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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.
2023 - 2024 Workshop Schedule
"It’s All About the Process: Keetman’s Rhythmic Building Bricks and Beyond"
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Clinician: Josh Southard
Saturday, September 23, 2023 Host: Kim Licavoli Location: First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo at 345 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI. Parking available in the Church lot. Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: TBA 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: Using the elemental rhythmic building bricks, we will explore improvisation and composition in the classroom. Diving into pieces and examples from the Music for Children volumes and supplements, as well as children’s literature, participants will learn how to play, improvise, create, and expand on them. Come ready to Sing, Dance, Play, Move, and CREATE!
Biography: Josh Southard is the Music Specialist at Smoky Row Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana. There he teaches K-5 music, as well as a 5th grade Orff Ensemble, and was named the 2018 Teacher of the Year. In January of 2019, he was also named the Indiana Elementary Music Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association. He has completed all of his levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification, as well as Orff Curriculum and Composition at Anderson University. He is a past-president of the Indiana Orff Schulwerk Association, and served on the National Board of Trustees of AOSA as the Regional VI Representative. Josh is a featured presenter at Orff workshops around the country, state and national conferences, and has had articles published in both the Orff Echo and Reverberations. He teaches Level II Orff Certification courses in Gwinnett County in Atlanta, GA, and Level I at DePaul University and Anderson University.
Biography: Josh Southard is the Music Specialist at Smoky Row Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana. There he teaches K-5 music, as well as a 5th grade Orff Ensemble, and was named the 2018 Teacher of the Year. In January of 2019, he was also named the Indiana Elementary Music Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association. He has completed all of his levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification, as well as Orff Curriculum and Composition at Anderson University. He is a past-president of the Indiana Orff Schulwerk Association, and served on the National Board of Trustees of AOSA as the Regional VI Representative. Josh is a featured presenter at Orff workshops around the country, state and national conferences, and has had articles published in both the Orff Echo and Reverberations. He teaches Level II Orff Certification courses in Gwinnett County in Atlanta, GA, and Level I at DePaul University and Anderson University.
"Developing Structured Improvisation"
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Clinician: Drue Bullington
Saturday, October 28, 2023 Host: Tami Nelson Location: Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St., Wyoming, MI. Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: TBA 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: When the world of music flows only toward your students, they never feel the joy of ownership in new musical ideas they have created. This workshop brings opportunities for improvisation and composition that are developed out of a variety of models found in the original source materials-- Orff Schulwerk Music For Children Volumes and Supplements. We will extensively explore the media of elemental music and movement-- movement, speech, body percussion, singing, barred instruments, and maybe even some ukuleles!The most exciting music for any musician is that which we discover ourselves conceiving and realizing musical experiences at the same time!
Biography: Drue Bullington teaches elemental music and movement at Brownstown Elementary School in Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster, PA. Bullington is twice a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.S. in Music Education and a M.M. in Music Education with a certification in Orff Schulwerk. Drue holds a second master’s degree from Wilkes University in Online Teaching and Learning with an Online Educator’s Certificate of Endorsement from the State of Pennsylvania. He has also participated in several advanced Orff Schulwerk courses and an apprenticeship program in Orff Schulwerk at George Mason University.
Drue has taught in several Orff Schulwerk Levels Certification programs around the U.S.and offers numerous professional development and workshop sessions on elemental music and movement through the Orff Schulwerk Approach, elemental music and movement applications in the classroom, incorporating technology, and integrating the soprano ukulele into the K-12 music classroom. Drue also serves on the AOSA Reverberations Publication Committee.
Biography: Drue Bullington teaches elemental music and movement at Brownstown Elementary School in Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster, PA. Bullington is twice a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.S. in Music Education and a M.M. in Music Education with a certification in Orff Schulwerk. Drue holds a second master’s degree from Wilkes University in Online Teaching and Learning with an Online Educator’s Certificate of Endorsement from the State of Pennsylvania. He has also participated in several advanced Orff Schulwerk courses and an apprenticeship program in Orff Schulwerk at George Mason University.
Drue has taught in several Orff Schulwerk Levels Certification programs around the U.S.and offers numerous professional development and workshop sessions on elemental music and movement through the Orff Schulwerk Approach, elemental music and movement applications in the classroom, incorporating technology, and integrating the soprano ukulele into the K-12 music classroom. Drue also serves on the AOSA Reverberations Publication Committee.
