Kodály WA is excited to announce the Autumn Workshop event scheduled for Saturday, 18 May 2024, at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School. 

This event is FREE for members and features an innovative secondary music education stream led by Dr Jason Goopy and Andrew Pennay. It is designed to celebrate and support the implementation of the new WA Year 12 ATAR Music Course. Our workshop also features Lightning Sessions: a showcase of secondary music teachers sharing Kodály aligned practice: Music first, singer-songwriting, differentiation, explicit teaching, inclusive learning, thinking in sound, active music making and sequential learning. 

Come along to experience sessions with Justin Florisson, Katherine Pearce, Leonie Nicholls, Mike Gowland, Mirelle Hopwood and Ursula Greig.

Of course, our primary teaching colleagues have not been forgotten, with Kate Tyson leading this stream. Clearly, this is an event not to be missed by any music educator!

Make sure that you register online by Wednesday 15 May to secure your spot.

Date: Saturday 18 May 2024
Time: 8.00 am – 4.45 pm
Venue: St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School
Key Presenters: Dr Jason Goopy (WA), Andrew Pennay (Qld) and Kate Tyson (Qld)

Click here to see our amazing Autumn Workshop Timetable

Online registrations have closed 

please email wa@kodaly.org.au for more information. 

Autumn Workshop Presenters

Key Presenters:

Dr Jason Goopy (WA) is a recognized teacher, scholar, and leader in music education and a specialist in Australian Kodály-inspired pedagogy. He is currently Lecturer and Coordinator of Secondary Music & Instrumental Music Education at Edith Cowan University and draws upon 15 years of teaching music in Queensland combined primary and secondary schools. He was previously Head of the Arts & Choral Coordinator at Ambrose Treacy College (4-12) and prior was a Highly Accomplished Teacher at Brisbane Boys’ College (P-12) where he established a daily music program for all students from Prep to Year 3. Jason is known for developing engaging programs that connect to real-world practices and nurture multiple musical identities. He is the current President of the Australian Society for Music Education and Immediate Past President and Education Committee Convenor of Kodály Australia.

Andrew Pennay (Qld) is Director of Creative Arts at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. He has lectured in music education at a tertiary level and presented nationally and internationally on popular music education, musicianship, upper secondary teaching methodology, and teaching for creativity and curiosity. For 12 years, he was a performer and Assistant Conductor with The Australian Voices, touring new Australian choral music globally. Andrew has received a National Award for Excellence in School Music Education (2011) and an Award for Excellence in Australian Kodály-inspired Music Education (Innovation) in 2022. He is currently undertaking doctoral studies in songwriting pedagogy.

Kate Tyson (Qld) (née Thompson) is a frequent guest clinician at conferences and workshops across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Kate has taught classroom music for fifteen years at both state and independent schools and is currently the Coordinator of Curriculum Music at Ambrose Treacy College in Brisbane. She is a Past President of Kodaly Queensland and loves finding new ways to engage her choral and classroom music students.

Lightning Session Presenters:

Justin Florisson is currently the Head of Music at Carey Baptist College (Harrisdale). After studying piano with a major in Jazz Performance, Justin explored the world of gigs, recording and bands only to discover a love for secondary school music teaching. Highlights include winning awards at Mt Gambier Jazz Festival and having jam sessions with students at lunchtime. He also has an unhealthy obsession with cricket.

Katherine Pearce has completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts on clarinet at WAAPA and a Bachelor of Music Education at UWA. She has been teaching at Rossmoyne Senior High School for 16 years where she has worked as a classroom and clarinet teacher and director of instrumental ensembles and choirs. In 2017 she completed an Australian Kodály Certificate in Secondary Teaching. Kat enjoys being in the position to teach across multiple domains and developing an integrated approach to teaching the “army of nerds.” She also enjoys making music outside of school – playing clarinet in Clarinerds, singing in feminist choir, HengeQueens and has recently taken up the euphonium just for fun.

Mike Gowland is Head of Music Learning Area at Fremantle College, where he leads the renowned Approved Specialist Contemporary Music Program, which has built a reputation for launching the careers of numerous new WA artists. In 2019, Mike was a finalist in the WA teaching awards and in 2021 was appointed as department of education’s Curriculum Support Teacher for secondary music. He is a sessional lecturer at Edith Cowan University where he specialises in Jazz and Contemporary pedagogy. Mike has taught across the full range of public education contexts from primary to secondary, tertiary and adult education, including classroom, instrumental and a wide variety of ensemble direction.

Leonie Nicholls is the Assistant Director of Music at John Curtin College of the Arts, where she has taught since 2007. Leonie has a wide range of teaching experience: ATAR; VET Certificate II; Year 7-10 Gifted and Talented and Enrichment Music. She taught instrumental music for IMSS and has directed wind orchestras and choirs. Leonie is a Level 3 Classroom teacher.

Ursula Greig Since joining the teaching staff at Churchlands Senior High School in 2000, Ursula Greig has been a classroom teacher and choral director of various choirs and vocal ensembles. She completed an Australian Kodály Certificate in Secondary Education in 2016 and endeavors to use the Kodaly approach in all aspects of her teaching practice. Being enthusiastic about anything choral, Ursula fosters a love of singing, trying to instill joy, enthusiasm, expressiveness, and a sense of belonging in her classroom and ensembles.

Mirelle Hopwood has taught classroom music, choirs and bands at Churchlands Senior High School’s GATE music program since 2001. Since 2012 she has conducted for the WA Massed Choir Festival and in 2022, Mirelle was appointed the Musical Director of the Perth Pride Choir. Mirelle is a passionate advocate of the Kodály approach and uses it across all aspects of her professional life.

Contact Us

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us via email to wa@kodaly.org.au.