Use this page to register and view your schedule for the Conference!
- All times below are listed in Eastern Time, local to Richmond, VA.
- Some events are open to all and do not require registration—if there’s no button on the right side of an event, you can freely attend it and it will show up in your schedule.
- Use the “Full Schedule” view to register for sessions or view everything happening at the conference.
- Use the “My Schedule” view on-the-go to see what’s coming up for you.
- Turn on “Show past events” if you’d like to review sessions you’ve already attended.
- You may also view a full list of sessions in this spreadsheet.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Alliance for Active Music Making Symposium
Paid event requiring separate registration for $30. Social Justice and SEL through Active Music Making Approaches.
Registration Open
No contact pickup on tables. Find your name tag with banquet ticket, pronoun stickers, and a neck wallet. Onsite registration is open.
Enrich your Connections in Richmond
Is this your first time to conference? You are invited to join this session for insider information, and tips and tricks. We look forward to meeting our new attendees and assisting you with getting the most out of your first conference experience.
Session Block (2 events)
8:00 PM
Session Block (2 events)
8:00 PM
Pulse, Pattern, Process: Cultivating Musicianship Through Body Percussion
Experience body percussion through the elemental sequence of speech, movement, and music. Participants will engage in a process-based approach that begins with steady beat and progresses through patterning, layering, improvisation, and composition. Through exploration and play, we will examine how body percussion strengthens internal pulse, rhythmic independence, and ensemble awareness. Activities are adaptable for a variety of grade levels and designed for immediate classroom use.
Lift Every Voice
This session immerses participants in gospel traditions through active music-making. Experience singing, movement, and interactive rhythmic expression in authentic gospel style. Learn how culturally responsive strategies empower diverse learners while creating, improvising, and performing together in ways that celebrate culture, identity, and artistry.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Session Block (8 events)
8:00 AM
Session Block (8 events)
8:00 AM
Beginner Creative Movement with Books
Explore early elementary creative movement. Get students out of “mime” mentality and into artful creation. Experience literature to inspire artful movement without prior knowledge or skill.
Windows and Mirrors into a Japanese Tale
Dive into an old Japanese tale and come out with a new folk song and dance, along with fresh insights for teaching creative movement and sharing stories that aren’t your own.
Movin’ and Groovin’ with Recorder
Experience playful recorder strategies that connect movement, voice, and instruments and are accessible for learners of varying skill levels.
More With Less! Overcoming Limited Instrumentation
Are your classroom instruments limited? Expand opportunities through group rotations and find alternative ways to make music. Compose Orff arrangements pairing multiple students per instrument. No one gets left out!
Pirates Avast
Arrr matey! Prepare for adventures of buried treasure, dastardly pirates, and sword battles! Explore and create across the musical seas.
Discovering Orff Schulwerk, Part 1 – Sign up for both sessions
What is Orff Schulwerk? Find out through fun, active music-making activities! No experience needed. Please sign up for both sessions.
Books with Drums and Un-pitched Percussion
Experience lessons for tubanos, hand drums, and unpitched percussion crafted from MFC, Vol. 1 and the Rhythmische Übung with words to pair with fun children’s literature.
Session Block (8 events)
9:45 AM
Session Block (8 events)
9:45 AM
First Steps in Music with Orff
Come experience joyful music making which follows the 8-part workout from First Steps in Music while integrating the Orff approach with creative, student-centered activities for PreK–2 learners.
The Song of Water
The Song of Water is a creative music education workshop where rhythm, movement, and voice merge into a shared experience. Inspired by water, participants explore music’s role in fostering empathy, connection, and meaning in times of global crisis. Drawing on Orff-based approaches, the session nurtures creativity, collaboration, and expressive learning through active participation.
Community Connections
Come celebrate your communities identity through music! Sing, move, create, and empower student voice and choice while weaving literature and community elements into your classroom.
The Magic of Orff and Dalcroze
Explore how the magic of Orff process teaching and Dalcroze eurhythmics can lead to a better understanding of the identity and function of rhythms in 6/8 time.
Take Another Look at That Book
Intentionally connect objectives to a book! Newer children’s books will demonstrate the true intention of discovering and teaching musical objectives and how to assess.
Discovering Orff Schulwerk, Part 2 – Sign up for both sessions
What is Orff Schulwerk? Find out through fun, active music-making activities! No experience needed. Please sign up for both sessions.
Using Books to Build Foundational Drumming Skills
Discover a playful, sequenced approach to classroom drumming through children’s literature. Starting in Kindergarten, this progression moves from simple story-based sound effects to complex rhythmic patterns. The journey culminates in a three-part drumming ensemble, offering a perfect blend of literacy, play, and high-level performance.
