PAOSA
PENTATON
PHILADELPHIA AREA ORFF SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION
Vol. 20, Issue 2
chil Newsletter of AOSA Chapter #5
January 2009
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS: 2 President’s Note 3-4 Workshop Previews 4 Lesson Idea 5 Chapter Updates 6 AOSA website tour 7 Tips to start the year 8 Directions for Oct. 18 9 National Conference! 10 Directions
Winter/Spring 2009 Workshops January 31, 2009 Orff In Action Focus on Technology February 28, 2009 Lisa Sullivan Getting It All In April 4, 2009 Kit Bardwell Theatre Techniques and Puppetry June 6, 2009 Chapter Sharing: An evening of Contradancing. Invite a friend!
11 Membership Form Workshops are held at the Abington Friends School.
For workshops, bring a bag lunch or $5 for pizza and a drink.
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Visit www.paosa.org for directions, workshop descriptions, membership and other information.
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President’s Note Dear PAOSA members and friends, I hope you all have had a happy and restful holiday break and are eager to rejoin your students in making music. As we all anticipate the possibilities ahead for 2009, I want to give thanks for a wonderful start to our ’08-’09 workshop season. Cindy Hall’s workshop September 20 was terrific and very well attended. The John Feierabend workshop, held at Princeton Day School, which we shared with Central NJ OSA chapter and Kodaly NJ was also very successful and well received. Many of our members pitched in to help and made things run very smoothly. Kudos to all. Mark your calendars for the remaining workshops: January 31, February 28, April 4 and June 6. Check our chapter newsletter or website paosa.org for details about these wonderfully diverse offerings—there is something for everyone! Please share your interests and talents with us—involvement in our chapter is an opportunity to contribute new ideas and perspectives. Don’t hesitate to approach PAOSA chapter members and ask questions, make suggestions. We value your input! Chapter involvement and service brings many rewards—lasting friendships, professional contacts and networking, inspiration and more! Wishing you all a very joyous and inspired new year— Martha Glaze Zook
NOVEMBER IN CHARLOTTE: AOSA 2008
Rose, Andi & Martha
In November, many chapter members traveled to the AOSA National Conference in Charlotte, NC. Martha Zook, Andi Wingert and Rose Grelis drove together. Martha and Rose each presented two workshop sessions which were well received and Andi experienced her first national conference. Martha's sessions were entitled "Early Childhood Music Across the Curriculum" and Rose's were "Poetic Sound Carpets in the Urban Classroom." Also
attending the conference were John Bednar, Michelle Przybylowski (our Regional Representative), Martha Crowell, Sharon Potter, Heidi Shannon, Kristen Barrone, AnnaLisa Mariani, and Anne Sprissler.
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OrffOrff-InIn-Action: Action: Focus on Technology January 31, 2009 8:30 coffee & registration, 9:00-1:30 workshop
Abington Friends School, Jenkintown, PA
Michelle Przybylowski and Ken Peters will present a workshop focusing on integrating technology into your Orff Schulwerk teaching approach. Orff-In-Action is always a very practical session as well as a relaxed midwinter gathering. Come and see how you can integrate technology into your Orff classroom, whether you have one computer or a complete midi station! Michelle Przybylowski is presently a Music Teacher for Cheltenham School District at Cheltenham Elementary School, kindergarten-4th grade. She is presently the Program Chair for the Philadelphia Area Orff Schulwerk Association. She carries a certification in all three levels of Orff Schulwerk from West Chester University and a teacher certification from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She has received two levels of certification from the Choral Music Experience and has two levels of Kodaly. She teaches Orff Schulwerk LevelI & II at West Chester University in Pennsylvania and Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science, B.S., in Music Education from Chestnut Hill College and a Masters in Music Education, M.M.Ed., from West Chester University. As an adjunct faculty member, Mrs. Przybylowski teaches at Chestnut Hill College offering Elementary Music Methods and Interrelated Arts. Ken Peters has been teaching elementary music for over thirty years in the Haverford Township School District. He is also an adjunct teacher at Villanova in the summer for the Technology Institute of Music Education. Ken holds Orff levels I and II certificates, and a Masters of Music Education from West Chester University. According to Ken, technology can serve many functions in music education. First and foremost, it can serve as an effective and efficient tool for teachers. It can also be exciting for students and help maintain their interest. Technology can also keep you wanting to come to school to play with the new “toys.�
PENTATON Editorial Deadlines Spring Issue: March 15 Winter Issue: November 15 Summer Issue: June 15 Send chapter member highlights, lesson and technology ideas, or other contributions to Roxanne Dixon: rtherb904@aol.com
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Lisa Sullivan Getting it All In! Teaching to the Standards and Beyond February 28, 2009 8:30 Coffee and Registration, 9-1:30 Workshop
Abington Friends School
Workshop Description: This session will explore activities that include multiple elements of the Schulwerk in each activity! With the small amount of time we are given with our children we need to find ways to efficiently present the Schulwerk! The session will include speech, singing, movement, recorders, pitched and unpitched percussion instruments! There will be activities that are appropriate for grades 1-6! Detailed notes will include National standards that are covered with each activity! Come prepared to play!!
