Kod谩ly Summer Institute

 

Colissa Alexander retired from teaching public school general and choral music in May 2021 after serving two Missouri school districts for a total of 31 years.  She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1990 from Culver-Stockton College then her Master of Music Education degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2002. In 2010, Colissa received her National Kod谩ly Certification after completing three Levels of Kod谩ly training at the 欧美视频.  While in Kod谩ly training she studied under Nora Thomas Hunter, Kari McCarty Proksch, Ann Eisen, Dr. John Paul Johnson and Laurdella Folkes-Levy. Colissa has also taken a Kod谩ly 鈥渞efresher鈥� course at UCM since completing all three Levels. During that course she was able to study and visit with Dr. Julia Shaw and Lamar Robertson in addition to several former instructors. Since retirement, Colissa has served as a substitute teacher and long-term music substitute teacher in the Hillsboro R-3 School District. She has also taught general music in the Jefferson County Christian Homeschool Co-op as well as private piano lessons. Colissa is currently a member of OAKE (Organization of American Kod谩ly Educators).

Katie Schisler received a BME Vocal/Instrumental from 欧美视频 and Masters of Music Education from Central Methodist University. She received her Kod谩ly certification at 欧美视频 and studied to be a master teacher in Kod谩ly with Jeremy Howard, Bethany Houff, and Georgia Newlin. She studied at the Kod谩ly International Seminar in Kecskem茅t, Hungary primarily with Anna F眉ri and Kata K枚rtv茅si. She has also completed an Arts Integration Specialist certification through Education Closet. Katie has taught for over 25 years in public and private schools around central and northeast Missouri primarily general and choral music and currently teaches K-5 general music at A. D. Stowell Elementary and Eugene Field Elementary in the Hannibal School District. She established a string program at Stowell known as the Southside Strings that includes students ranging from third grade through high school.  She also directs the Hannibal Area String Orchestra, a community orchestra made up of all ages and abilities. At Stowell, Katie helped pilot an integration initiative where teachers from every subject collaborate to create arts integrated lessons. Katie has presented at MMEA and other places around the country on music pedagogy and arts integration. She has had articles published in the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals magazine and the Kod谩ly Envoy, and is currently the General Music Vice President of the Missouri Music Educators Association. Katie works with her husband Steve, who is Stowell鈥檚 art teacher, and has three amazing boys, one loveable beagle and a bewitching turtle.  When not teaching music you will find Katie baking, watching movies, or taking a walk with her favorite podcasts. Katie is a member of NAfME, NEA, NFMC, SLAKE and OAKE.

Vicki Strode has taught music in the public-school setting for more than 25 years as well as teaching students from birth through adult in her private studio. In the public school, she has taught every grade from Kindergarten through high school.

Vicki鈥檚 passion for the Kod谩ly approach to music education stems from watching her students gain musicianship skills and beam with pride. Because she was driven to share this approach with other music educators, she completed a 3-year internship with Ann Eisen, co-author of An American Methodology, and then began teaching with the Kod谩ly Summer Institute at the 欧美视频 in 2015. She has taught both Level I and Level II Pedagogy and Materials.

She also activated the St. Louis Area Kod谩ly Educators chapter of the Organization of American Kod谩ly Educators and served as President of the chapter for 5 years. During those years, she also served on the Midwest Kod谩ly Music Educators Association Board and OAKE Advisory Board.

Level 1

Methodology and Materials 1

Solfege 1

Conducting 1

 

Level 2

Methodology and Materials 2

Solfege 2

Conducting 2

 

Level 3

Methodology and Materials 3

Solfege 3

Conducting 3

Limited Cost Graduate Credit

1. Applicable toward a UCM Master of Arts in Music degree
2. Workshop fee: $799
3. Tuition: $148.50 per credit hour (Missouri residents and non-residents pay the same rate)
4. Total for 6 credits per summer: $1,690鈥�that's a 41% discount from the normal graduate rate!
5. YOU CHOOSE how many credits you wish to receive per Kod谩ly level: 1-6 available for each level.