Marketplace Open
Visit our exhibitors for the latest products and information.
Writing for AOSA – Lunch & Learn
Craft an article with step-by-step guidelines from the Echo and Reverberations editors. Includes writing time and tailored feedback to get you off to a strong start! Bring your own lunch.
Writing for AOSA – Lunch & Learn
Craft an article with step-by-step guidelines from the Echo and Reverberations editors. Includes writing time and tailored feedback to get you off to a strong start! Bring your own lunch.
Expanding Aural Ranges with Chord Changes
Brent GaultSteven Robbins
Julie Scott
Wendy Valerio
This session focuses on activities that promote aural understanding of harmonic chord changes from four perspectives: Eurhythmics, Kodály, Orff Schulwerk, and Music Learning Theory. Teachers who are members of the Alliance for Active Music Making and steeped in their respective pedagogies will lead hands-on lessons that include singing, moving, and playing instruments. This event comes in two blocks: block 1 from 12:30p – 1:45p, and block 2 from 2:15p – 3:30p. By registering for this session, you should commit to attending both blocks.
Session Block (7 events)
12:30 PM
Session Block (7 events)
12:30 PM
Teaching Recorder & ‘Ukulele Together as Partners
Michael Chandler
René Villareal
Experience active music making that combines recorder and ‘ukulele pedagogy with other Schulwerk media through a side-by-side curricular approach.
The Song of Water
The Song of Water is a creative music education workshop where rhythm, movement, and voice merge into a shared experience. Inspired by water, participants explore music’s role in fostering empathy, connection, and meaning in times of global crisis. Drawing on Orff-based approaches, the session nurtures creativity, collaboration, and expressive learning through active participation.
Community Connections
Come celebrate your communities identity through music! Sing, move, create, and empower student voice and choice while weaving literature and community elements into your classroom.
Processing Reader’s Theater Orff Style!
Erin Ellington
Dr. Karen Thomas
Explore improvisation, creativity, and arts integration through children’s literature and Reader’s Theatre, culminating in a performance that uses the Orff Schulwerk process to enrich storytelling through music, movement, and expression.
“At Play” and “In Motion”
Discover the magic of children “at play” and “in motion.” Explore the power of movement elements and other ideas including children’s literature to promote playful learning in the music classroom.
Reveling with the Schulwerk Through the Seasons
Tara Clayburn is the Lower School Music & Movement Teacher at The Potomac School in McLean, VA. She is a Teacher Educator for AOSA, and presents professional development workshops frequently. She received her Orff-Schulwerk levels certification from The University of Kentucky, and studied at the Orff-Institute in Salzburg Austria.
Advisory Board Meeting
This meeting is for elected chapter officers and begins at 2:00 pm. Learn about how AOSA can support your chapter and network with other leaders. Note that this event runs until 3:30p, so don’t register for any events in that timeframe!
Session Block (6 events)
2:15 PM
Session Block (6 events)
2:15 PM
Windows and Mirrors into a Japanese Tale
Dive into an old Japanese tale and come out with a new folk song and dance, along with fresh insights for teaching creative movement and sharing stories that aren’t your own.
Drumming and Movement for Young and Special Needs Learners
Explore inclusive drumming and movement activities that develop steady beat, cross-lateral coordination, and expressive storytelling through multisensory, brain-based strategies designed for young children and special needs learners.
Teaching Recorder & ‘Ukulele Together as Partners
Michael Chandler René Villareal
Experience active music making that combines recorder and ‘ukulele pedagogy with other Schulwerk media through a side-by-side curricular approach.
Modern Musical Traditions in New Orleans
This session looks to move beyond black-and-white photos of New Orleans music and experience, create, and interact with the vibrant, authentic modern traditions.
Reveling with the Schulwerk Through the Seasons
Tara Clayburn is the Lower School Music & Movement Teacher at The Potomac School in McLean, VA. She is a Teacher Educator for AOSA, and presents professional development workshops frequently. She received her Orff-Schulwerk levels certification from The University of Kentucky, and studied at the Orff-Institute in Salzburg Austria.
“At Play” and “In Motion”
Discover the magic of children “at play” and “in motion.” Explore the power of movement elements and other ideas including children’s literature to promote playful learning in the music classroom.
Welcome Ceremony featuring the Georgetown Day School Fifith Graders
Christine Ballenger
Heather PhilipsJohn BarnesKeith HudspethRegina La Valley
Georgetown Day School is located in Washington D.C. and Orff Schulwerk guides the music program. These students have two 45-minute general music classes per week for most of the school year, with a seven-week theater class rotation. Additionally, 5th graders have an ensemble elective, choosing either band, chorus, or dance.