"Music Therapy & Special Learners"
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Clinician: Sandy Kotesky
Saturday, March 16, 2024 Host: Dan DeZwaan Location: Oakwood Intermediate School, 10505 Learning Lane, Allendale, MI 49401 Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: TBA 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: “Music Therapy and Special Learners” will provide educators with a background of the variety of special needs diagnosis that exist today, as well as a better understanding of what capacity they have for music processing. A brief description of special education policies the public schools are obligated to follow will also be included. There will be hands-on experiences to provide educators with language, tips and tricks, and resources to help integrate the special learner into their programs and maintain a high level of music education integrity. Handouts will be provided and permission to video record interventions will be allowed.
Biography: Sandy Koteskey, MT-BC, received her Bachelors of Music Therapy degree from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and has been a board-certified music therapist for 17 years. She has clinical experience with multiple ages and diagnoses but has a specialty working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As a studio trumpeter, she has also become proficient on guitar, piano and ukulele and uses a wide variety of instruments and tools with her clients. She has been with the Franciscan Life Process Center since her clinical internship in 2005 and has had many opportunities in leadership. In 2018 she moved into administration, while maintaining her clinical work and became the Director of the Music Program. In 2019, she taught the Introduction to Music Therapy class at Grand Rapids Community College. Just recently, in January of 2023 she became the Director of the Center, overseeing the development of 4 main programs: music therapy, counseling, art workshops and experiential land programs. She has a passion for walking side by side with each person she meets, finding out what motivates them and strives to help them reach their fullest potential.
Biography: Sandy Koteskey, MT-BC, received her Bachelors of Music Therapy degree from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and has been a board-certified music therapist for 17 years. She has clinical experience with multiple ages and diagnoses but has a specialty working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As a studio trumpeter, she has also become proficient on guitar, piano and ukulele and uses a wide variety of instruments and tools with her clients. She has been with the Franciscan Life Process Center since her clinical internship in 2005 and has had many opportunities in leadership. In 2018 she moved into administration, while maintaining her clinical work and became the Director of the Music Program. In 2019, she taught the Introduction to Music Therapy class at Grand Rapids Community College. Just recently, in January of 2023 she became the Director of the Center, overseeing the development of 4 main programs: music therapy, counseling, art workshops and experiential land programs. She has a passion for walking side by side with each person she meets, finding out what motivates them and strives to help them reach their fullest potential.
"Music & Nature"
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Clinician: Rob DelGaudio
Saturday, April 20, 2024 Host: Dan DeZwaan Location: Allendale Early Childhood Center, 10455 Timberline Dr, Allendale, MI Workshop: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., registration is open at 8:30 a.m. Cost: TBA 4 Hours of FREE SCECH Available |
Description: In this session teachers will explore nature-inspired songs and activities. Immerse yourself in the rich repertoire, integrating music, movement, and speech to engage students’ innate curiosity. Discover rhythmic patterns, melodic motifs, and dynamic expression that evoke the sounds and textures of the natural world. Through active participation and reflection, gain practical tools to create a vibrant and student-centered music environment.
Biography: Rob DelGaudio is a composer and elementary music educator based in Westchester, NY. He holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from Manhattan School of Music and Hofstra University. He received his Orff levels training at Hofstra University, Villanova University and George Mason University. Rob creates content for music educators on YouTube. His channel, Music With Mr. DelGaudio features his original songs and lesson ideas and currently has over 7,000 subscribers. Additionally, he is a graduate of the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Writing Program. He is the creative director of his own theatre company, Pancake Productions, the leader of the Tarrytown Ukulele Jam and the author of a Barnes & Noble exclusive book titled Music.
Biography: Rob DelGaudio is a composer and elementary music educator based in Westchester, NY. He holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from Manhattan School of Music and Hofstra University. He received his Orff levels training at Hofstra University, Villanova University and George Mason University. Rob creates content for music educators on YouTube. His channel, Music With Mr. DelGaudio features his original songs and lesson ideas and currently has over 7,000 subscribers. Additionally, he is a graduate of the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Writing Program. He is the creative director of his own theatre company, Pancake Productions, the leader of the Tarrytown Ukulele Jam and the author of a Barnes & Noble exclusive book titled Music.
2024 - 2025 Workshop Schedule
September 21, 2024 - Sam Cruz & Mary Clark
October 19, 2024 - Kris Olson
March 15, 2025 - Kelly Whisinnand
April 19, 2025 - Betsy Sebring
October 19, 2024 - Kris Olson
March 15, 2025 - Kelly Whisinnand
April 19, 2025 - Betsy Sebring
2025 - 2026 Workshop Schedule
September 27, 2025 - Fauna Woolfe
October 2025 - TBA
March 21, 2026 - Christa Jones
April 18, 2026 - Kristine Wolfe
October 2025 - TBA
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.
