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Kodály Association of Southern California
Join us this summer to improve your teaching in a fun, friendly, and rigorous environment. Three full summer levels will be offered, taught by our Hungarian and American faculty. Whether you are a brand new music teacher, have years of experience, or are somewhere in between, these courses will help you develop the tools and skills you need to become a better music teacher and musician. Our courses can prepare you for teaching music to Kindergarten through 8th grade and beyond!
Scholarships available!
Course Components
Faculty
KELLY ADAMS
Kelly Adams is a twice-over graduate of the University of Southern California where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in music industry and a Master of Arts degree in music education. In 2013, she attended the Kodály Association of Southern California (KASC) Summer Institute where she fell in love with Kodály’s revolutionary methods and ideology, eventually receiving her certification under Dr. Kathy Hickey and Dr. Niké St. Clair in 2016.
Now Kelly serves as Past President on the KASC board, and currently teaches Level I Pedagogy during KASC’s Summer Institute at Azusa Pacific University. She continues to build Kodály-based curricula for the National Children’s Chorus as its Principal Associate Conductor and recently conducted students from schools across Los Angeles in the 2023 KASC Honor Chorus Festival.
Kelly is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Teaching and Learning at the University of Southern California. When she’s not teaching or conducting, Kelly performs, writes and records with the band Karmina (search Queens of Heart to hear Karmina’s latest album) and sings in feature films (How to Train Your Dragon, Wonder, Pan, The Lorax, Promising Young Woman). Kelly is thrilled to conduct her daughter Rudi in Minuet at the National Children’s Chorus.
KRYSTIN COWAN
Krystin Cowan holds a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Redlands, Kodály Certification from the Kodály Association of Southern California (KASC), Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California, Riverside, and a single subject teaching credential in music.
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Ms. Cowan is an active music educator and has been teaching music in K-12 public schools and community colleges since 2011 with extensive experience teaching beginning instrumental musicians, older beginners, and elementary classroom music. She currently serves as an elementary music specialist and beginning string orchestra teacher for Riverside Unified School District, Curriculum Specialist for the Riverside Arts Academy, and is Associate Faculty at Riverside City College. As a bassist, Ms. Cowan maintains an active performance schedule in the Southern California area.
RÉKA CSERNYIK
Réka Csernyik is one of Australia's foremost experts in choral conducting, choral conducting pedagogy and aural musicianship.
Born in Hungary, Réka earned master’s degrees in Music Education, Choral Conducting and Church Music from the world-renowned Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. She has taught music at every level of education – with wide experience in primary and secondary schools as well as at university level. Réka held the position of Co-ordinator of Choral Conducting and Lecturer of Aural Musicianship at The University of Queensland from 2004 to 2010. In recognition of the program, she received the Award for Teaching Excellence.
Réka was founder and director of Sola Voce Chamber Choir. Under Réka's directorship the choir has toured extensively and won numerous national and international awards. In recognition of her musical leadership skills, Réka was also awarded ”The Best Conductor” prize at an international choral competition.
In 2015, Réka commenced her role of Co-ordinator of Kodály Pedagogy at the Conservatorium High School, Sydney where she designed a Classroom Music program as well as re-organised the Choral Program of the school, gaining recognition of her choirs Australia-wide.
Réka has regular engagements as a guest lecturer, adjudicator, and workshop facilitator all over the world. Réka has presented papers at various national and international conferences on Australian and Hungarian choral repertoire as well as Kodály-inspired music education.
ERIC LIFLAND
Eric Lifland holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Pennsylvania. As a choral conductor, he counts Jerry Blackstone, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Mandy Brigham, and Steve Kronauer as his primary mentors. Eric completed his Kodály certification at the Kodály Association of Southern California and serves on their board as Executive Secretary and Choral Festival Chair.
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Eric has worked at Los Angeles Children’s Chorus for six years, where he is currently the Apprentice Choir Director, Young Men’s Ensemble Assistant Conductor, and advanced sight-singing instructor. Eric also works as a middle and upper school music teacher at Polytechnic School, where he directs the choral program, accompanies and coaches musical theater, and teaches music history and theory. Eric maintains a selective private studio of voice and piano students, including a Spotlight Grand Prize Finalist in Classical Voice.
Previously, Eric worked for Education Through Music-Los Angeles for five years as a K-5 general music and choir teacher in several LA public schools, including Normandie Elementary and Rio Vista Elementary. Eric also served as Assistant Conductor of the Pasadena-based choir Artes Vocales for five years and briefly worked as an assistant to Broadway director Hal Prince.
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