Upcoming Events
Stories that Move with Mika Inouye
Description:
Learn how to listen to a story with your whole body. Engage your senses and discover patterns and relationships that you will use to create elemental structures for music and movement improvisations. Join a dynamic conversation about how to share stories that move us to compassion, inclusion and celebration of our diverse world.
Bio:
Learn how to listen to a story with your whole body. Engage your senses and discover patterns and relationships that you will use to create elemental structures for music and movement improvisations. Join a dynamic conversation about how to share stories that move us to compassion, inclusion and celebration of our diverse world.
Come back later to register
Artful, Playful, Mindfulness Integrating SEL Into Orff Schulwerk with Sarah Posey
Description:
Experience, explore, and play with an array of lessons built intentionally around teaching Social Emotional competencies alongside the Orff Schulwerk approach.
Bio:
Sara Posey is a K-5 Music Educator currently teaching in the Adams 12 School District at Silver Creek Elementary. She received her BA in Music Education from MSU Denver in 2018 and her MA in Music Education from The University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN) in 2022, where she also completed her Level III Orff certification. Sara has had the opportunity to present at CMEA on the topics of integrating SEL into Orff and has also been invited to present at the National AOSA conference in 2024. She has a passion for helping educators seamlessly integrate SEL competencies into their Orff-based curriculum with classroom-vetted lessons and strategies!
Come back later to register
Chapter Share
A Recipe Book of
Children’s Literature
Members of RMC-AOSA will share their best lessons and ideas that use Children’s Literature!
Unlocking Imaginations Through Shadow Play with Peggy McCreary
Description:
Shadow puppetry reflects the elemental aspect of the visual arts, whereby an Orff Schulwerk teacher can teach and integrate musical elements along with language arts, creative writing, geography, history, science and geometry. Learn about shadow screen building, lighting and different types of shadow puppets with “make and take” construction time.
Bio:
Peggy McCreary received her B.M. from the University of New Mexico and her Orff Teacher Training Certificate from the University of Denver. She then joined this faculty to teach recorder and one of the only percussion classes offered nationally. She has taught recorder and percussion in teacher training courses at the Universities of Denver, Northern Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico; workshops for American Orff Schulwerk Association chapters nationwide; and has presented at more than two dozen AOSA National Conferences. She received a Lifetime Honorary Membership from the Rocky Mountain Chapter of AOSA and the Distinguished Service award from AOSA.
Her video on Orff instrument care can be found in the AOSA Video Library. She has contributed articles to the national publications The Orff Echo and Re-Echoes II, was a collaborator on Jane Frazee’s book, Discovering Keetman and was an author for the AOSA newsletter Reverberations, where instrument repair tips can be found in her column “Refurberations.” See Peggy's article, “Learning Through Exploration and Play” at http://www.aosa.org/article.htm.
Peggy continues her own musical activities by playing percussion in the Colorado Wind Ensemble.
Online Registration is now closed. Please register in person.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Meter Mosaic with Karen Petty
Description:
Meter adds the mmm in music, perhaps a bit of magic, too. Pulse in patterns. Changing the meter brings a new twist to familiar favorites. Experience and explore meter through all of the Orff media – speaking, singing, moving, playing and creating. Games and Assessment ideas will be shared as well. Materials include some original modal pieces and will be appropriate for 2nd-8th grade. Please bring soprano and alto recorders and wear comfortable clothing.
Bio:
Karen Petty recently retired after teaching Elementary Music and Movement for 43 years - most of that time in public school in Colorado with an 11-year period teaching at Trevor Day School in NYC. She is an AOSA Teacher Educator in Movement and Recorder and Level 1 Basic Pedagogy. Education: BME University of Northern Colorado; Orff Certification UNC; MA in Education, Curriculum & Instruction – Creative Arts in Learning Lesley College. Karen has served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees as a Regional Representative, Recording Secretary and currently as Treasurer. She is a frequent workshop presenter and is past president of both the Rocky Mountain and the New York City Orff Chapters. Karen recently published Mostly Modal with Movement and More – a collection of 21 original pieces for Orff ensemble – with Beatin’ Path Publications.
Online Registration is Closed.
Please register in person at the event.
LeslieAnne Bird Summer Mini Conference
Serving All Our Students in the Schulwerk: ELLs, Special Education, Culturally Responsive, Trauma Informed
Meeting the musical, emotional and educational needs of each student in teaching and learning environments that are constantly changing can be a challenge. Never Fear!
While it does seem overwhelming it can be done AND it is easier when we work together.
During the mini conference we will:
Identify and explore ways that Universal Design for Learning aligned with Orff process teaching can help us to meet the educational needs of all of our music students and ourselves.
Discuss and apply strategies to support young musicians who are learning a second language, (English) and students with special needs.
Explore the developing brain and practice trauma-informed strategies that work in the general music setting.
Develop criteria and actionable tasks to become culturally relevant and respectful music educators.
As a representative of ACEMM (The American Center for Elemental Music and Movement), LeslieAnne looks forward to sharing about the organization, its mission and how we support music educators in creating elemental music with their students and communities.
Friday, July 26 = 8am to 5pm
Saturday, July 27 = 8am to 4pm
Lunch is not provided but the lunch break will last one hour each day.
