Workshop Schedule for 2008-2009

• September 20--Renee Boyer-Alexander, “Urban Education: Bringing Orff to the Urban Classroom”
• October 18--Sanna Longden, “Dancing Without the Stars: Creating Community not Competition with World Dances”
• November 12-15--AOSA National Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina
• January 24--Chapter Share
• February 28--Karen Medley, “Music Gets a Twinkle in my Eyes and a Jump in my Feet:
  Process Lessons while sharing your music with Children”
• March 21--Lillie Feierabend, “Multiple Intelligence in the Music Classroom”
• April 18--Matt McCoy, “Improvisation: Process, Product and Pedagogy”

September 20--Renee Boyer-Alexander, “Urban Education: Bringing Orff to the Urban Classroom”

Elemental style music meets up with the challenges of cultural differences, language barriers and social pressure whether you’re urban, suburban or rural. Although we are continually barraged with the puzzle of making music with diverse populations and developing musicianship, many styles and rich cultures bring community to children as they discover each other’s roots and musical wealth. The materials will vary in age appropriateness from Kindergarten to Middle School

Dr. Renee Boyer-Alexander is a retired professor from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. Renee is also an active presenter for numerous music workshops and clinics throughout the world, and has presented at AOSA National Conferences and for National MENC. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles and books on music education and is a contributing author for a music series. Her fun spirit and engaging process is packed with immediate material to jumpstart your music collection.

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October 18--Sanna Longden, “Dancing Without the Stars: Creating Community not Competition with World Dances”

Sanna will share useful and enjoyable ethnic movement activities and folk dances from a variety of the world’s cultures. Her focus is community and character building as well as curriculum connections, teaching tips and traditional music. Learn useful and enjoyable ethnic dances from grades 3-8, while discussing how cultural aspects like geography, social mores and clothing influence how people move to music. Explore and enjoy “mixer” dances to encourage civility and community from Kindergarten through college. By the time the day is done your knowledge of ethnic cultures will be enhanced through the new confidence and teaching tools you will take back into your classroom. Dress coolly and comfortably.

Sanna Longden is a well-known clinician at numerous workshops throughout the United States and beyond. She has also served on the faculty of many Orff Certification Programs. She has led sessions and dance parties at AOSA National Conferences since l984, and has presented workshops for GCAOSA-her home chapter-since the early ‘80’s. She spends much of the year in schools around the U.S. as artist-in-residence, and also teaches at universities and folklore festivals. Visit her website for her useful and amusing CDs and DVDs at www.FolkStyle.com or purchase them at this workshop. Sanna has also coauthored many books and is a contributing author for a music series, as well as arranger of “The Matzorena,” a recently discovered ancient folk dance.

For more information about Sanna visit www.folkstyle.com.

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November 12-15--National AOSA Conference--Charlotte, North Carolina
"Patschwerk of Possibilities "
Photo courtesy of encarta.com

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January 24--Chapter Share

Our talented chapter members come from many different backgrounds and experiences that enrich us all. If you would like to present a 15-30 minute lesson at this year's session please contact Jennifer.

Click here for a presenter form.

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February 28--Karen Medley, “Music Gets a Twinkle in my Eyes and a Jump in my Feet:
Process Lessons while sharing your music with Children”

Sparkling smiles greet our feet as we enjoy an action-packed day of ideas to energize our teaching. Session will explore the elemental Orff process that involves the participation of your kids as they create and shine! Kid tested material designed to stimulate and motivate students will model process teaching.

Karen Medley is an elementary music teacher at Bagnall Elementary School in the Pentucket Regional School District, MA. A nationally known clinician, she has served as a Region Representative on the AOSA National Board of trustees, and as National Chairperson for three AOSA Conferences.

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March 21--Lillie Feierabend, “Multiple Intelligence in the Music Classroom”

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence suggests that individuals do not have just one intelligence, but rather, possess a portfolio of intelligences. Participants will be introduced to eight intelligences as well as various strategies and techniques that will enable them to help strengthen these intelligences without compromising our musical goals and standards. We will use the rich repertoire of our folk music to explore how tonal, rhythmic, and expressive development contributes not only to a child’s musical growth and progress but can serve to strengthen, enrich and develop other intelligences as well. Thus, we are truly able to nurture the whole child in our quest to help them become musical.

Lillie is known for her work with young children and for instilling a love of music within them. This is her seventh year at the University of Hartford Magnet School and her tenth year as director of the Prelude Choir of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus. She received the l998 Teacher of the Year Award from Canton Schools (CT) for her innovative and inclusive music programs. She is President of the Kodaly Educators of Southern New England (KESNE) and is the recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Elementary Music Educator Award presented by the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA). She is a frequent clinician at local, state and national conference speaking on many aspects of early childhood music education.

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April 18--Matt McCoy, “Improvisation: Process, Product and Pedagogy”

Teaching children to improvise their own music can be a joyful experience for teacher and student alike. By its very nature, improvisation encourages students to participate in active and creative music making. Additionally, it provides the teacher an opportunity to assess what musical progress is being made. This workshop will present practical strategies for incorporating improvisation in the general music classroom. It will provide the how to’s that make improvisation enjoyable as well as a natural extension of everyday lessons. This workshop will also give ways to assess improvisation in the context of elemental music making.

Matt McCoy is currently a candidate for the PhD in Music Education at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, OK. Prior to his time at OU, he taught children for eighteen years in both public and independent schools in Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, and Washington, DC. Additionally, Mr. McCoy teaches with the Orff Schulwerk certification courses at George Mason University and the University of Northern Colorado. As a clinician specializing in Orff process, he has presented at several AOSA National Conferences and at local chapter meetings around the United States.

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