Mary Walton
PEAK Presenter
Based in:
Perth, WA, AustraliaMary Walton is an Australian Orff-Schulwerk presenter who has gained her skills and interests over thirty years of study and participation. In 2014/15, she travelled to the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria and successfully completed the Advanced Studies in Music & Movement, Orff-Schulwerk. She has completed her Levels in Australia and USA.
She has worked with children of all ages and abilities, lectured to university students and is a popular presenter to teachers and support staff around Australia.
Mary’s aim is to share the Orff-Schulwerk approach of creative music and movement to as many people as possible in the community. She believes all people can make music together successfully no matter their age and ability.
In 2020, along with a group of parents, she started the Eton Farm Primary School on her farm in Serpentine. It has grown rapidly, beginning with 9 children and in 2024 it has 50 full-time students and around 25 part-time students. She is the Principal and Music Teacher.
In 2022 the school became an Associated International School with the International Orff-Schulwerk Forum which is the first and only school in Australia.
She is looking forward to encouraging all participants to immerse themselves in the improvised and having fun during this Conference in Perth.
PEAK Elective Session | Wednesday, 8th January 2025 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
The Paper Dolls
Come and be connected like a Paper Doll whilst dancing, jumping and singing. This session will give you an experience of the Orff process from Imitation to Improvisation using creative movement, speech, singing and playing a range melodic and non-melodic instruments from the amazing book: 'The Paper Dolls' by Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb. By the end of the session you and your new friends will have created your own musical arrangement of this breathtakingly beautiful story of one little girl and her five paper dolls.
PEAK CONFAB Session | Wednesday, 8th January 2025 | 4:15pm - 5:15pm
Orff-Schulwerk is Alive and Well at Eton Farm Primary School
In 2020 some eager parents and I began a school on my farm in Serpentine with 5 full-time students and 3 staff members. In 2024 there are 47 full-time students, a waitlist, and 15 staff members. All students begin their day with music before heading off to their class teacher. The success of the school has been overwhelming and we are very excited to share where we are heading in the future. This information session will give you an insight into what it took to start a Non-government primary school, and how we became the first Associated School of International Orff-Schulwerk Forum in Australasia.