Welcome to PGTAOSA
Welcome to the Website of the Pittsburgh Golden Triangle Chapter #35
of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association
The Pittsburgh chapter of AOSA is organized by area music teachers to provide continuing education workshops with ACT 48 credit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Orff Schulwerk is an approach to early childhood, elementary and middle school music education based on the teachings of German composer, Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. Combining creativity, speech, movement, a variety of high quality repertoire, and the playing of instruments, the Orff approach is a child-centered, playful experience, producing children ready for success in all other curricula.
Join us for our Saturday workshops with nationally known clinicians.
It will change how you teach music!!
New to Orff?
Upcoming Workshops
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
The New England Dancing Masters
Sat, Oct 21, 2017 9am–1pm
Hartwood Elementary School (Fox Chapel Area School District)
3730 Saxonburg Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
The Amidons teach by doing – the workshop is a potpourri of:
• traditional American and English dances and singing games for al
• telling a folktale, and introducing songs and singing games with storytelling
• bringing picture books alive with music by: adding background music, creating a song from the book’s text, and singing picture books that illustrate great songs.
• singing the Amidons’ favorite songs for children
The Amidons love having children participate in their workshops for music teachers; having their parents join in as well will deepen the children’s experience of the dancing, singing and storytelling. Part of the workshop will be reviewing the dances we have done and talking about using dance, song and storytelling in music teaching. Most of the workshop will be the actual dances, singing games, songs, stories and picture books.
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon are versatile and widely respected performing and teaching artists who have dedicated themselves to traditional song, dance and storytelling. Both former elementary school music teachers, the Amidons have been headliners at National OAKE and Orff Schulwerk Conferences, are honored to be members of the AOSA Advocacy Council, and they present well as many regional Orff and Kodály weekend workshops throughout the United States. The Amidons both lead and perform singing, dancing and storytelling in elementary schools and traditional music festivals. They are co-founders of New England Dancing Masters, publishers of traditional dance materials for children. The Amidons’ choral arrangements are being sung on both sides of the Atlantic.
Missy Reed
Music for Everyone:
Tips, Tricks and To-Do’s for Teaching Diverse Learners in the Music Classroom
Sat, February 17, 2018 9am–1pm
South Fayette Intermediate School (South Fayette School District)
More information coming soon…
Melissa Reed is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Music Therapy Department and the Manager of the Lipson Music Therapy Clinic. Prior to becoming a member of the Nazareth College faculty, Melissa spent 15 years working as a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Music Teacher in the Rochester area. Melissa has worked extensively with children with diverse needs in the music therapy and music education settings and is a sought after clinician on this topic. She has presented for music professionals on the national and state level.
In addition to her work in the public school system, Melissa has spent countless hours working with families in the Rochester area as an early childhood music teacher.
Melissa Reed received a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and Music Education from Nazareth College. In 2010, Melissa was awarded the Outstanding Music Educator Award in the field of Classroom Music by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Vivian Murray Caputo
Children’s Literature in the Music Classroom
Sat, March 24, 2018 9am–1pm
O’Hara Elementary School (Fox Chapel Area School District)
More information on the workshop coming soon…
Act 48 Credits
PGTAOSA is an approved provider for Act 48 Credit.
Workshop hours will be submitted to the state within one month by a PGTAOSA board member. If you have any questions regarding Act 48 Credit, please email the president at president@pgtaosa.org.
Check your Act 48 progress and get your PA Professional ID Number at the PDE Website.