Session Block (4 events)
8:00 PM
Session Block (4 events)
8:00 PM
Move, Drum & Play the Orff Way
Explore techniques, improvisation and sequenced process for creating and
playing successful and exciting student compositions using hand drums,
congas, and other surprises.
Richmond Rounds Party Sing~Move~Play!
Fun, accessible rounds offered for exploration through singing, movement, and playing instruments! BYO Recorder, Ukulele, and any puppets or new instruments you bought at the marketplace you want to take for a spin!
REEL TO REMIX: Folk Dance with Freedom & David
Old favorites meet fresh new beats in this high-energy folk dance experience! With DJ David spinning and Freedom facilitating the fun, you’ll laugh, move, and rediscover the joy of dancing together. Get ready for an unforgettable evening that leaves you inspired, energized, and smiling.
Relax and Renew While We Read to You!
When was the last time someone read to you! Come, enjoy some you time, time for some self-care.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Session Block (9 events)
8:00 AM
Session Block (9 events)
8:00 AM
Stars of the Schulwerk
Embark on an astronomical journey into the “shining stars” of Schulwerk, uncovering some of the true masterpieces of the volumes and supplementals. Come along as we dive deep into the illuminations created by some of the most recognizable constellations of the night sky. Connecting musical artistry with celestial wonder!
Exploring Orff Schulwerk
Increase your understanding of Orff Schulwerk with a closer look at ways to sing, move, and play! Great for those who have completed Level I.
It’s All Elemental Art and Music
From visual art to music, participants will use paintings by Paul Klee to explore, improvise, and create through the voice (speech and song), instruments (pitched and unpitched), and creative movement.
The Song of the Whale
An eco-social music workshop inspired by Finnish music education and Orff-based approaches. Through voice, rhythm, and creative collaboration, participants explore listening, empathy, and our connection to the living world.
Yes Chef! Every Second Counts
Explore strategies to plan fast-paced music lessons that turn transitions into active learning, using kitchen-style preparation to create seamless movement, purposeful micro-activities, and continuous rhythmic discovery—every second counts.
Working With Words
Words come alive through movement, music, and playful games! Transform your words into movement and music while exploring the power and importance of the words we choose to use with each other.
Composing for Recorder Consort
Explore and compose 4-part recorder consort pieces composed of a blend of ostinati and through composed melodies
Setting Sail with Seafaring Sounds
Embolden student creativity with traditional and adapted materials through sailors, their knots, and seafaring life. Be inspired by life at sea while adapting a piece from Music for Children, Volume I.
Session Block (9 events)
9:45 AM
Session Block (9 events)
9:45 AM
Ethiopian Pentatonic Songs, Games, and Dances
Alexandra Coghill
Ebise Tolessa
Experience Ethiopian pentatonic scales through children’s games, dances, and improvisation. Learn a few Amharic words and connect with regional traditions through movement, music, and play.
Make It Music With Dalcroze Movement
Awaken your inner artist through Dalcroze-style movement, and learn how to create meaningful movement experiences that fit your classroom context. Cultivate a responsive teaching practice that addresses students needs and harnesses teacher creativity! Use innovative tools to create magical moments of movement.
Creative Expression Through the Arts
Explore how dance, theatre, drama and music share common terminology such as contour/flow, texture/space, color/timbre. We’ll investigate famous works of art and make them come alive musically!
The Song of the Whale
An eco-social music workshop inspired by Finnish music education and Orff-based approaches. Through voice, rhythm, and creative collaboration, participants explore listening, empathy, and our connection to the living world.
Easy Scenarios for Reluctant Movers
Even the most hesitant movers can be successful when given the right framework! Come explore ways to introduce creative movement through a variety of prompts from nature, literature, and everyday life.
Korean Samulnori with Classroom Instruments
Learn to use common music room instruments to authentically recreate popular Korean Samulnori drumming patterns.
Building Resilience through Stories and Songs
Identify and connect skills needed to help students develop resilience with lessons in the music classroom. Explore lessons using Orff Schulwerk process to address the identified skills.
DEIA Lunch and Learn
Learn about DEIA integration and initiatives from AOSA. Affinity groups may meet during the second half of the meeting. Bring your own lunch.
Session Block (7 events)
12:30 PM
Session Block (7 events)
12:30 PM
Jump In! Volumes Pieces to Inspire Musical Play
Explore the volumes through play! Learn how to create meaningful experiences with students by extracting parts of volumes pieces and having students create using their personal interests.
Explore Japanese Songs, Stories and Instruments!
