Blog Posts

3/6 & 3/13 - BETH NELSON

3/3/2021

Distance learning, hybrid classrooms, in-person instruction - oh, my! What is a music and movement teacher to do? In this uncertain time, we are all faced with reinventing our classrooms in unique ways. This workshop is a chance to gather with colleagues to explore what IS possible to keep a creative, engaging Orff Schulwerk classroom alive no matter what modality we are working in. Together, we will create in the infinite space of "what if."
WHEN: March 6th & 13th from 10am-12pm
WHERE: Virtually via Zoom!
HOW TO ACCESS: The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants. You must be registered by Friday night to attend. To register for the single session or series, visit our registration page.

1/23/21 - CHAPTER SHARE

1/20/2021

Please join us on Saturday, January 23, 2021 on Zoom for a Chapter Sharing Workshop. Members of the NNJOSA Chapter will present teacher-tested and kid-approved lessons for use in today's climate.
WHEN: Saturday, January 23, 2021 (10:00am-12:00pm)
WHERE: Zoom! Registrants will receive the Zoom link prior to the workshop.
REGISTRATION: Registration is available on the registration page.

11/21 - ORFF ECHO BOOK CLUB

11/17/2020

In lieu of conference share this year, NNJOSA is proud to present an Orff Echo Book Club on Saturday, November 21! If you're interested in joining please fill out this Google Form ASAP.
WHEN: Saturday, November 21 from 10am-12pm
WHERE: Zoom!
HOW TO ACCESS: The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants prior to the session. Registrants must also complete the Google Form above.To register for the single session, visit our registration page.

10/10 & 10/17: NATASHA THURMON

10/6/2020

"Being a teacher right now is tough! Being a music teacher provides its own unique challenges as well. How can we provide high quality instruction to our students while building relationships with and caring for them, and also maintain our own mental, physical, and emotional health and well being? Participants will work on setting attainable and practical goals for themselves and their classrooms in this 2 part series that will focus on both virtual and in person instruction."
WHEN: October 10 (Part 1: Virtual Focus) & October 17 (Part 2: F2F with Safety in Mind) from 10am-12pm
WHERE: Virtually via Zoom!
HOW TO ACCESS: The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants prior to the sessions. You must be registered by Friday night to attend. To register for the single session or the series, visit the registration page.

9/12 & 9/26: AIMEE CURTIS PFITZNER

9/9/2020

"Musical Books for Blended Outlooks: Diverse and Inclusive Children's Literature and Music Activities for Face to Face and Remote Learning"
A plethora of possibilities await as we explore music concepts and activities that use diverse and inclusive literature as jumping off points to creative and engaging music making! This session will illustrate the many ways children's literature can be used with movement, speech, and art activities that engage the learner. Concepts of rhythm, melody, form, dynamics, tempo, and improvisation will be illustrated with activities that can be used for face to face or remote learning.
WHEN: September 12th & 26th from 10am-12pm
WHERE: Virtually via Zoom!
HOW TO ACCESS: The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants by 8am on September 12th. You must be registered by Friday night to attend. To register for the single session or the series, visit our registration page.
WE WILL ALSO BE HOLDING A BOOK SALE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS WORKSHOP! To access the book sale, please use the button below

NNJOSA BOOK SALE

2020-21 WORKSHOP SERIES & REGISTRATION

8/31/2020

This year, NNJOSA is excited to announce a series of virtual workshops, co-hosted by our friends and neighbors at PAOSA. With your registration as a member of NNJOSA, you will have access to both our virtual workshops and those hosted by PAOSA.

All NNJOSA-hosted workshops are held over the course of two Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. All PAOSA-hosted workshops are held on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm and the following Wednesday from 6pm to 8:30pm. All workshops will be held on the Zoom platform.

For a full list of dates and times of the NNJOSA and PAOSA-hosted workshops, please visit our 2020-21 Workshop series page.

Registration is now open! Please click here to register online.

