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The West Michigan Orff Chapter (WMOC) is a chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA). We offer professional development workshops for music and classroom teachers throughout West-Central Michigan. Our Saturday workshops feature well-known Orff clinicians as well as other professionals whose work can be valuable to music teachers at all levels. This years onsite workshops will be held in the Wyoming and Allendale area. This website is part of our mission to make our services available to all interested professionals.
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Please note: Our National organization (AOSA) has adopted a unified fee structure for all Chapters as of July 1, 2022. In order to be a member of the local chapter, teachers must now be a member of AOSA. This change falls inline with other national music organizations.
2025 - 2026 Workshop Schedule
"The Art in Play!"
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Clinician: Fauna Woolfe
September 27, 2025 Host: Dan DeZwaan Location: Oakwood Intermediate, 10505 Learning Lane, Allendale, MI Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $55 non-AOSA Members $70 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: Come and play for the day with creative connections in music, movement, literature,
and visual art. Together we will share beautiful experiences exploring these connections
that foster musical learning through unusual manipulatives, beautiful books, and fun
music! Be prepared to move, sing, play recorder, and explore the art in play!
Biography: Fauna Woolfe has taught elementary music for 28 years and currently teaches K-5 music at
Woodburn Elementary in the Camas School District located in southwest Washington. She
presents workshops nationally, teaches recorder for levels courses, is the founder and director
of the Portland Orff course. She has presented for the AOSA National Conference and
International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg conference, and has multiple articles published in
the AOSA Reverberations. She was elected to the AOSA National Board of Trustees and will
serve as a Region I Representative from July 2023 - 2026. She served on the International
Sunday Sharing USA team, and is Past - President of Portland Orff. Fauna received her
Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon, where she also studied
saxophone performance. She received her Masters in Education from Lesley University with an
emphasis in Arts Integration.
and visual art. Together we will share beautiful experiences exploring these connections
that foster musical learning through unusual manipulatives, beautiful books, and fun
music! Be prepared to move, sing, play recorder, and explore the art in play!
Biography: Fauna Woolfe has taught elementary music for 28 years and currently teaches K-5 music at
Woodburn Elementary in the Camas School District located in southwest Washington. She
presents workshops nationally, teaches recorder for levels courses, is the founder and director
of the Portland Orff course. She has presented for the AOSA National Conference and
International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg conference, and has multiple articles published in
the AOSA Reverberations. She was elected to the AOSA National Board of Trustees and will
serve as a Region I Representative from July 2023 - 2026. She served on the International
Sunday Sharing USA team, and is Past - President of Portland Orff. Fauna received her
Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon, where she also studied
saxophone performance. She received her Masters in Education from Lesley University with an
emphasis in Arts Integration.
"Managing the Orff Classroom"
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Clinician: Tiffany English
October 11, 2025 Host: Courtney Farber Location: Oakwood Intermediate, 10505 Learning Lane, Allendale, MI Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $55 non-AOSA Members $70 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: The inherent creativity of the Schulwerk can bring management challenges. How do you build community with your students while reinforcing positive behavior? How do you refine your classroom procedures so that instruction flows seamlessly? How do you structure your lessons so that you facilitate higher-level learning? The Orff Schulwerk approach makes all of this possible. Come learn kid-tested strategies and lessons that will make your classroom an organized, safe learning environment that will lay the groundwork for magical music making!
Biography: Tiffany English is currently serving as the Executive Director of the American Orff-SchulwerkAssociation. She is retired from a 29-year teaching career as music specialist in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She holds multiple degrees from the University of Georgia and PiedmontCollege and has completed post-Level III Orff Schulwerk teacher education and Level I Kodály training. Tiffany also served the American Orff-Schulwerk Associationas Region IV representative on the National Board of Trustees, vice president and president of AOSA, and co-chair for the 2014 and 2021 AOSA Professional Development Conferences.Tiffany was named the Teacher of the Year three times in her career and was the Gwinnett County Teacher of theYear in 2007. She presents at numerous conferences and workshops throughout the United States and is a frequent honor chorus clinician. She is currently serving on the Board of Advisors for the International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg.