Experience and explore Japanese culture and stories through vocal and creative movement exploration, simple songs, soundscapes, haiku, taiko drumming and cultural connections.
DJing, AI, and Orff Schulwerk
Explore how DJ controllers and AI can be incorporated into the Orff Schulwerk classroom as a teacher resource and a creative student experience.
Playful Pedagogy™ Process and Unpredictability
Ideas anyone can take home to their classroom and begin to incorporate in the practice. A gem from the schulwerk will be chosen by the group and then a series of unpredictable events will guide our musical adventure to a delightful culmination!
From Bamboo Sticks to Jump Ropes
This session explores the vibrant heartbeat of Chinese Hani music through traditional bamboo stick dance and songs. The session will demonstrate how the music and dance elements flourish within an Orff Schulwerk setting. You’ll leave with engaging, classroom-ready activities to engage students and enrich your school community.
Voices in Bloom: Nurturing Young Singers
Explore practical, engaging strategies for guiding children toward healthy, confident singing. Session highlights include age-appropriate vocal techniques, warmups, and rehearsal strategies to motivate young singers to grow and blossom.
The Key School Sixth Grade Orff Ensemble
The Key School Sixth Grade Orff Ensemble consists of sixth grade students who perform throughout the school year. This group has also performed at the AOSA Professional Development Conference in 2006 and 2016.
Writing for The Orff Echo – Get Involved Fair
Want to get more involved in AOSA through leadership, writing for The Orff Echo or Reverberations, or other possibilities? Come by for an informal chat with AOSA leadership!
Session Block (3 events)
2:35 PM
Session Block (3 events)
2:35 PM
International Connections – Get Involved Fair
Interested in international Orff Schulwerk study? Learn how to get connected with the International Connections Committee.
Apprentice Program – Get Involved Fair
Want to become a level course instructor? Reveiw the AOSA Apprentice Program and how to become a Teacher Educator.
Digital Research Posters
Researchers share their Orff Schulwerk based research studies.
Session Block (8 events)
3:45 PM
Session Block (8 events)
3:45 PM
Ukulele for Every Learner
Discover how to make ukulele playing accessible for all students through open tuning, adaptive techniques, and inclusive strategies. Explore hands-on approaches that foster immediate success, creativity, and social-emotional growth, ensuring every learner can strum, sing, and shine.
DJing, AI, and Orff Schulwerk
Explore how DJ controllers and AI can be incorporated into the Orff Schulwerk classroom as a teacher resource and a creative student experience.
Conversational Solfege with Orff Schulwerk
Explore integrating Conversational Solfege and Orff Schulwerk to blend music literacy with student-centered creativity through practical activities for upper elementary learners.
Playful Pedagogy™ Process and Unpredictability
Ideas anyone can take home to their classroom and begin to incorporate in the practice. A gem from the schulwerk will be chosen by the group and then a series of unpredictable events will guide our musical adventure to a delightful culmination!
CTED Basic
This session is only for AOSA Teacher Education Levels Course Instructors.
From Bamboo Sticks to Jump Ropes
This session explores the vibrant heartbeat of Chinese Hani music through traditional bamboo stick dance and songs. The session will demonstrate how the music and dance elements flourish within an Orff Schulwerk setting. You’ll leave with engaging, classroom-ready activities to engage students and enrich your school community.
Turn the Page, Teach the Heart
Using children’s literature, explore ways to spark meaningful conversations that help students navigate big emotions through singing, movement, instruments, and dramatic play.
Session Block (3 events)
8:00 PM
Session Block (3 events)
8:00 PM
Midnight Historical Society
Joani Brandon
Brent Holl
Ellen Koziel
Experience the elemental importance of the circle in the music and movement. We’ll dance, play, and sing a Branle, an Amidon mixer waltz, and two canons. Bring recorders!
Soundbath Meditation for Rest and Renewal
Conference is filled with inspiration and fellowship; it’s also a place to find rest, renewal, and rejuvenation. Immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of sound for stress relief and self-care.
Drum of Wonder
A vocal-based session exploring rhythm, presence, and connection through collective music-making. The workshop highlights music as a pathway to shared awareness, well-being, and planetary connection.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Session Block (7 events)
8:00 AM
Session Block (7 events)
8:00 AM
Exploring Beyond the Notes
Join us for an immersive session designed to transform your approach to active listening in the music room! From classical to pop, discover innovative activities to engage students in music exploration.
Activate and Participate for Creative Listening
Explore multi-faceted ways to demonstrate music listening skills. Process music aurally and respond imaginatively using interpretive movement, text, and percussion instruments.
Exploring Outer Space with Upper Elementary Beginners
Using outer space as our guide, let’s explore how to engage and inspire upper elementary learners to create, move, and play even if this is their first Orff Schulwerk experience.
