Teachers:
Linzie Mullins
Linzie Mullins is an Orff Music Specialist at Snowden School, where she also currently serves as a Mentor Teacher with Memphis-Shelby County Schools. and an AOSA Orff Movement Teacher Educator. Mullins is a recent recipient of the CMA Teacher of Excellence Award (2019 & 2021) and the TnMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year (2019). She currently serves as the WTGMEA secretary and the Memphis Chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association (MCAOSA) vice president. In the past, she has served as the State General Music Chair of the Tennessee Music Education Association, treasurer of MCAOSA, and president of WTGMEA. She has presented several workshops including the First Timers Workshop at the AOSA Conference in Denver Colorado, TN Music Educators Association, and District Learning Days for Shelby County Schools. Linzie earned her undergraduate degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership as well as her English as a Foreign Language Certficate from The University of Memphis, and her Administrator's Certification from Christian Brothers University. She also attained Orff Levels I, II, III, and Masterclass through the University of Memphis. She is a current foster mom, a mom of two sons, Jesse and Bentley, and the wife of Ray Mullins, who is also an Orff music specialist.
Betsy Carter
Betsy Carter is an Orff Music specialist at Snowden School in Memphis, TN, where she teaches grades K-5. She is a 2023 CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence. Betsy is also an AOSA Orff Pedagogy Teacher Educator and has taught Orff Level I and II Basic Pedagogy at Lee University, and Level I at Anderson University and The University of Memphis. Betsy has presented workshops at the AOSA National Conference, Tennessee MEA Conference, Mississippi MEA Conference, and for Orff Chapters in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. She has served as an Orff Mentor teacher and curriculum writer for Memphis Shelby County Schools for 10 years and currently serves as the Memphis Chapter AOSA President. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Betsy completed her Orff Levels at the University of Memphis, masterclasses at Trinity University and Anderson University, and her apprenticeship at Anderson University. Betsy is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early and Middle Childhood Music and has written several articles for the Orff Echo. Her specialties are curriculum development, grant writing, and community partnerships. She is a co-creator of the Side by Side Orff Orchestra partnership with the Memphis Symphony and led the project's first performance in 2015. When not teaching Orff, Betsy also performs in the trumpet section of the Memphis Symphony. She is married to MSO violinist Erin Kaste and they have two young adult children. Together, they have road tripped 41 states!
Upcoming Events:
School Programs (click the event for more info):
Sunday, October 1 - Special Percussion Group Performance at the Rudi E. Scheidt Building - U. of Memphis
Tuesday, October 17 - Dancers perform at the M-SCS Board Meeting
Thursday, October 19 - Dancers and Music Club perform Multicultural Program (8:45 pm in the Snowden auditorium)
Thursday, October 26 - Dance and Music Club perform at Read for the Record Program
Thursday, November 30 - Winter Program, Grades 2-3 (8:45am and 6:00pm in the auditorium)
Saturday, December 16 - WKNO Holiday Party with Teacher Teacher (10:30 performance, event 10-1)
Thursday, February 1 - Black History Program, Grades 4-5 (8:45am in the auditorium)
February 6 - Dancers perform at the PTO meeting 6:00
Thursday, March 7 - Side by Side, All Elementary Students Perform (1:30pm in the gym)
Friday, April 26 - Dance Ensemble performs at the District 2 Community Event
Thursday, May 2 - Kindergarten and First Grade Program 1:30pm in Auditorium
Other Programs:
November 17-19 - Nut Remix with New Ballet Ensemble
Friday, February 16 West TN Honor Choir
Upcoming Events:
All City May 1, 2024
Rehearsal Days 3-3:30
3:00-3:30 April 15-29
- SCHEDULE: April 30 AND May 1 - Cannon Center 8:00-2:20 with sack lunch.
- May 1 - Call time for performance is 6:30
- Students may wear school uniform or a Snowden T-shirt with school uniform bottoms on April 30 for the rehearsal day.
- Students will need to wear black pants on May 1. No skirts, shorts, or dresses; only pants. They will be provided a free All-City t-shirt for the event and will wear that for the concert.
- Students will need a sack lunch both days, WATER ONLY for a drink, per the Cannon Center rules.
- We ask that you to encourage your child to practice his/her music at home. The songs must we memorized for this event. We will work on them at our rehearsals, but it would be helpful if they work outside of school as well.
Upcoming Events:
All City Board Performance April 23
- Arrive at the BOE at 4:00
- Perform 5:30-5:40
- Wear Snowden Shirt and black bottoms
- M-SCS Board of Ed 160 S Hollywood St #324, Memphis, TN 38112
Upcoming Events:
CommUnity Day - April 27
- Dance Ensemble Event
- Arrival Time: 11:00
- Performance Time: 11:30-12
- Wear Snowden Dance shirt and black or dark bottoms, shorts are ok! And comfortable shoes!
Upcoming Events:
District 2 Event at Junior Achievement
- Dance Ensemble Event
- Wear Dance Shirt and Black Bottoms TO SCHOOL and at this event
- Arrival Time: 5:15
- Performance Time: 5:30-6 (in hallway before event)
- Junior Achievement: 516 Tillman St, Memphis 38112
Volunteer sign ups:
Coming soon!
Supplies Always Needed and Appreciated:
Kleenex
Paper Towels
Sanitizing Wipes
Recorder is your student's first woodwind instrument! In order to maximize their success, it is important that they play a quality instrument. YOUR CHILD'S IN-SCHOOL RECORDER WILL BE PROVIDED! However, if you wish to purchase an instrument for them to practice on at home, we recommend the Yamaha YRS 24B recorder. This is a Baroque Fingered Soprano recorder.
Several sources to find these online and in town are:
Music and Arts (online)
West Music (online)
Amro Music 2918 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111
Want something a little fancier?
Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Mullins use this recorder.
Alto recorders are larger and play lower. Again, we provide these in class, but you can find one here.
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Ukulele is is an excellent introduction to string instruments, or an extension if your child is involved in String Orchestra or private lessons! YOUR CHILD'S IN-SCHOOL UKULELE WILL BE PROVIDED! However, if you wish to purchase an instrument for them to practice on at home, we recommend the Kala, Makala, Kohala, Mitchell, and Luna brands of Soprano Ukulele.
Sources:
Amro Music 2918 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111
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Amro Music Find a Piano Teacher
- Online database and teacher matching service
- Choral opportunities for children third grade and older
- Choral opportunities for children, youth, and adults
Memphis Youth Symphony Program (MYSP)
- Strings, winds, and percussion at all levels
- Private instruction in Violin and Cello
- Orff Camp (elementary), band, choir, and popular music camps (middle/HS)
- Online instruction in any instrument
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About Us
The Snowden Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Orff Music Specialists Linzie Mullins and Betsy Carter, consists of 3rd-5th graders from Snowden School in Memphis, TN. These students audition and are hand selected for this performing group. The dancers meet once weekly and have been featured at many prestigious events/venues, such as the ABC24 News Holiday Program, the WKNO Radio Station, and the Memphis Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.
Our Mission:
To promote positive community and collaboration with those in our ensemble and in our communities through different types of dance.
Video Samples
Featured Dances
Community Dances
Interested in learning more or inviting our group to dance at your upcoming event? Please contact the directors at:
Interested in our amazing school?
Visit our website for more information!
A FF EFD
F FF DCD
F FF DFG
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A ---------
A--- AGF GFD
Alto Xylophone/Alto Metallophone
Soprano Metallophone
AGFEF---
F DED CBA A
b
D FED CBA CD
b
D FED CBABCE
b
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C---AGF GFD