American Orff-Schulwerk Association

THE MISSION OF AMERICAN ORFF-SHULWERK ASSOCIATION IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF ORFF-SCHULWERK AND PROMOTE ITS WIDESPREAD USE; TO SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MEMBERS; AND TO INSPIRE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF ALL LEARNERS.

THE AMERICAN ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE OFFERS CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO AOSA MEMBERSHIP TO EXPAND THE TEACHING OF THE CREATIVE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT APPROACH DEVELOPED BY CARL ORFF AND GUNILD KEETMAN. PRESENTED ANNUALLY IN NOVEMBER, THE CONFERENCE HISTORICALLY SERVES MORE THAN 1,200 REGISTRANTS ATTENDING 150+ WORKSHOPS,PRESENTATIONS, AND PERFORMANCES. CONFERENCE ATTENDEES MAY ALSO VISIT MUSIC EDUCATION VENDORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES RELATING TO ORFF SCHULWERK. AOSA PROVIDES DIGITAL/VIRTUAL TRAINING AND RESOURCES THROUGH THE NEWLY DEVELOPED AOSA APP AND AOSA WEBSITE. CONFERENCES WERE HELD VIRTUALLY IN FYE 2021 DUE TO THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC. AOSA IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP, PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND PROVIDING TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES THAT RESPECT, AFFIRM, AND PROTECT THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 CHAPTERS, THE AMERICAN ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION IN ORFF SCHULWERK. THESE 250+ ANNUAL WORKSHOPS ARE PRESENTED BY APPROVED AOSA MEMBERS. ADDITIONALLY, AOSA PROVIDES ENDORSEMENT TO MORE THAN 50 CONTINUING EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS PRESENTED BY COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. A STANDING AOSA-APPROVED CURRICULUM AND AOSA SANCTIONED INSTRUCTORS ARE USED BY THESE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE MEMBERSHIP RECEIVES CONSISTENT AND EQUAL TRAINING IN THE APPROACH WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO AOSA CERTIFICATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE THREE LEVELS OF CURRICULUM. ALSO, AOSA ALSO PROVIDES MEMBERS ACCESS TO A VIDEO LIBRARY CONTAINING VARIOUS RECORDINGS RELATING TO TEACHING ORFF SCHULWERK IN VARIOUS SETTINGS. THROUGH SEVERAL ENDOWMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DOLLARS, GRANTS ARE OFFERED TO AOSA MEMBERS TO SUPPORT: ATTENDANCE AT LEVELS COURSES OR INTERNATIONAL ORFF SCHULWERK TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, INSTRUMENT PURCHASE FOR THE CLASSROOM, SPECIAL PROJECTS, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. FINALLY, AOSA CHAPTERS QUALIFY FOR GRANTS RELATING TO THEIR GROWTH AND NEEDS IN PRESENTING THE SCHULWERK IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

PUBLICATIONS BY THE AMERICAN ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION PROVIDE ON-GOING MATERIALS, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION TO PROMOTE THE ORFF SCHULWERK APPROACH TO MUSIC AND MOVEMENT EDUCATION. THE PRINT PUBLICATION, THE ORFF ECHO IS A QUARTERLY JOURNAL DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RESEARCH AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO MUSIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE SCHULWERK. REVERBERATIONS IS A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER THAT PROVIDES APPLIED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEMBERSHIP FOR CLASSROOM AND COMMUNITY USE. A MONTHLY E- NEWSLETTER, THE AOSA BEAT, KEEPS MEMBERS UP TO DATE OF ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHILE THE AOSA WEBSITE OFFERS TIMELY AND RELEVANT INFORMATION TO MEMBERSHIP AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY REGARDING ORFF SCHULWERK AND MUSIC EDUCATION. ADDITIONAL STAND-ALONE PUBLICATIONS ARE ALSO PRODUCED TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF PROMOTING ORFF SCHULWERK TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY.

RESEARCH GRANT THE RESEARCH GRANT ENCOURAGES RESEARCH IN VARIED APPLICATIONS OF ORFF SCHULWERK, PROMOTING THE ORFF SCHULWERK PHILOSOPHY AND PROCESS. AWARDS OF UP TO 8,000 MAY BE GRANTED FOR SELECTED RESEARCH PROPOSALS. RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP GRANT THE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP GRANT ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS BETWEEN A SCHOOL-MUSIC TEACHER AS THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR/TEAM LEADER AND A UNIVERSITY-BASED RESEARCHING TEACHER.