Professional Development and Summer Graduate Study

Martina Vasil is Associate Professor of Music Education and Director of Summer Music Education Programs at the University of Kentucky. She teaches undergraduate courses in elementary music methods and modern band and graduate courses in music education research and Orff. Martina has 20 years of teaching experience, 14 with K–6 general music. She is an Orff certified teacher and has World Music Drumming Level 1 and Dalcroze and modern band training. Martina is passionate about creating relevant, active, engaging, and creative musical experiences for children which has driven her work in popular music education throughout her career.

David Dockan is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he teaches elementary music methods, teaching music in diverse settings, and champions the integration of popular music in the curriculum. His goal is to empower teachers to design a curriculum that mirrors the diverse musical landscape of their students' lives. His research focuses on music pedagogies, music teacher professional agency and belonging in music education and has been published in leading journals, including the Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education, The Journal of Music, Technology and Education, Music Educators Journal and The Orff Echo. David presents workshops around the country with ideas and strategies for teaching popular music, modern band, and Orff Schulwerk.

Marla Butke, Ph.D. , retired Professor of Music, is a Master Teaching Artist and Vice-President of the American Eurhythmics Society. Dr. Butke is one of the co-founders of AES, formed in 2014. Dr. Butke has presented Dalcroze Eurhythmics workshops throughout the United States and internationally. Her degrees are from Miami University (BME), Wright State University (MME), and The Ohio State University (PHD). Former academic positions include Professor of Music at Ashland University, and adjunct professor at Otterbein, Capital, and Xavier Universities where she has taught general music methods, conducting, choral methods, and directed various choral ensembles. Dr. Butke has written numerous journal articles and book chapters on the topics of eurhythmics, assessment, and teacher reflection. Dr. Butke has co-authored two books with Dr. David Frego, “Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher’s Guide to Dalcroze Eurhythmics” published by Music is Elementary (2016) and “Dalcroze Eurhythmics in the Choral Classroom” published by Hal Leonard (2021).

David Frego is a past president of the American Eurhythmics Society and the Dalcroze Society of America, and regularly presents workshops on Dalcroze Eurhythmics throughout the globe. Frego has published book chapters, DVDs, books, and articles in both music education journals and medical journals for arts medicine. Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher’s Guide to Dalcroze Eurhythmics was co-authored with Dr. Marla Butke.

Betsy (Kipperman) Sebring teaches PreK–5 music at St. Patrick’s Episcopal School in Washington, DC. She has taught Orff-Schulwerk certification courses around the country, including George Mason University and the University of Kentucky. Ms. Kipperman completed terms as past president of her local Orff Chapter as well as Region Representative of AOSA’s National Board of Trustees. She completed the year-long Special Course at the Orff Institute in 2011.

Diana Hawley has over twenty years of experience as a music teacher, curriculum coordinator, and instructional design strategist in public, international, and charter schools. A nationally recognized Orff Schulwerk teacher educator, she has guided the professional learning of hundreds of U.S. and international music educators to enhance their practice and impact in diverse communities. Diana began her career in St. Paul, Minnesota, founding the music program at Achieve Language Academy, a Hmong and Spanish language-focused charter school, and later taught at International School Bangkok in Thailand, deepening her global perspective. Now based in Iowa City, she serves as an Access and Inclusion Lead Support Teacher in the Iowa City Community School District, fostering inclusion and future readiness across arts and career education. She also teaches graduate-level Orff Schulwerk courses, co-edited Artful-Playful-Mindful in Action, and serves on several editorial boards. Diana holds degrees from St. Olaf College, the University of St. Thomas, and Boston University.

Mona Mann currently teaches general music in River Forest, Illinois. She holds an undergraduate degree at Indiana University in Flute and French, as well as a performance certificate from the Conservatoire National in Strasbourg, France and a Master’s in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. Mrs. Mann has presented workshops in the Midwest, and at the AOSA National Conference, as well as for the Junior Music Educators conference in northern Illinois. Additionally, she teaches recorder at the Early Music Festival in Whitewater, Wisconsin. She is certified in Suzuki Recorder Units 1 through 5.

Christina Reardon (she/her) currently teaches K-8 music and movement in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She received her Bachelors of Music in Music Education and Masters of Music degrees from Miami University, her Orff Schulwerk certification from the University of Cincinnati, and also has multiple post-level III experiences. She is past- president and current program chair for the Greater Cincinnati AOSA chapter and an AOSA Movement Teacher Educator. Christina is an experienced clinician who has presented at MEA conferences and for AOSA chapters around the country as well as at various AOSA national conferences and loves helping educators find joy in their classrooms.

Jay Broeker is a general music specialist who holds Kodály and Orff Schulwerk certification and presents workshops nationally in the areas of music creativity, curriculum development, and effective teaching practice. Jay taught general music at elementary schools in Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Iowa. He also has taught undergraduate courses in music education at Westminster College (PA) and the University of St. Thomas.  During the summer, Jay teaches in the Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education programs at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Kentucky.  Jay’s commissioned choral works have been performed by numerous state and national honor choirs and are published by Boosey & Hawkes and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. Jay lives in Iowa City, Iowa, where he recently retired from teaching general music and serving as the K-12 General Music Coordinator for the Iowa City Community School District. He currently teaches piano at the Preucil School of Music, directs the chancel and handbell choirs at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and co-directs the Iowa City Youth Choir.