Orff approach while gaining a better understanding of how to integrate these two approaches. Next, learn how to lesson plan using First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk and develop your own integrated activities to use in your teaching. Prior First Steps in Music and/or Orff Schulwerk experience is recommended but not required.

Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Mar. 4, and Mar. 11, 2025 6-7 PM EST, Online

1.5 credit hours or 22.5 PD hours

This course may be taken congruently with Conversational Solfege with Orff Schulwerk for 3 graduate credits or 45 PD hours.

Register Here

Conversational Solfege with Orff Schulwerk with Betsy Greene Online
Jan 21 @ 7:00 pm – Mar 25 @ 8:00 pm

Discover ways to thoughtfully develop the musicianship of your students with activities that use a high level of engagement with creativity and student input. A close look and experience with the Feierabend Approach (Conversational Solfege) and the Orff Approach or Orff Schulwerk will be the focus for study as well as how to integrate them meaningfully into your teaching. This course will help you to reflect on your own teaching in a way that will encourage you to prioritize best practices regardless of the method(s) you use. Prior experience with Conversational Solfege and/or Orff Schulwerk is/are highly recommended but not required.

Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Mar. 4, and Mar. 11, 2025 7-8 PM EST Online

1.5 credit hours or 22.5 PD hours

This course may be taken congruently with First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk for a combined 3 graduate credits or 45 PD hours.

 

Register Here

Jan
24
Fri
Michigan MEA | Keeping the Beat Using First Steps in Music with Staphanie Schall Brazee
Jan 24 @ 8:00 am – 8:45 am

Keeping the Beat with First Steps in Music with Stephanie Schall BrazeeKeeping the Beat! Creating ‘Beatful’ Students Using First Steps in Music. Having an intuition for beat and meter is the foundation for all later rhythmic development. In this session, participants will discover how to help children become ‘beatful’ using the “First Steps in Music” curriculum developed by Dr. John Feierabend. ‘Beatful’ people can gently rock on the beat while singing lullabies to their babies, joyfully dance at weddings, and enthusiastically clap with the crowd at spoting events. All children deserve the opportunity to become ‘beatful’, and to experience the joy and satisfaction that synchronizing with others on the beat can bring.

Next Steps to Singing in Harmony: Repurposing First Steps in Music Repertoire Online
Jan 24 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Transform your elementary students into confident choral singers with “Next Steps to Singing in Harmony.” This course offers practical strategies to seamlessly transition your students from early elementary Tuneful activities to upper elementary choral excellence. Learn how to repurpose familiar First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege repertoire to build harmony skills, improve tone quality, and foster musical independence. This course is perfect for educators looking to maximize limited singing time and create a strong foundation for their choirs.

Learn More and Register now!
Jan
31
Fri
Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Overview Online
Jan 31 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Overview Mini-course – “An Ear-First Approach to Harmony and Improvisation for Middle and High School Performing Ensembles”
Unlock your ensemble’s improvisation potential with the “Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Overview Mini-Course.” In this dynamic 3-hour session, you’ll explore John Feierabend’s Ear-First Approach to teaching harmony and improvisation to middle and high school ensembles. Learn how to guide students in tonal analysis, melody creation, and jazz-style improvisation, starting from the basics of “Discovering the Bass Line.” 

This workshop is perfect for upper elementary, Middle, and high school ensemble teachers who have completed Conversational Solfege Levels 1-2 and aim to expand their curriculum and deepen their older students’ understanding of harmony and improvisation in an interactive “ear-first” way.

Learn more and Register Here
Feb
1
Sat
Arizona Music Educator’s Conference | An Ear-First Approach with CS & Music and Movement in the Early Years with John Crever
Feb 1 @ 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

 

An Ear-First Approach to Musical Thinking, the Feierabend Way
Explore Feierabend’s Conversational Solfege™, a 12-step ear-first method inspired by Kodaly. Teach rhythm and tonal elements through listening, responding, improvisation, and engaging techniques.

