Welcome to the 2019-20 workshop series! Our first workshop this season is with clinician Michael Vasquez. Including movement activities and extensions in class increases student buy-in and engagement, but how do you build a movement culture without sacrificing time or content? See how easy it is to include daily movement games and activities in your lessons while also teaching students to appreciate its usefulness through self-reflection, group analysis, and peer evaluations.

WHEN: Saturday, September 14, 2019 (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 information.

​Michael Vasquez has taught music for 10 years and is the music specialist at Charles L. Kuentz Elementary in San Antonio, TX. He has been recognized as a two time Northside ISD educator of the year and was the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement Spotlight Award winner in December of 2014. Michael is a two time nominee for the HEB Excellence in Education Award. Michael received his bachelors and masters degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and all of his Orff levels from Trinity University. He serves as the president of Central Texas Orff and is the co-author of his book "Percussive Play". Over the summer, Michael is an Orff levels instructor in recorder and movement. He also received his Dalcroze Eurhythmics training under the direction of David Frego and Marla Butke.

Thank you for making 2018-19 a wonderful season of excellent workshops at NNJOSA!

We are excited to announce our 2019-2020 workshop series. Our season will include workshops with clinicians Michael Vasquez, Josh Southard, John Barnes, and Aimee Pfitzner, along with a Chapter Sharing Session and a 2019 AOSA Conference Sharing Session.

Our workshops will be held at William Paterson University's Hunziker Hall Room 101. Please park in Lot 3 for the best access to Hunziker Hall.

For workshop descriptions and clinician biographies please visit the 2019-20 Workshop Series page. Please also ensure you join our email list for updates by using the box to the right of our page and join our Facebook group.

Pre-Registration is Now Open!
Save $10 on your membership if you register by mail or online before June 1, 2019! Administrators & full-time college students are always free. Visit our registration page for more information. 

Please join us on Saturday, April 13th, 2019 for a workshop with clinician Andrew Ellingsen. We all want our students to have a deep love of music and movement inspired by aesthetic moments, but helping students attain those artistic high points can seem overwhelming to achieve. During this workshop, participants will explore approaching music and movement through playful games and other entry points. Participants will then take the material explored in those initial approaches and use it as fodder for making music and movement come to life together.

WHEN: April 13, 2019 (9:00am-1:00pm)
WHERE: William Paterson University (Hunziker Hall, Room 101)
REGISTRATION: Please visit our registration page for more information

​Andrew Ellingsen  teaches elementary music and works as an instructional coach in Decorah, IA.  He earned his B.A. at Luther College and his M.A.M.E. at the University of St. Thomas with a dual concentration in Kodály and Orff Schulwerk.  He has served on the OAKE national board, a committee for AOSA, and has held leadership positions in state and regional organizations for both Orff Schulwerk and Kodály.  Ellingsen teaches in the Orff Courses at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and Southern Methodist University in Dallas and has presented at both OAKE and AOSA national conferences.

Please join us on Saturday, March 9th, 2019 for a workshop with clinicians Rick Layton and Jacque Schrader. Workshop participants will be involved in a number of different activities for grades 1-6, including songs and dances from America and around the world. Activities will involve the participants not only in singing and dancing, but also playing the barred instruments and recorders. Participants should look forward to the opportunity to improvise and create as well.​
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​WHEN: March 9, 2019 (9:00am-1:00pm)
WHERE: William Paterson University, Hunziker Hall Room 101
REGISTRATION: Please visit our registration page for more information

Rick Layton and Jacque Schrader have taught adults in Orff Schulwerk teacher education courses (including Movement, Recorder, and Levels I, II, and III) in the U.S. for over thirty years.  Since the late 1980’s they have taught at University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, George Mason University, Dominican College/San Francisco Orff Course, and the University of St. Thomas.  Additionally, they have taught at numerous state and national NAfME conferences, and AOSA national conferences and chapter workshops. Dr. Layton and Ms. Schrader’s teaching has also included extensive international travel, leading courses in Taiwan, China, Australia, Poland, Slovakia, Canada, Germany, Dubai, and at The Orff Institute in Austria.

Join us on Saturday, January 26, 2019 for a Chapter Sharing Workshop featuring teacher-tested and kid-approved lessons presented by our membership.
WHEN: Saturday, January 26, 2019 9:00am-1:00pm
WHERE: William Paterson University, Hunziker Hall Room 100 (click here for a campus map)
REGISTRATION: Please visit our registration page for more information.

Please join us on Saturday, November 17th, 2018 as we present highlights from the 2018-2019 AOSA Professional Development Conference in Cincinnati!
WHEN: November 17, 2018 (9:00am-1:00pm)
WHERE: William Paterson University, Hunziker Hall Room 101 (click here for a campus map)
REGISTRATION: Please visit our registration page for more information

We have exciting news for our membership! In addition to our 2019 National Conference scholarship we are offering, we are also offering a $500 scholarship towards pursuing Orff levels! Applicants must a member in good standing of both NNJOSA and AOSA (American Orff-Schulwerk Association). To access the application, click here. The form is due on January 15, 2019, and the recipient will be announced at the NNJOSA Chapter Sharing Workshop on January 26, 2019! For information on the National Conference scholarship, please see the information below.

We have exciting news for our membership! NNJOSA is offering a scholarship opportunity for members interested in attending AOSA National Conference in Salt Lake City, UT from November 20-23, 2019. Applicants must be members of both NNJOSA and AOSA (American Orff-Schulwerk Association), and must be attending conference for the first time. The scholarship must be used for registration only and cannot be used for travel, lodging, or other expenses. To access the application, click here. The form is due on January 15, 2019, and the recipient will be announced at the NNJOSA Chapter Share Workshop on January 26, 2019!

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! Our first workshop of the season is with clinician Rob Amchin. Explore elemental teaching models with a colorful flare! Discovering, exploring, singing, listening, dancing, improvising with the many sound colors found in the Orff classroom. We will also look at visual arts in musical settings in integrated arts activities.

WHEN: September 15, 2018 (9:00am-1:00pm)
WHERE: William Paterson University, Hunziker Hall Room 101
REGISTRATION: Please visit our registration page for more information

Rob Amchin is a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Louisville and Concentration Coordinator of Music Education, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate music education courses. He studied music education at New England Conservatory of Music, and has Orff training from NEC, Hofstra University, Memphis State University, Hamline University, University of Michigan, and the Orff Institute (Salzburg). Rob is an internationally recognized teacher in Orff pedagogy. He presents workshops and artist-in-residence, Orff teacher-training courses, master classes, and in-services throughout the US and around the world including classes in China, Singapore, Finland, Russia, Austria, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong, and Poland. He has authored several books for Orff ensemble and recorder.