General Music Professional Development
Teachers will be exploring aspects of building a music curriculum that will reinforce common core and Ohio State Standards.
Matt McCoy
September 27, 2025
"FALL-ING INTO THE ELEMENTAL"
Celebrate the season with an engaging, hands-on workshop that weaves together music, movement, and the spirit of autumn. Participants will explore classroom-tested activities that can be easily adapted for a variety of grade levels. Whether you’re preparing for a fall-themed sharing or simply looking to refresh your lesson plans, this session offers practical ideas grounded in the Orff approach. Along the way, we’ll also discuss process-based lesson planning and share strategies for creating meaningful, student-centered experiences. Come ready to move, make music, and gather inspiration for the season ahead.
Matt McCoy has spent over thirty years teaching music to students of all ages—from preschool through graduate school. He currently serves as the Lower School Music Teacher at the Emerson School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A dedicated Orff Schulwerk educator, Matt has been teaching in Orff Teacher Education courses for the past 25 years and has presented workshops at AOSA National Conferences and for chapters across the country. Passionate about both tradition and innovation, he continues to find joy in learning new things and exploring fresh ideas at the intersection of music, the arts, and education.
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"PLAYFUL PEDAGOGY"​​
Orff Activities for Autumn
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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 is a Teacher Educator 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 serves as President of the Board of Directors of the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement. He is also an editor on the American Orff Schulwerk Association’s Reverberations Publication Committee.
Drue Bullington
October 25, 2025
Martina Vasil
February 21, 2026
"POPULAR MUSIC"
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Have you ever wondered how to bring the music your students prefer into the classroom? In this workshop, you will learn many ways to integrate popular music and movement into your classroom through the Orff-Keetman approach. You will also learn how to create your own materials that make authentic connections with your students and help them learn. Bring your ukuleles and recorders and let’s have some fun!
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Martina Vasil, PhD, is Associate Professor of Music Education and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Kentucky School of Music, where she runs summer Orff levels and teaches collegiate courses in general music and popular music education. Martina is an Orff Level III certified teacher and long-time member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. From 2019–2023, she served on The Orff Echo Editorial Board and currently co-runs the White Ally Affinity Group for AOSA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Round Table (DEIRT). Martina teaches a masterclass on Popular Music and Orff with Dr. David Dockan and presents frequently for Orff chapters internationally and nationally. Martina has 14 years of experience teaching preK–8 general music. Her BMME and PhD in music education are from West Virginia University and her MA in music education is from Eastman School of Music.
2025 AOSA National Conference
Pack your bags for the annual Professional Development Conference in Lexington, KY November 19-22, held at the Central Bank Center. This year’s conference offers a variety of sessions and events to meet your professional development needs.
2026 OMEA Professional Development Conference
Travel to Columbus, OH to experience nearly 300 sessions on “best practices" in music education January 29-31. Music, related vendors, and the latest trends in technology will be featured. And over 40 ensembles will perform during this event ranging from elementary choirs to university orchestras. Be on the lookout for an increasing number of general music sessions.
General Music Conferences
AOSA: November 19-22, 2025
OMEA: January 29-31, 2026
NWO Orff Chapter Share & Potluck - March 14, 2026
Come hear ideas from fellow members and bring a dish to share! Potluck is from 12-1 after the chapter share.