Lisa Sullivan teaches general music at Mohawk Trails Elementary in Carmel, Indiana. She teaches private piano in her home studio as well as being active in the adult and children’s music at church. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Butler University and a Master’s degree in Elementary Administration from Ball State University. Lisa completed three levels in Orff Schulwerk, as well as Orff Curriculum, and Orff Master Class at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lisa apprenticed Level I with Cindy Hall at the University of Kentucky and has presented at local chapter meetings of the Indiana Orff Schulwerk Association as well as State Conferences of the Indiana Music Educators Association. Lisa presented at the Cincinnati and Las Vegas AOSA conferences and she currently teaches Orff Level I at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana and Orff Level I at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Lisa has taught Orff Level II basic at Anderson University, Level II Recorder and Movement at IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Orff Level I at Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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2008 - 2009 BOARD President Martha Glaze Zook 1040 Pine Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-925-8948 mglazezook@verizon.net Interim Vice-President Dolores Williams 439 Lawrence Rd. Broomall, PA 19008 (610) 325-3136 BnDWilliams@verizon.net Acting Treasurer Pat Lutz 1540 Montvale Circle West Chester, PA 19380 610-269-4857 prlmusic@hotmail.com
Welcome to Interim Vice-President, Dolores Wiliams! Dolores Williams graduated from Temple University as a music eduacation major. She currently works for the Philadelphia County School District at JS Jenks in the Chestnut Hill section of the city. Jenks is a K-8 elementary school and Dolores the general vocal music specialist. Prior to teaching Dolores held many positions, before following her original dream. She was fortunate to find PAOSA through Rose Grelis. It has changed her approach to teaching and given her the ability to see what her peers are attaining.
Program Chair Michelle Fella Przybylowski 399 Cinnamon Drive Huntingdon Valley, PA19006 215-938-7438 Musarch@aol.com Membership Janet Tebbel 431 W. Walnut Lane Philadelphia, PA 19144 215-848-3915 tebbj@comcast.net Secretary Dawn Pratson 253 N. 3rd Philadelphia, PA 19106 267-971-0926 DPratson@aol.com Act 48 Administrator John F. Bednar Jr. 27 S. Trooper Rd. Norristown, PA 19403 610-539-6295 jbednar1@verizon.net
Also welcome to these new PAOSA Board Members! Dawn Pratson, Secretary Heidi Shannon, Member-at-Large Thank you so much for your service to our organization! We cannot exist without you. If you are interested in becoming involved with the PAOSA board, please speak to any current board member for more information.
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Historian Karen Markey 701 Willowdale Lane Kenneth Square, PA 19348 610-444-2835 karenmarkey@mac.com Newsletter Editor Roxanne Dixon 128 N. 4th Street Lemoyne, PA 17043 717 737-4961 rtherb904@aol.com Hospitality Deborah Pizzi 804 Valley Road Melrose Park, PA 19027 215-635-2123 dpizzi@abingtonfriends.net Fundraising Marlis Kraft 7846 Montgomery Ave. Elkins Park, PA 19027 215-782-8280 marliskz@gmail.com Website Linda Wardell 2601 Newell Drive Wilmington, DE 19808 302-998-7020 lwardell@comcast.net At Large Member Rose M. Grelis 409 Granite Terrace Springfield, PA 19064 610-328-9784 rgrelis@cavtel.net At Large Member Heidi Shannon 3312 Cochran Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 717-333-9662 HRShannon @lancaster.k12.pa.us
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Lesson Idea: Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak contributed by Tossi Aaron
Though the book has been around for a while, tickling it a new way can make some nice lessons. One approach: • Take Chicken Soup With Rice as a “musical calendar,” a small group of 4 or 5 students for each month. • Kids learn the rhymes; work with them on how to make sound and movement "pictures" using small percussion (no melody). • Clear speech with alternating solo/group recitations, chime bell or glockenspiel glissandos on the "one, twice" of each verse, some dance-y child-invented movement. • When I did this, July was mostly percussion (Fireworks, you know!). • To present, parents sat in center of the "multipurpose room" with children’s groups spaced around the perimeter. • We opened with 4 tall kids, each carrying one digit of the new year (at random, then to the front in proper order) while small groups assembled in their spots. Parents turned to see each group perform. • Use a sound cue to separate between groups-- claves or drum doodle. We ended with all singing a common song, such as “We wish you…” • Great fun to work on, no grumbling.