Music and Movement in the Early Years, the Feierabend Way
Nurture children’s musical abilities with the First Steps in Music Workout. This interactive session develops tunefulness, beatfulness, and artfulness through songs, movement, and improvisation for ages 3-9.

Feb
7
Fri
Conversational Solfege Certification Course with David Rankine Online
Feb 7 @ 7:00 pm – Mar 14 @ 11:00 pm

Unlock the power of music literacy for your students with Conversational Solfege! This transformative course, designed by Dr. John Feierabend, equips educators with research-based methods to teach rhythm, melody, and improvisation across all levels—from elementary classrooms to collegiate ensembles. Dive into a literature-driven curriculum that makes reading music notation as natural as speaking.  

This course is ideal for educators who want to adopt a proven, research-based method for music reading that enhances listening, responding, and improvisation skills. Get ready to feel inspired and motivated to elevate your teaching and your students’ musical thinking!

Learn more and register for the course

Feb
15
Sat
Texas MEA Convention | Multiple Intelligence in the Music Classroom with Lillie Feierabend
Feb 15 all-day

Description:

Multiple Intelligence in the Music Classroom: Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence suggests that individuals do not have just one intelligence but, rather, possess a portfolio of intelligences, Music being one of them. What is becoming increasingly evident is that while developing our students’ music ability, we are also helping to support the other intelligences. When we invite our student to sing, move, play instruments, and respond expressively, we are helping to nurture, strengthen and develop their Verbal, Linguistic, Logical, Mathematical, Bodily, Kinesthetic, Visual Spatial, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal intelligences, as well. Because our content is developmentally appropriate, almost everything we teach in the music classroom can have an equally significant impact on the general classroom. Feierabend will discuss the Theory of Multiple Intelligence and its implications and applications in the general music classroom, and also explore ideas and lessons designed to be shared with classroom colleagues in their classroom.

 

NAfME Northwest Division Conference | Spokane | An Ear-First Approach to Teaching Ensemble Harmony and Improvisation
Feb 15 @ 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

John Feierabend’s 2018 reissued book Conversational Solfege Level 3 (a.k.a. “Upper Levels” or just “CSUL”), is the same Ear-First Approach to thinking musical thoughts that sets Conversational Solfege apart, and it’s geared towards MS/HS performing ensembles. CSUL picks up the sequence where Level 2 left off, guiding students to think, read and write in most keys, meters, and regions of the staff. CSUL also offers a curriculum to teach musicians a conversational knowledge of major and minor diatonic harmony, and its application to teaching improvisation and composition with performing ensemble classrooms. Building on the conversational skill of “discovering the baseline” to create a harmony, introduced in Level 2, this curriculum leads students to use a bass line to inform tonal analysis to reveal the corresponding diatonic chord tones, and the many melodic contrapuntal possibilities that weave harmony together. Come prepared to sing.

NAfME Northwest Division Conference | Spokane | Conversational Solfege, First Steps in Music and Part Singing with John Feierabend
Feb 15 @ 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

Introduction to the 12 Steps of Conversational Solfege – Saturday, February 15, 2025. 8:00AM
Introduction to the Vocal Parts of the First Steps in Music Curriculum – Saturday, February 15, 2025, 12:30 PM
Introduction to the moment parts of the First Steps in Music Curriculum – Saturday, February 15, 2025, 2:00 PM
Introduction to Beginning Part Singing in the Elementary and Middle School Grades – Sunday, February 16, 2025, 9:30 AM

Feb
20
Thu
NJ-MEA | Bridges To the Community, with Lillie Feierabend
Feb 20 – Feb 22 all-day

Bridges to the community with Lillie Feierabend, NJ, NBA conference

Music educators plant seeds for a lifetime of music making but teachable moments do not always happen in the classroom. Fortunately, the school year offers many opportunities to create experiences outside of the music schedule. By doing so, we also make them accessible to our greater community. When families, faculty, staff, administrators, friends, and community businesses are invited to participate, everyone becomes invested, not only in the growth and development of our students, but of the music program, as well. It is our responsibility to create opportunities for all members of our community to become involved with music on a continuous and consistent basis throughout the day, the month and the year. This session will share a dozen ways to enrich the musical growth and development of all, while providing experiences that just might capture the soul of a young child and inspire a lifelong love of music.

