Workshop Series & Collegiate Credit

 August 2, 2025 11:00 to 1:00

Dancing at Dogwood (Folk Dancing)

Presenter: St. Louis AOSA Board Members

Come enjoy socializing and folk dancing with other music teachers in the St. Louis Metro area. These will be dances you can take back to your classroom for the upcoming school year. This is a free event but all are welcome to purchase food & drink at the venue as desired.  This event is separate from the 2024-2025 workshop series.

September 13, 2025 9:00-1:00

Untold Stories and Black Joy

Presenter: Jeaneau Julian

Using children’s literature and the Orff process, with personal anecdotes thrown in, Jeneau will dive into stories that scratch the surface of our uncomfortable history, including the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. She will also share stories of black joy that would be great in preparation for Black History month or any time of year. Arrive with an open mind ready to continue the work of sharing these stories and more.

Jeaneau Julian is an educator in Washington. She completed her Bachelors in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in TESOL from Arkansas Tech University. She is certified in Orff Schulwerk and serves as Vice-President of ACEMM.

October 4, 2025   9:00-1:00

Rhythm and Rhyme Works Every Time

Presenter: Thom Bordun

Engaging students through playful, nursery rhymes, favorite stories and singing games brings joy to the music classroom while providing opportunities to experience musical concepts. In this session, we will make connections between the Orff pedagogy and Kodaly methodology as we explore pieces from Music for Children and Rhythmisch Ubung to address K-5 music concepts.  Bring your recorder to come explore at this workshop!

Thom Borden teaches PreK-5 in Las Vegas as well as Kodaly and Children’s Literature courses with Vandercook College in Chicago.  Thom completed his B.A. and an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction focused in Reading.  He completed Orff Levels at UNLV and an Orff Master Level at the University of Memphis under Jos Wuytack.  Advanced studies include music and movement in Paris as well as Kodaly training and certification through CSU with Sr. Lorna Zemke.  Thom has also completed First Steps Training as well as Levels I and II Conversational Solfege Training. 

Thom is the past-president of the Greater Chicago Orff Chapter, founding member of the Las Vegas Kodaly Chapter (LUCKE), and has presented at numerous AOSA and OAKE conferences.  He has presented in Australia, Canada, China, Europe and presents across the US each year.  Thom served as the AOSA Diversity Committee Chair and is founding member of the International Sharing Sunday USA organization.  He has published Orff arrangements in the McGraw-Hill curriculum series SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC and MUSIC STUDIO and has published materials on using manipulatives in the classroom.  Additional publications include a series of musical active and interactive singing games - FILE FOLDER FUN! For Music Classrooms- that assist in teaching concepts both live and virtually. 

March 7, 2026 9:00-1:00

Linking Music to Movement

Presenter: Jessica Dunnick

Whether the teacher is most comfortable with movement or not, it's where students feel the most connected to sound. We see them wiggle, run, dance constantly in and out of our classrooms. Let's use their natural movement to teach notation, coordination, instrumental technique, and authentic joy (flow) when interacting with satisfying music making. Let's learn how to facilitate this movement-based learning without necessarily having to do it ourselves as the teacher. Come ready to move or take great notes! 

Jessica Dunnick is the Music Specialist at Bowman Woods Elementary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, part of the Linn-Mar Community School District. Jessica has her B.A. in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her M.A. in Music Education with an Emphasis in Orff from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She is a past President of the First Iowa Orff Chapter, current Programming Chair, and is a certified Teacher Educator of Movement through the American Orff Schulwerk Association. She recently received the Yager Exemplary Teaching Recognition Award from the University of Northern Iowa. She also offers professional development workshops focused on movement and peer-mediated teaching.