Thanks, Tossi!
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“January Joy” ideas from Martha Crowell January is ideal for community music making. Here are some of my favorite websites, poems, books, and recordings suitable for this time of year. 1. Recorder consort videos: By typing “recorder consort” into my computer’s search engine, I have discovered many treasures for my third grade recorder beginners. Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is a favorite find, especially in a contemporary piece called “The Jogger, in a clip called “minimal Loeki” and in a unison contemporary piece for three tenors, and “Festival Classique: Amsterdam Loeki Stardust” which includes interviews with the group members. Flanders Recorder Quartet has another favorite group of clips in concert, playing, among other things, a piece by Merula, a piece using bottles, and an encore entitled “Circus.” Speaking of ranges, also check out “contrabass recorder.” Arrange for your students to see these on a whiteboard or other large screen. 2. Winter Poetry: collections and individual poems Winter Poems, collected by Barbara Rogasky, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Antarctic Antics by Judy Sierra, Winter Lights by Anna Grossnickle Hines: a collection of winter holiday poetry. Once Upon Ice, and Other Frozen Poems, by Jane Yolen, photographs by Jason Stemple. “Galoshes,” by Rhoda W. Bacmeister, “Cynthia in the Snow” by Gwendolyn Brooks, “Winter Poem” by Nikki Giovanni, “Furry Bear” by A.A.Milne, “Tiddely Pom,” by A.A. Milne, “The Grasshopper and the Cricket” by John Keats, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, illus. by Susan Jeffers, “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost.“Snow,” by Karen Orendurff, in MIRACLES “Velvet Shoes” by Elinor Wylie, also beautifully set to music by Randall Thompson 3. Winter stories: The Mitten, by Jan Brett: I use “Welcome Here” as the theme, and a bedsheet, thanks to Judy Rubin, for the mitten. Frederick, by Lio Lionni (This works great with a shadow screen.)The First Day of Winter, by Denise Fleming. Snow Music, by Lynn Rae Perkins. The Quilt Story, by Tony Johnston (I use Orff vol.1, p. 94 as the theme.) A Winter Concert, by Yuko Takai (This is wonderful to orchestrate, with movement.) Puffins Climb. Penguins Rhyme, by Bruce McMillan. 4. Music-related winter topics: SCALE: Check out bethelmainesnowwoman.com for photos of the world’s largest snowman/snow woman, just built by a small town in Maine. Her eyelashes are skis. SYMMETRY: exquisite snowflake photographs of Kenneth Libbrecht along with scientific information on SnowCrystals.com, also available published in book form. 5. Community music and dance for you: three DVDs and one book The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, (2006) has accompanied the two Gee’s Bend quilt exhibitions, the second of which just closed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. What is so striking to me about it is that these women descendants of slaves sing spirituals and hymns as they quilt. What emerges is an extraordinary marriage of music and art. Young At Heart, (2008), is a touching and heartening window onto a chorus whose average age is 80. They gather to learn new music: punk, rock, etc. The interviews, stories, and concert clips are deeply inspiring. Been Rich All My Life, (2006) follows the Silver Belles, tap dancers of 1930’s Harlem who are still dancing and who tell their story. I first read The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature, (2008) by Daniel Levitin in September. I keep thinking about it. Here is why we do what we do. Levitin’s musical frames of reference are so different from mine: more to learn! 6. “This Little Light of Mine” is a treasured spiritual. Children take it to heart. We sing it often, and I play many versions for my students, including Odetta, from Gonna Let it Shine, Yo Yo Ma, from Songs of Joy and Peace, and the Gateway Singers. The song is stunning illustrated in Ashley Bryan’s Let It Shine, Three Favorite Spirituals, Coretta Scott King award winner in 2007.