NJ-MEA | Everybody Claps, All Cultures, All Ages, All Abilities! with Lillie Feierabend
Feb 20 – Feb 22 all-day

Everybody clap! Clapping games from around the world with Lillie Feierabend at the Atlantic City Convention Center, NJMEA conference.

Clapping games are immediately engaging, language is not even required and yet laughter abounds. You are never too young or too old; they are simply too much fun. But take a closer look; clapping games are profound. They deepen and enrich all the intelligences and are of significant benefit to the development of our mind, body, and spirit. The cooperation required has profound implications on a global scale, as well. Humor, love, kindness and joy are universal. Sharing music with others builds a bridge where we are offered a window into another culture and delighted to find ourselves looking back. A country’s musical culture also offers insight into its history, spirit, and heart. This experience can lead to greater awareness and understanding. This lively session will explore countries and cultures through their clapping games; join us as we meet wonderful people through the gift of their music. The world just might become a kinder, more tolerant place if we all sang, danced, and clapped together.

Mar
6
Thu
OAKE Nat’l Conf. | Chicago | Folk Songs for Instrumental Settings with Carol Swinchoski & Jessica Pietrosanti
Mar 6 – Mar 9 all-day

OAKE "Folk Songs for Instrumental Settings Carol Swinchoski Jessica Pietrosanti

OAKE Nat’l Conf. | Folk Songs for Instrumental Settings with Carol Swinchoski & Jessica Pietrosanti

Description

Folk songs in instrumental settings – CS for Band!

Date and time to be announced.

OAKE Nat’l Conf. | Chicago |Elevate Expressive Storytelling in the Music Classroom with John Crever
Mar 6 – Mar 9 all-day

 

 

Description

Listening to stories is an incredible way to broaden our understanding of ourselves and others. By incorporating a story with an attached song, John Feierabend’s First Steps in Music 8-part musical workout gives students a “cool down” time while the teacher models expressive singing and storytelling for the students. Want to enhance your musical storytelling? Join teacher trainer John Crever and learn powerful musical techniques to take your expressive storytelling skills to the next level.

OAKE Nat’l Conference | Chicago | Beyond the Classroom: Bridges to the Community with Lillie Feierabend
Mar 6 – Mar 9 all-day

Description
“Often a single experience will open the young soul to music for a whole lifetime. This experience cannot be left to chance. It is the duty of the school to provide it.” Zoltán Kodály: Children’s Choruses, 1929

Mar
7
Fri
Maryland, MEA | First Steps in Music curriculum & Part Singing with Upper-Elem. & Middle School with John Feierbend
Mar 7 – Mar 8 all-day

Introduction to the Movement parts of the First Steps in Music Curriculum – Friday, March 7, 2025, 3:30 PM
Introduction to teaching part singing the upper elementary and middle school grades – Friday, March 7, 2025, 12:30 PM
Introduction to the vocal parts of the First Steps in Music curriculum – Saturday, March 8, 2025 9 AM

Apr
4
Fri
Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Certification | Online
Apr 4 @ 7:00 pm – May 9 @ 11:00 pm

This course is perfect for upper elementary general music, as well as middle school and high school choral and instrumental teachers.

Learn more about this course and register

Apr
24
Thu
NAfME Eastern Div. Conf. | Hartford, CT | First Steps in Music: Vocal Development & Movement Development with John Feierabend
Apr 24 – Apr 27 all-day

Description

Introduction to the Vocal Parts and Movement Parts of the First Steps in Music Curriculum.

