Member Benefit Overview

Professional Development

Professional Development Conference – The AOSA Professional Development Conference is a yearly gathering in different locations in the country for AOSA members to share in learning and community.

Local Chapter Workshops  – Local Chapter workshops provide opportunities for professional development and collaboration with music colleagues.

AOSA Teacher Education Courses – Teacher Education Courses are a comprehensive three-level curriculum comprising pedagogy, recorder and movement designed to provide an understanding of the Orff Schulwerk approach and develop musicianship, creativity and teaching strategies.

Professional Learning Network – Professional Learning Networks (PLN) give AOSA members access to Orff Schulwerk Master Educators in a webinar format including learning and discussion on topics important to Orff Educators.

Independent Study Units – Independent Study Units (ISU) include videos, articles, and lesson ideas from the AOSA Resource Library.

Digital Mentorship Program – The Digital Mentor Program pairs experienced Orff Schulwerk teachers (mentors) with newly trained Orff Schulwerk teachers (mentees) for the purpose of improving the practice of those who request mentorship.

Scholarships and Grants – AOSA offers professional development scholarships and grants to purchase instruments and equipment.

Advocacy – AOSA provides members with a variety of Orff Schulwerk advocacy materials to help promote Orff Schulwerk to parents and administrators.

Publications

The Orff Echo – The Orff Echo is the national, peer-reviewed quarterly journal and philosophical voice of AOSA.

Reverberations: Teachers Teaching Teachers – Reverberations, a weekly, online publication available to members, publishes models of best practice from Orff Schulwerk classrooms.

Resource Library

The AOSA Resource Library contains articles, videos, book reviews, lesson plans, PLNs, conference notes, and more.

Making the most of the Resource Library – A quick start video and FAQ's to help you search the library.

About AOSA

AOSA Address:
1284 SOM Center Rd. PMB #264, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
440-600-7329 member.aosa.org
Contact AOSA

The American Orff-Schulwerk Association is a professional organization of educators dedicated to the creative music and movement approach developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman.

Our mission 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.

Our Core Values are:

As music and movement educators dedicated to the creative music and movement approach developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, we believe that:

• Every learner deserves the opportunity to actively create, improvise, sing, play, move, speak, and listen.
• Every learner should experience music and dance from cultures represented in both our diverse American society and the larger global community.
• Every learner deserves a passionate, committed music educator who values the importance of active music making.
• Every Orff Schulwerk educator deserves high-quality opportunities to improve their pedagogy and musicianship through active, collaborative professional development.
• Every Orff Schulwerk educator should cultivate the creative potential in all learners.
• Every AOSA member deserves opportunities to engage in open and constructive dialogue regarding the future and well-being of their chapter and the national organization.

AOSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement: 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.

AOSA Leadership and Governance

AOSA is managed by a network of boards, panels, committees, and subcommittees dedicated to the mission and core values of the organization.

National Board of Trustees – This is the senior governing body of AOSA, broken down into eight committees, charged with managing the strategic direction and daily programming of the organization.

AOSA Subcommittees and Panels – Much of the programmatic work of AOSA is developed and managed by AOSA panels and subcommittees charged with specific tasks associated with the organization.

AOSA Staff

Organizational Governance Materials – The AOSA National Board of Trustees meets at least three times a year with board committees meeting electronically once per month. The minutes of their work are available here.

National Leadership Resource Center – Learn about AOSA leadership and governance: founding documents, leadership opportunities, review handbooks, and more.