October 7-8 Workshop Days: Matthew Stensrud
About the Workshop:
Day 1: With the implementation of Responsive Classroom in elementary schools across the country, music educators can be an influential voice in the successful use of this process based, community driven and exploration centered approach. Today, we’ll learn more about the basics of Responsive Classroom, how it looks in the elementary classroom, and why Responsive Classroom is a natural fit within Orff Schulwerk. So let’s play, sing, speak, dance, move, and create!
Day 2: 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! 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!
About Matthew: Matthew Stensrud is an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning Elementary Music and Movement Teacher and currently teaches PK-4 music and movement at Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, DC. He received his Master of Music Education from George Mason University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, is an Orff Schulwerk approved Teacher Educator of Movement, and teaches Movement Levels in New Jersey and Oregon. Matthew is also on AOSA National Board of Trustees as a representative for region 5 and was a key content contributor to the book Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE and Other Special Areas. He is also well-known on social media as @MisterSOrff and offers newsletters through his website www.mistersorff.com and mentoring, lesson plans, and more on his Patreon page, www.patreon.com/mistersorff.
Day 1: With the implementation of Responsive Classroom in elementary schools across the country, music educators can be an influential voice in the successful use of this process based, community driven and exploration centered approach. Today, we’ll learn more about the basics of Responsive Classroom, how it looks in the elementary classroom, and why Responsive Classroom is a natural fit within Orff Schulwerk. So let’s play, sing, speak, dance, move, and create!
Day 2: 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! 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!
About Matthew: Matthew Stensrud is an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning Elementary Music and Movement Teacher and currently teaches PK-4 music and movement at Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington, DC. He received his Master of Music Education from George Mason University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, is an Orff Schulwerk approved Teacher Educator of Movement, and teaches Movement Levels in New Jersey and Oregon. Matthew is also on AOSA National Board of Trustees as a representative for region 5 and was a key content contributor to the book Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE and Other Special Areas. He is also well-known on social media as @MisterSOrff and offers newsletters through his website www.mistersorff.com and mentoring, lesson plans, and more on his Patreon page, www.patreon.com/mistersorff.
Elementary Orff Ensembles are Back
Idaho Orff and IMEA welcome back the Elementary Orff Ensemble to the 2023 IMEA Professional Development Conference at Idaho State University in Pocatello, February 2-4, 2023! The directing team of Orff Specialists David Thaxton from Reno, Nevada, and Ardith Collins of New York City, will be singing, speaking, moving, and playing with elementary students, 4th – 6th grades, Thursday and Friday, February 2nd and 3rd with a performance on Saturday morning, February 4.
Interested students should be able to match pitch and keep a steady pulse and must be recommended by their music teacher. Students from around the state, outside of the Pocatello area, will be welcomed but must be housed in a local hotel room with a parent or guardian or with family/friends in the area with a parent or guardian.
Student fees for this All-State opportunity are $155 and include lunch, snacks, necessary music, and the Idaho Orff/ IMEA Elementary Ensemble T Shirt. Registration will begin on October 2 with forms and fees due on November 28.
Our Orff team will be looking for adult volunteers to assist with this wonderful adventure! For questions or to sign up to help please email one of us:
Lori Conlon Khan – lorick@uidaho.edu
Shirley VanPaepeghem – SHIRLEYVP@msn.com
Miranda Rupp – miranda.rupp@boiseschools.org
Interested students should be able to match pitch and keep a steady pulse and must be recommended by their music teacher. Students from around the state, outside of the Pocatello area, will be welcomed but must be housed in a local hotel room with a parent or guardian or with family/friends in the area with a parent or guardian.
Student fees for this All-State opportunity are $155 and include lunch, snacks, necessary music, and the Idaho Orff/ IMEA Elementary Ensemble T Shirt. Registration will begin on October 2 with forms and fees due on November 28.