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Workshop Review: Cindy Hall September 20, 2008 reviewed by Roxanne Dixon
Cindy Hall is one of those master teachers who combines smooth process with creative ideas and quality source material. PAOSA delighted in starting the 2008-9 workshop season with her “Orff Schulwerk: Playing with a Purpose” session. The workshop opened with activities structured around two folk songs: Rig-aJig-Jig as a mixer and Bobby Shaftoe as a framework for four-beat rhythm compositions. Within Bobby Shaftoe, Cindy incorporated rhythm compositions, reading other students’ patterns, performing a sol-mi-la melody and bordun on barred instruments, and improvising creative “sound stories” based on imagined high sea adventures. Her process and notes provide a clear outline for guiding students through these activities, tied together by the simple folk song and, in true Orff fashion, put together in an extended form at the conclusion. Cindy’s next lessons grew toward a Chinese-inspired retelling of Stone Soup, based on Jon J. Muth’s book. She used a Chinese rhyme to focus student learning on rhythms in 2/4 meter. In both this and Bobby Shaftoe, Cindy made use of graphics to help students visually organize their rhythm work into the given meter and length of composition or improvisation. (This is something I personally was able to take successfully back into my second grade classroom in the context of outer space word rhythm compositions.) In Gee Lee Gu Lu, Cindy had students transfer their rhythm patterns to drums, cymbals and gongs to simulate the sound of a Chinese percussion ensemble. Second Cindy arranged the Flower Drum Song. Again she modeled great teaching process, employing a listening/score watching game and imitation to teach the melody, followed by transferring the melody to barred instruments beginning with a skeletal outline. She provided structured improvisation (third phrase of the song). The workshop contained many other good ideas, interesting material (including Orff and Keetman gems) and thoughtful teaching process. The workshop concluded with Cindy’s sharing of a Taiko drum piece that she learned taking Taiko lessons when she lived and taught in Japan. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed making this energetic music together! Thanks for a great fall workshop, Cindy!
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John Feierabend, October 18, 2008 reviewed by Martha Crowell
Carpools of PAOSA members traveled to Princeton to join the Central New Jersey chapter and the local Kodaly chapter in welcoming John Feierabend. Widely known for his talent, experience, engaging style, and numerous publications, Feierabend wasted no time getting down to business about what and how we should be teaching our youngest children from the beginning through Lower School. He defined a musical person as tuneful (thinks tunes), beatful (feels beat and meter,) and artful (responds to expressiveness and is moved by beautiful music.) Reminding us that, according to child development research, elementary school is the last chance for most kids to become tuneful/beatful/artful, he advised us how to proceed. He spent a lot of time on selection of materials, on which so much else hinges. He shared his experience with asking Kodaly giant Katalin Forrai to critique his first publication, and she did, in a big way. Here are the types of songs she insisted on, combined with the recommendations of a children’s librarian about children’s books: only the best, authentic folk material, appealing to adults and children, still delicious after 30 repetitions, tune enhancing the words, and, most importantly, evoking a response. Ms. Forrai cut the following types of songs: blue jay songs (blue jays lay eggs in other people’s nests, and they don’t fit—e.g. “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands” to the tune of “Old Joe Clark.”) Phys Ed songs (no make-believe), Mother Goose songs (Mother Goose is a collection of poems, not songs), nonfiction songs, and “altered art”, e.g. a new smile where the Mona Lisa’s nose should be. As I sat there editing song choices in my mind, he went on to share with us how he subdivides a classroom lesson to include the full range of necessary musical aptitude and skill development. Three things got my special attention. One was “arioso,” a brief period of vocal improvisation within each lesson. A second was his statement of very young children: “Any participation is the right participation, including no participation.” He does not push. In his experience, children join as they are ready and able. A third point was his fervent request that literacy not be a main focus until at least second grade, because before then, musical aptitude can still increase, and focusing on literacy slows everything else down and zeroes in on only one aspect. Earlier isn’t better. Dr. Feierabend shared a clip of his new children’s TV series, featuring Lomax, the music hound. He spoke of his wife Lilli’s focus on the work of Howard Gardiner as it relates to music and her forthcoming book, also with GIA, illuminating her work in a Gardiner school. He shared recent children’s songs in book form, illustrated by college art students. Although Dr. Feierabend’s main focus is Kodaly, and I missed some of the aspects beloved to Orff Schulwerk, there was much for all of us to glean from this remarkable day. Someone I did not know who was sitting near me leaned over to a friend and said, “I think I’m at one of those life-changing workshops.”