Biography: Tiffany English is currently serving as the Executive Director of the American Orff-SchulwerkAssociation. She is retired from a 29-year teaching career as music specialist in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She holds multiple degrees from the University of Georgia and PiedmontCollege and has completed post-Level III Orff Schulwerk teacher education and Level I Kodály training. Tiffany also served the American Orff-Schulwerk Associationas Region IV representative on the National Board of Trustees, vice president and president of AOSA, and co-chair for the 2014 and 2021 AOSA Professional Development Conferences.Tiffany was named the Teacher of the Year three times in her career and was the Gwinnett County Teacher of theYear in 2007. She presents at numerous conferences and workshops throughout the United States and is a frequent honor chorus clinician. She is currently serving on the Board of Advisors for the International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg.
" Supporting English Language Learners through Creative Play"
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Clinician: Christa Jones
March 21, 2026 Host: Kalamazoo Public Schools Music Teachers Location: Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $55 non-AOSA Members $70 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: Discover how music class can be a vibrant space for multilingual and English Language Learner students to thrive and explore. We will explore practical instructional strategies tailored for ELLs and learn how to apply these methods effectively in the music classroom. This interactive session includes active discussions and hands-on activities using elemental songs and games. Let’s create an inclusive music class environment that welcomes, engages, and affirms all our unique students!
Biography: Christa Jones holds a master's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL) and currently serves on the editorial board of The Orff Echo, AOSA’s academic journal. She completed three levels of Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education, Orff masterclass, Orff curriculum training, and is certified in First Steps in Music. She is dedicated to empowering music educators with meaningful and practical professional development that inspires and enriches their teaching experiences.
Biography: Christa Jones holds a master's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL) and currently serves on the editorial board of The Orff Echo, AOSA’s academic journal. She completed three levels of Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education, Orff masterclass, Orff curriculum training, and is certified in First Steps in Music. She is dedicated to empowering music educators with meaningful and practical professional development that inspires and enriches their teaching experiences.
"Create Your Own Magic"
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Clinician: Kristine Wolfe
April 18, 2026 Host: Tami Nelson Location: Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $55 non-AOSA Members $70 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: Join us as we sing, speak, move, play AND create some musical magic! This session will include movement and improvisation techniques for beginners and beyond! You will leave with ideas to use with your students, as well some tools for you to create YOUR own magic!
Biography: Kristine Wolfe has been teaching PreK-6 Music & Band in the Papillion - La Vista (NE) Community Schools for over 25 years. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Iowa State University and a Master of Music from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In addition to her Kodaly training, Kristine is a Level I & II Orff Schulwerk Instructor and is an active clinician at workshops throughout the United States. Kristine currently serves on the AOSA Fund Development Subcommittee and has attended the National Conference every year since 2006. She has been on the GPOC (Great Plains Orff Chapter) Board since 2005, having served as President, Vice President and Membership Chair before taking over as Program Chair in 2015. In her free time, Kristine enjoys singing and playing Oboe in the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, as well as Recorder with The Jewel Tones.
Biography: Kristine Wolfe has been teaching PreK-6 Music & Band in the Papillion - La Vista (NE) Community Schools for over 25 years. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Iowa State University and a Master of Music from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In addition to her Kodaly training, Kristine is a Level I & II Orff Schulwerk Instructor and is an active clinician at workshops throughout the United States. Kristine currently serves on the AOSA Fund Development Subcommittee and has attended the National Conference every year since 2006. She has been on the GPOC (Great Plains Orff Chapter) Board since 2005, having served as President, Vice President and Membership Chair before taking over as Program Chair in 2015. In her free time, Kristine enjoys singing and playing Oboe in the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, as well as Recorder with The Jewel Tones.
2026 - 2027 Workshop Schedule
September 19, 2026 --Rob DelGaudio
October 24, 2026 --David Row
March 6, 2027--Ashleigh Lore
April 17, 2027--Tiffany Barry
October 24, 2026 --David Row
March 6, 2027--Ashleigh Lore
April 17, 2027--Tiffany Barry
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Orff Level 1& 2 Opportunity
July 6 - 17, 2026 Location: Allendale Early Childhood Center 10455 Timberline Drive, Allendale, MI 49401 Time: 8:30-4:30 Monday thru Friday Instructors: Sandy Lantz & Gretchen Wahlburg |
The American Orff-Schulwerk association strongly encourages members to be positive and discreet when discussing our organization, specific courses and/or teachers, and the Orff movement. The very nature of the Orff Schulwerk philosophy embodies a broad spectrum of expressions exploring different paths to arrive at artistic and educational goals. Members are encouraged to recognize and remain open to varied approaches and to celebrate both our differences and our similarities.