NNJOSA STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY

6/9/2020

The board of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of The American Orff Schulwerk Association stands in solidarity with our Black colleagues, students, friends, and community members. We stand with AOSA’s Statement Denouncing Violence Against Black People as well as the AOSA Diversity Statement. We agree that the Mission, Core Values and Diversity and Inclusion Statement must not only be words on a page but central to our everyday actions as both a National and Local organization.

We believe that Black Lives Matter. We grieve the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor, and countless more whose lives have been lost to the systemic racism, police brutality, and unjust violence inflicted on Black communities in America. We commit to listening to and honoring the voices of those who have been marginalized, and to reflect on our teaching and learning practices for ourselves, our students, and our communities.

In accordance with NNJOSA’s Mission Statement, we will “provide a forum for the continued growth and understanding of Orff Schulwerk that reflects the diversity in contemporary American society,” and hope that you will join us in unity. In conjunction with local AOSA Chapters, including resources shared by NYCCAOSA, we will provide professional development, literature, websites, and information on organizations that reflect diversity, equity, and anti-racist teaching practices.

5/9 & 5/16 - NNJOSA & PAOSA PRESENT: "YOU ARE ENOUGH" VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES

5/5/2020

On May 9th and May 16th from 10:00-12:00, in conjunction with PAOSA, NNJOSA will be offering a 2-part workshop series on Zoom entitled "You Are Enough: Navigating the Virtual Landscape - Approaches and strategies to connect creatively with your students during this time of home learning."

Presenters will include our very own Ardith Collins along with Kate Bright, Drue Bullington, Michelle Przybylowski, and David Thaxton.

The workshop is FREE and open to all, but registration is required. To register, click here.

4/18/20 - VIRTUAL CHECK-IN

4/17/2020

Hello All! In the spirit of community within NNJOSA, we would like to extend an opportunity for membership to attend a GoogleMeet on Saturday, April 18th from 9 - 10 am. During this hour-long GoogleMeet, we can discuss how your district is handling distance learning, what resources are working for you, what challenges you are currently facing, how we can all support each other during this difficult time, and how Orff Schulwerk process can be integrated in a distance learning model. We will also share the slate of candidates for the 2020 - 2022 NNJOSA Executive Board. If a quorum is assembled virtually, we will vote as a chapter by a show of hands. If a quorum is not met, a Google Form will be sent for membership to vote via email.

For Google Hangout information, please consult the email sent to membership. If you did not receive it, please email info@nnjosa.org.

3/7/2020 - john barnes: "a night's journey: make it your own"

3/4/2020

Using familiar pieces from the volumes, favorite rhymes and children's games, and a wide variety of poetry, participants will embark on a journey that travels in time from dusk to dawn. We will explore ways to take these old favorites and make them your own through shifting tonalities, improvisation, and composition projects. Participants will leave with materials that could serve as stand-alone lessons or be combined into a program for upper elementary students. Participants are asked to bring their recorders.
WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 2020 (9:00am-1:00pm)
WHERE: William Paterson University, Hunziker Hall Room 101
REGISTRATION: Registration is available at the workshop beginning at 8:30am or online. Please visit our registration page for more info.
John Barnes is a member of the faculty at Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC, where he teaches general music to students in grades two through eight. Previously, he taught for nine years at Sully Elementary School in Loudoun County, Virginia. While at Sully, John served as chair of the district’s All-County Chorus Festival, contributed to the district’s research newsletter, Stride, and was a finalist for Shenandoah University’s Teacher of the Year award. Outside of the classroom, he has served in several capacities on the board of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. He currently holds the position of past president. John has presented workshops for various state MEA conventions and local chapters of AOSA. He completed his Orff-Schulwerk certification and Level IV coursework at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, apprenticed for recorder at The University of St. Thomas, and has been a participant in additional masterclasses throughout the US. John earned a bachelor of science degree in music education at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, and a masters degree in saxophone performance at the University of Florida.

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