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Directions to Workshops Using Pennsylvania Turnpike - From the East: Get off the PA Turnpike at the Willow Grove Exit, Rt. 611 (exit #343), go South on 611 (Old York Rd.) about 4 or 5 miles until you get into the Jenkintown shopping district (small shops right along sidewalk). The first light is Greenwood - turn left. The first light on Greenwood is Washington Lane – turn left, second driveway, turn right into Abington Friends School. - From the West: Exit the PA Turnpike at PA-309 (exit #339), South. Follow 309S for 5.4 miles. Take a slight left onto W. Cheltenham Ave. Turn left onto Washington Lane. School is 2 miles up the road. From the north - take the Northeast Extension of the PA Turnpike South to Rt. I-276 east. Follow directions above. From the State of Delaware and Delaware County, PA Take I-95 North to Chester and exit at Rt. I-476 Plymouth Meeting (Blue Route). Stay on I476 and go onto the PA Turnpike East. Follow PA Turnpike directions above. From Chester County, PA Take Rt. 202 to the PA Turnpike East. Follow PA Turnpike directions above. From New Jersey - From Central Jersey - Take the New Jersey Turnpike to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Follow PA Turnpike directions above. - From Tacony Palmyra Bridge - Cross the Bridge and follow Rt. 73 north through Philadelphia (becomes Cottman Ave.) and into Montgomery County where it is called Township Line Road. Turn right onto Jenkintown Road, which becomes Greenwood Ave. Turn right onto Washington Lane. Abington Friends is on the right. - From Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges - Take Schuylkill Expressway I-76 West and bear right at Roosevelt Boulevard Extension. Exit at Broad Street Rt. 611 North and follow directions below. From Philadelphia Take Broad Street North (Rt. 611) and bear right onto Old York Road. Turn right at the end of “The Pavilion” shopping center onto Washington Lane. Abington Friends is 1 1/2 blocks on the right.
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Membership in AOSA & PAOSA American Orff Schulwerk (AOSA) National Membership Benefits: The Orff Echo - Quarterly journal that contains articles, reviews and materials of interest to Orff Schulwerk practitioners. Reverberations - This quarterly newsletter includes information and news about AOSA's members, projects, conferences and activities of the National Board of Trustees. Scholarships and Research Grants- (see www.aosa.com for more information) The AOSA Video Library - Members may borrow recordings of master teachers. The Isabel McNeill Carley Library Collection -The definitive collection of materials related to Orff Schulwerk in the United States. Orff Schulwerk Professional Development Information & Employment Information The Annual National Conference
Philadelphia Area Orff Schulwerk Association (PAOSA) Membership Benefits: The Pentaton: Local newsletter issued 3 times a year PASOA workshops: Free admission to all 6 workshops Chapter Directory: Provides contact with other PAOSA members Complimentary admission to workshops for your administrator
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------2008-2009 PAOSA Membership Form Option One: National and Local dues. One year of AOSA national membership, one year local membership. ___ Teacher $135 ___ Full-time Student $35 ___ Retired Teacher $90
Option Two: Local dues only. This option is for teachers who are either already national members or are not going to join national AOSA. ___ Teacher $70 € I am a national member € I am not a national member ___ Retired Teacher $40 Note: Because workshops are free to students they need not become local members.
Name: ________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Address: ______________________________________
Cell Phone:____________________
City: _________________State___ Zip Code_________ School District: ________________________________________________________________ School: ______________________________________________________________________ Email Address: _________________________________________________________________ € Check here to receive workshop reminder postcards (in addition to email reminders) Make check payable to: PAOSA Send to: Pat Lutz, 1540 Montvale Circle, West Chester, PA 19380 Email Questions to mglazezook@verizon.net Discount: $10 off for first-time members.
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Philadelphia Area Orff Schulwerk Association
is a chapter of the nonprofit American Orff-Schulwerk Association dedicated to the advancement of music education through the techniques of Orff Schulwerk. This is a tri-annual publication of PAOSA keeping the members informed about activities, policies and workshops.
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