Continuing Education Units

1. Earn a Certificate of Completion for each Kod谩ly Level
2. The Certificate will list Continuing Education Units earned
3. Workshop fee: $799
4. No tuition fee beyond the workshop fee!

Only want Kod谩ly Certification

1. If you just want Kod谩ly Certification, with no associated credit or CEUs of any kind, then you pay just the workshop fee: $799.

Current housing information for Foster Knox:

1. We use the student housing on campus at Foster/Knox since it is the most economical during your two weeks of classes. Foster/Knox housing is at 311 E Clark St, Warrensburg, MO 64093. It is within walking distance of the Utt Music Building where the classes are held. 
2. Students are able to share apartments. The rates are as follows:
   • Single occupancy:  $27.95 per night
   • Double occupancy:  $13.97 per night
3. There is a $100 deposit for the room, at the time you sign up for the room, that is applied toward the cost. The remainder of the room cost will be billed to you. You usually see this bill come in after classes are over. You can make your reservation through MyCentral.

Click here for the 2025 Textbook List.

The first year is the most expensive since you are purchasing the main methodology books. You will also need binders, page protectors, and a few other items; also a music writing font, like MusicEd, is recommended. If you have Sibelius or Finale, those will work.

I am 62 years old. I'm probably the oldest student who has ever taken this course, but I need to tell you why it has been important for me to take these classes. I teach K-12th grade vocal music, at a private Christian school. I took the courses, because those students deserve to have the best vocal music program that I can offer. I have years and years of experience in teaching vocal music, yet these courses have enriched my life, my confidence, my desire to teach, and my understanding of using Kod谩ly in my classroom. The teachers have stretched me musically and have challenged me to a new level of excellence. I would recommend these classes for a new teacher and the experienced teacher. If I can do this, anyone can!  - Sharon, St. Joseph MO; current student 2022

Starting my Kod谩ly journey completely changed my teaching and my love of teaching. I had reached a point in my career that I was unhappy, unfocused and felt that I wasn't giving my students the best education possible. I contemplated leaving education unless I could find a way to improve myself and my instruction. Yes, I attended state music conference every year and attended every workshop available but nothing was working. I decided to search for Kod谩ly programs because I had been taught by a Kod谩ly inspired teacher when I was a child. I knew there was value in the Kod谩ly method. Once I started my experience at UCM in the Kod谩ly Summer Institute I knew that I had found just what I needed to get back on track and love teaching again. I completed level 1 in the summer of 2007 then started my new school year. Soon, my principal came to observe. She said "Wow, that was the most amazing thing I ever saw!" then asked "What are you doing differently?". I couldn't wait to tell her about my experience at KSI and how excited I was for levels 2 & 3. From that point on my evaluations were always top notch, some of the highest scores in the district. My colleagues and administrators from other buildings were saying things like "I hear that you are the person to observe to experience expert transitions" and "Rumor has it that you are the person to ask about how to incorporate higher order thinking skills into lessons". I was blown away. I know that the Kod谩ly method and my KSI experience was the reason I was the winner of several teacher recognitions in my district including Hillsboro Primary School Teacher of the Year, Carroll Patterson Excellence in Education Award and a local award called the Doc C Picked Me award. Now that I have retired from public education I still use my Kod谩ly training to teach in a Homeschool Cooperative. My students greatly benefit from the Kod谩ly method. I never would have thought that making the 5 hour journey to Warrensburg Missouri for a 2 week course would have changed my life. The KSI experience is the best and most valuable training that a music teacher of young students can get in the state of Missouri. - Colissa Alexander, DeSoto, MO; Level 3 Kod谩ly Certification 2010

For more information please contact our Kod谩ly Summer Institute Coordinator, Juli Weber: 

jweber.kodaly@gmail.com

Or text "music" to (660) 248-0496.