Join us on the campus of William Paterson University or virtually for a workshop with Dena Byers! In this workshop, participants will explore tools to develop young musicians through activities which inspire compassion, courage, and confidence. 
WHEN: Saturday, September 17th from 9:00am-1:00pm
WHERE: Hunziker Hall, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ or on Zoom (link will be emailed prior to the start of the session)
REGISTER: To register, view our registration page
Dena Byers currently teaches at Hillandale Elementary School and serves as the lead elementary music teacher. She has taught for Durham Public Schools since 1997. She is a National Board Certified and has been honored by being a top four finalist for District Teacher of the Year and receiving the NC Symphony’s Jackson Pankhurst Award for Special Achievement in music education. She is also the Artistic Director for the Durham Children’s Choir (DCC), has been with the organization since its’ founding in 2004. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Mrs. Byers has been a guest conductor for a All-State Honors Choirs in MS and TN as well as District All-County Choirs in NC, GA, FL and AL. She has presented workshops for Orff Schulwerk chapters throughout the US and at National AOSA Professional Development Conferences. Dena is an AOSA approved Teacher Educator and currently teaches Level II Orff Schulwerk at the University of Memphis. She received BA degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota and holds Level III and Master Level Orff Schulwerk Certifications from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Memphis, respectively.

NNJOSA is proud to present our 2022-23 season! For more details on the season visit our 2022-23 Workshop Series page. To register for the series, please click here. 

Join us on the campus of William Paterson University or virtually for a workshop with Eric Young! In this workshop, participants will discover ways to spark joy in their classroom through a wide array of child-centered activities and lessons.
WHEN: Saturday, April 9th from 9:00am-1:00pm
WHERE: Hunziker Hall, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ or Virtually! (Zoom link will be emailed prior to workshop start)
IMPORTANT: Masks remain REQUIRED at WPU! Please ensure you are masked at this workshop.
REGISTER: To register visit our registration page.
Eric Young teaches band at Pulaski Middle School in Virginia. and adjunct faculty at Radford University. Previously, Mr. Young taught PK-5 music for 15 years. He has a MAed from Virginia Tech and a BMed from Radford University. Eric has presented workshops and clinics all over the US and China. He served as a Regional Representative on the AOSA National Board of Trustees and served as the chair of the Social Media Committee.  Eric lives in Christiansburg, VA with his husband, Joe, and boxer, Luna.

EXCITING NEWS! The Northern New Jersey Orff Schulwerk Association is offering Orff Levels I & II this summer at William Paterson University! Registration is now open!
WHEN? August 8-19 (weekdays only) from 8:30am-4:30pm
WHO? The instructors are Ardith Collins (basic pedagogy), Judith Thompson-Barthwell (basic pedagogy), Russell Nadel (recorder), and Matthew Stensrud (movement).
WHERE? Hunziker Hall, William Paterson Univ., Wayne, NJ
For more information including tuition, graduate credits, required materials, and registration, visit our LEVELS page.

Due to the forecasted weather conditions, this workshop will only be offered online. Please see the email for the Zoom link.
CHANGE TO OUR WORKSHOP SERIES: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation was unable to host this upcoming workshop. We are excited to announce in their place the workshop "Decisions, Decisions!" hosted by Becky Burdett! The Orff Schulwerk teacher functions as a facilitator in the classroom setting. However, letting the creative process unfold meaningfully takes careful planning and preparation. This session will balance deliberate instruction and discovery education through student choice.  Strategies for developing playing skills and management in the Orff Schulwerk classroom will be integrated throughout the morning.

WHEN? Saturday, March 12th from 9:00am-11:00am
WHERE? Hunziker Hall, Virtually! (If attending virtually, a Zoom link will be emailed to registrants prior to the workshop start time)
REGISTER: Visit our registration page
Becky Burdett currently teaches elementary music and chorus at Lackawanna Trail School District, Pennsylvania. Her goal is for each student to be joyful in the act of making, expressing, and creating music.   She believes that students can be capable musicians when allowed the guided freedom to explore all areas of musicianship. She has completed specialized training in music education pedagogies, including Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk. Becky is an active member of music education organizations: PMEA, AOSA, and PAOSA- Philadelphia Orff chapter. She has served as a clinician for PMEA State and District professional development in-services, PAOSA and Baltimore Orff Chapters, as well as the AOSA National Conference.   She was named to the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement (ACEMM) Roster of Excellence and has been published in the Orff Echo. 

Join us on Zoom on Saturday, February 12th from 9am-11am for our annual chapter share! NNJOSA members will be sharing lessons and materials on the topic of "Brunch, Borduns, and Behavior Management." We look forward to seeing you there!
WHERE? Zoom! (The link will be sent prior to the workshop)
WHEN? Saturday, February 12th from 9am-11am
REGISTRATION? Visit our registration page

Join us on Zoom on Saturday, November 13th from 9am-11am as we present highlights from the 2021 AOSA National Conference in Charleston, South Carolina! Two additional hours (11am-1pm) will be available to those interested in or currently receiving graduate credit.
WHERE? Zoom! (The link will be sent to registrants prior to the workshop)
WHEN? Saturday, November 13 from 9am-11am
REGISTRATION? Visit our registration page

Join us on the campus of William Paterson University or virtually for a workshop with Lorelei Batislaong! The ukulele has quickly become a sought-after addition in the elementary music classroom. Its accessibility and uniqueness make it a new and exciting way for students to create and participate in music-making. But this new instrument does not mean we have to start all over again. Come join us as we explore known sequences and teaching strategies that empower all students in their ʻukulele skills. All abilities and teaching experience welcome! Please bring a recorder.
WHEN: Saturday, October 16 from 9:00am-1:00pm
WHERE: Hunziker Hall, William Paterson University or Virtually! (If attending virtually, Zoom link will be emailed prior to the workshop time).
REGISTER:​ To register for the session please visit our registration page
Lorelei Batislaong is a 14-year veteran of the elementary music classroom. She received a BM in
Music with teacher certification from Southwest Texas State University and a MM in
Instrumental Conducting from Texas State University. She served on the American Orff-
Schulwerk Association National Board of Trustees as Region III Representative and is a former
chair of the AOSA Diversity and Inclusion committee. Lorelei is the State Director of the Texas
affiliate of the National Association for Music Education and is the Deputy Director of
Decolonizing the Music Room. Along with presenting local, state and national clinics, Lorelei is completing a Ph.D. in Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests include: Teacher decision-making, inclusivity in the music classroom and the teaching profession, and generally wondering why everything is the way it is and how it could be better.

NNJOSA is proud to present our 2021-22 workshop series! Our workshops this year will be held IN PERSON at William Paterson University's Hunziker Hall. There is also an option to attend the workshops via livestream. 

For more details on the season, please visit our
2021-22 Workshop Series page.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! We strongly recommend registering online as soon as possible. Please click here to register online. 

AND DON'T FORGET! You can now earn up to 
*2 GRADUATE CREDITS* for attending NNJOSA workshops! The deadline to register is September 16. Please click this link for more information and click this link to register with WPU via "Late Start".

EXCITING NEWS! NNJOSA is partnering with William Paterson University to offer up to 2 graduate credits per year (1 per semester) to attend NNJOSA's workshops. You can receive this credit by attending workshops in person OR remotely! In order to receive the credits you must register directly with WPUNJ. YOU SHOULD REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 1 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE CREDIT, so act fast! For more information on this exciting opportunity and for information on how to register, please open the PDF below: