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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.
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The West Michigan Orff Chapter is launching a rejuvenation initiative to increase membership and workshop attendance.
Would you be willing to help us? If you’re able to get together a group of ten (10) people, we are offering a discount on workshop attendance for the 2024-2025 Season. The idea is to recruit people who have not been WMOC members in the past three years to once again create a vibrant, thriving organization. Click on the "Workshop Discount Info" button for more information. To contact us direct, scroll to the bottom of the page for the contact form. We would LOVE to hear from you! |
2024 - 2025 Workshop Schedule
"The Nature of Expertise"
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Clinician: Dr. Jean Hersey
Saturday, September 21, 2024 Host: Mr. Ryan Kasperski, Kalamazoo Public Schools Location: Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI Parking: Please park in the lot behind Chenery Auditorium. Enter through the side entrance facing Dutton St. Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $50 non-AOSA Members $65 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: What does it mean to be an expert general music teacher? How can the Orff approach help? Dr. Jean Hersey will join us for the first workshop of the year, in which you will learn new, multimodal activities and simple tricks to improve your instruction, all while making music! Please bring a recorder and dress comfortably.
Biography: Dr. Jean Hersey is a National Board-Certified General Music Specialist with expertise in Orff Schulwerk. A graduate of the University of Illinois in Music Education and Performance, Hersey has a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Northwestern University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. Hersey’s dissertation was on the nature of expertise of master Orff teachers in the general music classroom. She is a certified teacher-educator in the Orff approach, and has presented Orff workshops both locally and nationally. Hersey founded the Orff program at VanderCook in 2004. She currently teaches 5/6 General Music in Lake Forest, IL.
Biography: Dr. Jean Hersey is a National Board-Certified General Music Specialist with expertise in Orff Schulwerk. A graduate of the University of Illinois in Music Education and Performance, Hersey has a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Northwestern University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. Hersey’s dissertation was on the nature of expertise of master Orff teachers in the general music classroom. She is a certified teacher-educator in the Orff approach, and has presented Orff workshops both locally and nationally. Hersey founded the Orff program at VanderCook in 2004. She currently teaches 5/6 General Music in Lake Forest, IL.
MMEA General Music Fall Conference
Kris Olson
Co-Sponsered by the West Michigan Orff Chapter
Biography: Kris Olson has taught music and movement for over 30 years in private, public, rural, and urban settings. She teaches workshops across the country and has offered classes in movement at various universities. Kris has her master’s degree in Orff Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas. She studied dance at Zenon Dance Company while living in Minneapolis and now lives in Lubbock, TX where she choreographs and dances with Flatlands Dance Theatre. In the first half of her career, Kris was an elementary music specialist in Minnesota. Currently she works as a private contractor with a special focus in early childhood music and movement and also adjuncts in dance at Texas Tech University when needed.
American Orff-Schulwerk National Conference
November 13-16, 2024
Des Moines, Iowa
"Wheel of Emotion"
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Clinician: Kelly Whisinnand
March 8, 2025 Host: Tami Nelson Location: Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, Wyoming, MI Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $50 non-AOSA Members $65 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: Emotions guide our musical world in so many ways! How a piece makes you feel and respond is a magical thing about music! Come on an adventure of singing, speaking, playing, moving, and creating using a wide range of emotions!
Biography: Kelly Whisinnand teaches PreK-5th music at Reeder Elementary. She has a Bachelors in Music Education at UNL and a Masters in Music Education from UNO. Kelly directs the 4th/5th Reeder choir, two 7th/8th Beadle show choirs, and is the kids musical theater director at SNJ studios. She recently served on the NBT for AOSA. She is an Orff Certified Teacher Educator for Recorder and Movement and is a clinician for workshops, courses, and conferences.
Biography: Kelly Whisinnand teaches PreK-5th music at Reeder Elementary. She has a Bachelors in Music Education at UNL and a Masters in Music Education from UNO. Kelly directs the 4th/5th Reeder choir, two 7th/8th Beadle show choirs, and is the kids musical theater director at SNJ studios. She recently served on the NBT for AOSA. She is an Orff Certified Teacher Educator for Recorder and Movement and is a clinician for workshops, courses, and conferences.
"Back to Basics"
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Clinician: Betsy Sebring
April 19, 2025 Host: Tami Nelson Location: Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, Wyoming, MI Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: AOSA Members $50 non-AOSA Members $65 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: This will be a great workshop for those who are new to the Orff approach of teaching music, but will also be great for experienced music teachers. This workshop will briefly hit the major tenets of active music making in a classroom setting: sing, say, move, play, and above all CREATE. Participants will experience simple, elemental rhythms and melodies through a variety of media and have lots of opportunities to refresh the fundamental elements of teaching with an Orff approach.
Biography: Betsy Sebring teaches elementary and preschool music in Washington DC. She served on AOSA’s national board as a Regional Representative and later as Treasurer. She attended the Orff Institute Special Course in 2010-2011. Betsy presents workshops locally and nationally. She has taught all 3 levels of Basic Orff Schulwerk Certification, but currently teaches Level II at the University of Kentucky and Level III at George Mason University.
Biography: Betsy Sebring teaches elementary and preschool music in Washington DC. She served on AOSA’s national board as a Regional Representative and later as Treasurer. She attended the Orff Institute Special Course in 2010-2011. Betsy presents workshops locally and nationally. She has taught all 3 levels of Basic Orff Schulwerk Certification, but currently teaches Level II at the University of Kentucky and Level III at George Mason University.
WMOC Sponsered Orff Level 1 Certification
Location: Allendale Early Childhood Center, Allendale, MI 49401
Dates: Monday - Friday, July 7-21 (no class July 12 & 13) 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Instructors: Sandy Lantz & Gretchen Wahlberg
Cost: $1000 if registered by June 1, 2025; $1100 after June 1
Registration sign-up coming soon!
If you have questions, use the contact form at the bottom of the page.
2025 - 2026 Workshop Schedule
September 27, 2025 - Fauna Woolfe
March 21, 2026 - Christa Jones
April 18, 2026 - Kristine Wolfe
March 21, 2026 - Christa Jones
April 18, 2026 - Kristine Wolfe
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.