Our Orff team will be looking for adult volunteers to assist with this wonderful adventure! For questions or to sign up to help please email one of us:
Lori Conlon Khan – lorick@uidaho.edu
Shirley VanPaepeghem – SHIRLEYVP@msn.com
Miranda Rupp – miranda.rupp@boiseschools.org
February 25, 2023: David Row
About the Workshop:
About David: A Nebraska native and Midwesterner at heart, David Row now lives and teaches in the Kansas City Metro. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory, completed Orff Schulwerk Master level certification, and has extensive experience with critical thinking in the arts. Find more ideas about music education on David's blog, .www.makemomentsmatter.org.
About David: A Nebraska native and Midwesterner at heart, David Row now lives and teaches in the Kansas City Metro. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory, completed Orff Schulwerk Master level certification, and has extensive experience with critical thinking in the arts. Find more ideas about music education on David's blog, .www.makemomentsmatter.org.
Announcing our 2022-2023 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Velma Allen scholarship recipients Diana Hale and Emily Mitchell. They have both been awarded $500 to attend levels training this summer. For more information on scholarships visit our scholarships page and see below for more information on levels teacher trainings below.
Levels Teacher Trainings Summer 2023
Check back soon for more information on Levels Training Summer 2023!
FREE! Lesson Plans and Ideas
Missing our workshops and the chance to collaborate and learn from other music teachers in our area? Check out a new section of the website with lesson plan ideas and resources. Lessons can be found under the "More" tab. Simply look for the "Lesson Plans and Ideas" page. Our IOSA board will be updating regularly with lesson plan ideas from the board and our membership!
Rescheduled for Spring 2024: Kate Miller, 8:30am-4pm
Location TBD
The Volumes and You! What YOU can do!
Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you look at the Music for Children Orff Schulwerk Volumes? Are you afraid to admit that you don’t use the volumes like you think you should? You are not alone!
This presentation gives a ‘down to earth’ perspective of how to use the volumes! Ideas and suggestions are shared to help get you started using and understanding the volumes like an Orff teacher should!
About Kate:
Kateri (Kate) Miller, Ph.D., is assistant professor of music education at Minot State University in North Dakota. She has over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults and is certified in Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, and has training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She is past president of the Orff chapter in Las Vegas and is currently serving as a trustee on the national board of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. She has presented original material at KMEA, NDMEA, Orff Chapters, and the National Orff Conference and has presented the GAMEPLAN curriculum in various school districts throughout the United States. In addition, she has presented research at NAfME, Mid-South Music Education Research Symposium, Mountain Lake Colloquium, and OAKE. Currently, Dr. Miller teaches music education majors both elementary and secondary choral methods as well as non music education majors at Minot State University. In addition, she also conducts the Western Plains Junior Choir and Music Makers, an elementary Orff instrumental group.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you look at the Music for Children Orff Schulwerk Volumes? Are you afraid to admit that you don’t use the volumes like you think you should? You are not alone!
This presentation gives a ‘down to earth’ perspective of how to use the volumes! Ideas and suggestions are shared to help get you started using and understanding the volumes like an Orff teacher should!
About Kate:
Kateri (Kate) Miller, Ph.D., is assistant professor of music education at Minot State University in North Dakota. She has over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults and is certified in Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, and has training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She is past president of the Orff chapter in Las Vegas and is currently serving as a trustee on the national board of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. She has presented original material at KMEA, NDMEA, Orff Chapters, and the National Orff Conference and has presented the GAMEPLAN curriculum in various school districts throughout the United States. In addition, she has presented research at NAfME, Mid-South Music Education Research Symposium, Mountain Lake Colloquium, and OAKE. Currently, Dr. Miller teaches music education majors both elementary and secondary choral methods as well as non music education majors at Minot State University. In addition, she also conducts the Western Plains Junior Choir and Music Makers, an elementary Orff instrumental group.
Instrument Loan Program
Through some very generous donations, the "Treasures" part of the Idaho Orff Chapter has put together sets of Orff instruments, guitars, ukes, and hand drums that are available for lending out to music teachers in Idaho! Fill out an application to be selected. We will be accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year in spring 2023! .
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The board is currently looking to fill the roll of Membership Chairperson and Secretary on the board. Click the link below to contact the board and let them know you are interested in learning more.
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