The exact dates and times are to be announced.

NAfME Eastern Div. Conf. | Hartford, CT | Sing in Parts: Pedagogy Ideas for Beginning Part Singing with Lillie Feierabend
Apr 24 – Apr 27 all-day

Description

Transitioning from unison to part singing can be challenging for upper elementary and middle school students. Proven strategies for developing part-singing by ear and eye are critical for the preparation of choral singing in the later grades. But where to begin? And how? This session will address the part-singing challenges that upper elementary and middle school students encounter while transitioning from unison to parts and from ear to eye in the development of part-singing competency. When we set up an appropriate sequence of learning, all of our students can be on their way to not only singing with understanding and joy during their school years but will have the necessary skills to sing independently and with others throughout their lives.

NAfME Eastern Div. Conf. | Hartford, CT | Who’s Afraid of Improvisation? with Lillie Feierabend
Apr 24 – Apr 27 all-day

Improvisation plays a crucial role in music development, but when to begin, and how? With appropriate prompts, engaging methods, and active participation, even young children can successfully improvise. “The Nutcracker ” (Movement Exploration) and “Hansel and Gretel” (Arioso; vocal improvisation) provide two distinct opportunities, and the inspiration and tools necessary to aid creativity. What a wonderful way to start, even our youngest students, on their path to a life-time of confident improvisation. Join us as we dance each character and discover the delight of moving expressively and musically to many of the Movement Exploration themes in “The Nutcracker,” and explore the many opportunities for Arioso in “Hansel and Gretel.”

Apr
25
Fri
First Steps in Music Infants and Toddlers with Greenwood & Lawson | Live Online
Apr 25 @ 7:00 pm – May 16 @ 10:00 pm

This course will provide participants with insights and practical knowledge to implement developmentally appropriate musical activities for children under three years old. Folk songs, rhymes, and Classical music are highlighted as primary source materials. Research findings and pedagogical techniques will be discussed, giving participants a solid foundation to support very young children to become Tuneful, Beatful and Artful.

Learn more and register for this event

Jun
16
Mon
Conversational Solfege Levels 1&2 Certification with Andy Himelick | Anderson, IN
Jun 16 – Jun 20 all-day

Conversation Solfege Levels 1&2 Certification with Andrew Himelick at Anderson University summer 2025

 Conversational Solfege™ is a pedagogical approach used to intuitively develop notational literacy skills with students of elementary age through adults who are tuneful, beatful, and artful. Through carefully sequenced activities, Conversational Solfege™ first develops an understanding of music through the use of rhythm and solfege syllables at a “conversational” level, then gradually evolves into reading, writing, improvisation, dictation, and composition skills. Teachers will learn how to enable students to joyfully assimilate the skills and content necessary to be musically literate, as well as learn various techniques to allow the acquisition of these skills. This Conversational Solfege™ course will address lesson planning, unit planning, and assessment and applies to music educators in most music educational settings (classroom, choral, and/or instrumental) elementary through college.

Folk Song and Dance Around the World with Lillie Feierabend | Anderson, IN
Jun 16 @ 5:00 pm – Jun 19 @ 8:45 pm

Folk song and dance round the world with Lillie Feierabend

Humor, love, kindness, and joy are universal. Community music-making builds a bridge where we are offered a glimpse into another culture and are delighted to find ourselves looking back. A country’s musical culture can also offer insight into its history, spirit, values, and heart. We can appreciate and begin to know a little about people when we move in their footsteps, sing their songs, and play their games. These delightful gifts, traversing not only cultures, but generations, can lead to greater awareness and global understanding. This lively workshop will explore fifteen cultures through their folk dance, rounds, passing games, play parties, clapping games, and literature. This course applies to all grade levels. Join us as we meet wonderful people through the gift of their music.