Mini Conference Registration
2 Day - $150
1 Day - $100
Online Registration is closed. All are still welcome to register in person.
“Visual Art as Inspiration” Laura Bercaw Petersen
Laura Bercaw Petersen
Using rich visuals as inspiration, workshop participants will sing, say, dance, and play their way through the morning. Stunning works of art will help spawn ideas for movement, improvisation, speech and song. Come find new ideas to re-energize your music classroom while making important co-curricular connections!
Online Registration is closed. Please join us and register in person.
"Culturally Responsive Approach to Black Music" Brandi Waller-Pace
Brandi Waller-Pace
Framed by historical context, narratives, and dialogue, explore various styles of Black music and learn to incorporate them in ways that center the experiences of Black people.
Online Registration is closed. Please register in person.
We look forward to seeing you there!
“Playful Pedagogy in Elemental Music and Movement” Drue Bullington
Drue Bullington
Mindful movement, creating with rhythmic building blocks, stories, drawings, elemental melodies, and more are all playfully explored as participants are guided to create artistic musical experiences. Bring a hand drum, a soprano recorder, a soprano ukulele (if you've got one handy), and your curiosity! We'll have fun making music and making memories together!
Pre-registration is closed. Please register in person at the workshop.
"Re-Grounding & Recharging" Dr. Paul Cribari
Let’s come together before the start of a new year to reground in Orff Schulwerk's basics, develop new ideas for connecting to students, and deepen our understanding of elemental music! In these two days, we will explore some gems from the Volumes, create new pieces based on the models, and connect with one another as a community of educators/musicians.
See you there!
Chapter Share
Curious about Orff? Want to get more lesson ideas for your classroom?
Then join us for a fun morning of joy, curiosity and music making as we take the opportunity to learn from each other. Chapter members will share lessons from their classrooms. This is a great event to grab some end of the year gems for your students and to get your ideas rolling for next year.
The best part is…it’s completely free!
Judith Thomas - Solomon - Workshop
Judith Thomas - Solomon
“Orff Schulwerk: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”
Orff Schulwerk is an incomparable approach in bringing children of all ages to music - Its power shapes us, awakening the best of what is in all of us, teachers and students alike: awareness and the creative spark.
So won’t you come and add YOUR “fiery particles” as we ignite our lives together. Come experience her decades of “living” the Orff Schulwerk approach and add your unique touches. We guarantee you’ll come away with renewed ideas and energy!
Workshop Registration
Did you miss online registration? We still look forward to seeing you in person!
Walt Hampton - Workshop
African Marimba in the Orff Classroom
Participants will experience first-hand the benefits and excitement of African-style marimba music in their classroom. They will learn playing and teaching techniques from this master teacher as they play, and also gain background information on this fascinating music. Participants will also learn about arranging pieces for performance, and the keys to creating a high-level performing group at their own school.
Workshop Registration
Online registration is closed for this workshop. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, January 14th, for in person registration.
Tiffany English - Workshop
Tiffany English
Seasonally Orff
Unpack the secrets of success! IMITATE, EXPLORE, and CREATE: Play with the media of the Schulwerk from speech to body percussion to creative movement, and instruments. Unpack the tools you need to develop elemental musical experiences and uncover the ingredients needed for successful music making.
Credit and Clock Hours available!
Online registration is now closed for this event. You can still register in person.
Matthew Stensrud Workshop
Effortless Play: Using the Schulwerk to Enhance Creativity
There’s always a place for creation – a folk dance with a twist, a chance to explore the xylophone, or an opportunity to see what your body can do with one word – but pulling these ideas from our students can be challenging. Let’s go back to the Schulwerk roots of playfulness, discovery, and wonder as we explore these ideas and more through student-led choices, improvisation, risk-taking, and more. We’ll unearth the unexpected, so join us on the journey!
Matthew Stensrud is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed music educator and currently teaches PK-4 Lower School Music and Movement at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. Matthew presents frequently on the successful combination of Orff Schulwerk and Responsive Classroom, has published articles on Responsive Classroom in the music room and contributed to a book for specialists on the incorporation of Responsive Classroom. He received the Spotlight Award from the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement in Summer 2017 and was recognized by his school as Teacher of the Year for the 2016-2017 school year.
Meg Tietz and Andrew Ellingsen - Summer Mini Conference
SCHEDULE:
Thursday July 21: 11:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.
Friday July 22: 8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.
Come spend two playful days discovering the multitude of ways body percussion can enrich the music-making in your classroom! While many associate the Orff approach with the playing of instruments, there are so many ways for children to be creative musicians. This workshop will highlight a host of ways that teachers can utilize body percussion in their classrooms -- as entry points into movement and the playing of barred instruments, as accompaniment patterns, in dramatic play, while folk dancing, and more!
Using body percussion allows teachers with a small budget to incorporate the Orff approach into their classrooms. Additionally, it enables students to make music on their own, no matter whether they’re in the music classroom, with the music teacher outside, or on their own at home or at recess. Help students access a myriad of sounds with the instrument they carry with them everywhere they go -- their body!
SCHEDULE:
Thursday July 21: 11:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.
Friday July 22: 8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.