Musical Mosaics in Motion
Explore famous mosaic artworks through movement, rhythm, and melody. Create personalized mosaic cards and collaborate in a dynamic community Rondo that celebrates individuality, connection, and the collective joy of music.
Elemental Hip-Hop
Learn to break down Hip-Hop music to its elements and use games, skill-building activities and process teaching to build skill. Experience activities to analyze, create and perform Hip-Hop with young children.
What Can You Do With a Paleta?
Experience an Orff Schulwerk journey with What Can You Do With a Paleta?—connecting beat, melody, and drama to build a collaborative rondo performance.
Crafting Musical Creativity: Create GLOWING performances!
Explore how to integrate art, movement, and drama into your lessons with black lights to create performances that GLOW! Experience how black lights enhance lessons while increasing student focus.
Session Block (7 events)
10:15 AM
Session Block (7 events)
10:15 AM
Exploring Outer Space with Upper Elementary Beginners
Using outer space as our guide, let’s explore how to engage and inspire upper elementary learners to create, move, and play even if this is their first Orff Schulwerk experience.
Musical Mosaics in Motion
Explore famous mosaic artworks through movement, rhythm, and melody. Create personalized mosaic cards and collaborate in a dynamic community Rondo that celebrates individuality, connection, and the collective joy of music.
Stories That Sing
Experience activities based on culturally diverse children’s literature that foster creativity in the music room!
Laurent’s Shapes in Music & Movement
Using the artwork of Reginald Laurent as inspiration, create your own shape-based artwork! Explore how your artistic masterpiece comes alive through movement and musical exploration.
RU Creative
Explore Keetmans’ treasures of body percussion from Rhythmische Ubung, while pushing the limits of a “simple composition”. We will dive into these body percussion pieces as a way to explore improvisation and composition.
Explore K-Pop through the Schulwerk
Learn how key elements of K-Pop can be blended with Schulwerk processes to create engaging, student-centered music learning experiences.
Play Filled Process: Look, A Mouse
Experience a play-filled process centered around Vol. I. pg. 108 #25. Explore how this piece can come to life with drama, movement, body percussion, and improvisation! Cats welcome.
Session Block (6 events)
1:00 PM
Session Block (6 events)
1:00 PM
From A to B and Beyond!
Dive into musical forms! Experience and create elemental form compositions that ignite creativity and challenge students. This hands-on session bursts with movement, play, and possibilities!
Planning, Procedures and Play in Kindergarten
The beginning of the year for our youngest students is an exciting and terrifying time for students and teachers alike. Experience beginning of the year activities for Kindergarteners to establish procedures and routines in the music room through playful, engaging, and curricularly grounded activities.
Listening with our Bodies
LAUGH and HAVE FUN exploring silly ways to reinvigorate classical music through movement. Think Chaplin, Bugs, Orff and Dalcroze combined!
The Undiscovered Recorder Consorts of Keetman
Explore the Volume 1 ostinato exercises through the lens of the recorder. A recorder ensemble can play these exercises as drones, sound carpets, or simple consorts.
Explore K-Pop through the Schulwerk
Learn how key elements of K-Pop can be blended with Schulwerk processes to create engaging, student-centered music learning experiences.
Time for Rememberance
Reflect and honor servant leaders of AOSA that have passed since the last conference.
Session Block (5 events)
2:30 PM
Session Block (5 events)
2:30 PM
The Student’s Toolbox for Movement Improvisation
Let’s build a movement toolbox for our students. Improvisation comes from a basis of familiarity. Let’s explore what we know and help our youngest learners find their own tools.
Composing for Recorder Consort
Explore and compose 4-part recorder consort pieces composed of a blend of ostinati and through composed melodies
Planning, Procedures and Play in Kindergarten
The beginning of the year for our youngest students is an exciting and terrifying time for students and teachers alike. Experience beginning of the year activities for Kindergarteners to establish procedures and routines in the music room through playful, engaging, and curricularly grounded activities.
Inclusive Music, Stronger Classrooms
Discover practical approaches for supporting all learners with interactive music-making and experience the session through the eyes of diverse learners.
The Undiscovered Recorder Consorts of Keetman
Explore the Volume 1 ostinato exercises through the lens of the recorder. A recorder ensemble can play these exercises as drones, sound carpets, or simple consorts.
Closing Ceremony
Celebrate us Flowing Foward in Richmond and another wonderful conference.
AOSA Banquet Celebration
Paid event requiring separate registration for $69. No on-site sales available. Table seating opens in October. Come join us as DJ David Dockan spins the hits!