Jun
24
Tue
Conversational Solfege Levels 1&2 Certification with John Feierabend | Central College, Pella, Iowa
Jun 24 – Jun 27 all-day

 

 Conversational Solfege™ is a pedagogical approach used to intuitively develop notational literacy skills with students of elementary age through adults who are tuneful, beatful, and artful. Through carefully sequenced activities, Conversational Solfege™ first develops an understanding of music through the use of rhythm and solfege syllables at a “conversational” level, then gradually evolves into reading, writing, improvisation, dictation, and composition skills. Teachers will learn how to enable students to joyfully assimilate the skills and content necessary to be musically literate, as well as learn various techniques to allow the acquisition of these skills. This Conversational Solfege™ course will address lesson planning, unit planning, and assessment and applies to music educators in most music educational settings (classroom, choral, and/or instrumental) elementary through college.

Jun
27
Fri
First Steps in Music Certification with Stephanie Schall-Brazee | Lakeland University, WI
Jun 27 – Jun 29 all-day

 

First Steps in Music Certification Course

The First Steps in Music curriculum is designed to prepare children to become musical in by being Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful. First Steps in Music for Infants and Toddlers provides developmentally appropriate activities that are well suited for children under three years old with their caregivers. First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond provides activities for children as young as three, but are appropriate for any aged child that needs to further develop their tuneful, beatful, and artful abilities. Folk songs and rhymes as well as classical music are the primary source materials that are used to develop their musical minds and abilities. Created by Dr. John Feierabend, this pedagogical approach contains everything you need to lead a music class for preschool and early elementary students, including Echo Songs, Call-and-Response Songs, Simple Songs, SongTales, Action Songs, Circle Games, Beat Motion Activities, and more. Ample time will be spent on exploring complete lesson plans for a three-year curriculum. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive an official certificate of completion from the Feierabend Association for Music Education.

Course Materials:
First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond by Dr. John Feierabend

Jul
14
Mon
Conversational Solfege Level 1 & 2 Certification with John Feierabend | Gordon College, Wenham, MA
Jul 14 – Jul 17 all-day

Conversational Solfege Level 1&2 Certification with John Feierabend | Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Through carefully sequenced activities, Conversational Solfege™ addresses the National Standards, while enabling students to joyfully assimilate the skills and content necessary to become musically literate, including the acquisition of listening, rhythmic and melodic reading, dictation, composition, and improvisation in an intuitive manner. Applications of Conversational Solfege™ are ideally suited to: elementary general music curricula; choral organizations at all levels; Orff Schulwerk; Kodály; Dalcroze; Gordon Music Learning Theory; high school and college sight singing and ear training; class piano; Suzuki; as well as recorder, band, and orchestral instrumental instruction.

The Feierabend Curriculum examines a pedagogical method that develops music literacy. Based on models used to teach conversational foreign languages, this course develops an understanding of music through the use of rhythm and tonal syllables at a “conversational” level that gradually evolves into reading, writing, improvisation, and composition skills. This is a literature-driven curriculum. The sequencing of musical elements grows out of those tonal and rhythmic elements that exist in folk song literature. Each rhythm or tonal element is explored in patterns, songs, and themes from classical literature. Applications of conversational solfege range from elementary general and choral music courses to collegiate level choral, sight-singing, and ear-training courses.

Participants who successfully complete this course will receive an official certificate of completion for Conversational Solfege Level 1 & 2 from the Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME).

Suggested Texts and materials  for Course:

Conversational Solfege Level 1 Teacher’s Edition, and Conversational Solfege Level 1 CD/ mp3 file

Conversational Solfege Level 2 Teacher’s Edition, and Conversational Solfege Level 2 CD/ mp3 file

Jul
21
Mon
Conversational Solfege 1&2 Certification with Chris Powers | The Hartt School of Music – West Hartford, CT
Jul 21 @ 8:00 am – Aug 1 @ 10:00 am

Conversational Solfege 1 & 2 Certification with Chris Powers

Course Description

Through carefully sequenced activities, Conversational Solfege™ addresses the National Standards, while enabling students to joyfully assimilate the skills and content necessary to become musically literate, including the acquisition of listening, rhythmic and melodic reading, dictation, composition, and improvisation in an intuitive manner. Applications of Conversational Solfege™ are ideally suited to: elementary general music curricula; choral organizations at all levels; Orff Schulwerk; Kodály; Dalcroze; Gordon Music Learning Theory; high school and college sight singing and ear training; class piano; Suzuki; as well as recorder, band, and orchestral instrumental instruction.  The Feierabend Curriculum examines a pedagogical method that develops music literacy. Based on models used to teach conversational foreign languages, this course develops an understanding of music through the use of rhythm and tonal syllables at a “conversational” level that gradually evolves into reading, writing, improvisation, and composition skills. This is a literature-driven curriculum. The sequencing of musical elements grows out of those tonal and rhythmic elements that exist in folk song literature. Each rhythm or tonal element is explored in patterns, songs, and themes from classical literature. Applications of conversational solfege range from elementary general and choral music courses to collegiate level choral, sight-singing, and ear-training courses.  Participants who successfully complete this course will receive an official certificate of completion  for Conversational Solfege Level 1 & 2 from the Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME).
Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Certification with Chris Powers | The Hartt School of Music, West Hartford, CT
Jul 21 @ 10:10 am – Aug 1 @ 12:10 pm

 

Conversational Solfege Upper Levels Certification with Chris Powers

Course Description

John Feierabend’s 2018 reissued book Conversational Solfege Level 3 (a.k.a. “Upper Levels” or just “CSUL”), is the same Ear-First Approach to thinking musical thoughts that sets Conversational Solfege apart, and it’s geared towards MS/HS performing ensembles. CSUL picks up the sequence where Level 2 left off, guiding students to think, read and write in most keys, meters, and regions of the staff. CSUL also offers a curriculum to teach musicians a Conversational knowledge of major and minor diatonic harmony, and its application to teaching improvisation and composition with performing ensemble classroom. Building on the conversational skill of “discovering the baseline” to create a harmony, introduced in Lev. 2, this curriculum leads students to use a bass line to inform tonal analysis to reveal the corresponding diatonic chord tones, and the many melodic counter-puntal possibilities that weave harmony together. Come prepared to sing.

First Steps in Music Certification with Stephanie Schall Brazee | The Hartt School of Music – West Hartford, CT
Jul 21 @ 2:10 pm – Aug 1 @ 4:40 pm

First Steps in Music Certification with Stephanie Schall-Brazee

Course Description

The First Steps in Music curriculum is designed to prepare children to become musical in by being Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful. First Steps in Music for Infants and Toddlers provides developmentally appropriate activities that are well suited for children under three years old with their caregivers. First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond provides activities for children as young as three, but appropriate for any aged child that needs to further develop their tuneful, beatful, and artful abilities. Folk songs and rhymes as well as classical music are the primary source materials that are used to develop their musical minds and abilities. Created by Dr. John Feierabend, this pedagogical approach contains everything you need to lead a music class for preschool and early elementary students, including: Echo Songs, Call-and-Response Songs, Simple Songs, SongTales, Action Songs, Circle Games, Beat Motion Activities, and more. Ample time will be spent on exploring complete lesson plans for a three-year curriculum. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive an official certificate of completion from the Feierabend Association for Music Education..
Aug
4
Mon
First Steps in Music Certification with Stephanie Schall Brazee | Wayne State University, Michigan
Aug 4 @ 8:00 am – Aug 6 @ 5:00 pm

First step some music certification course Wayne State, Michigan with Stephanie Schall-Brazee, 2025

First Steps in Music Certification with Stephanie Schall-Brazee

August 6 – 8, 2025
8:00 – 5:00 PM  (24 HOURS) FACE TO FACE

Information and Registration Here