Dear West Michigan Orff members and friends:

            I hope you are enjoying all that summer has to offer:  rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.   A new school year is upon us—there are also things that a new school year offers us:  developing our students and developing ourselves.  As our new school year approaches, please consider joining us for a new season of workshops.  We have four exciting workshops (and a bonus chapter share workshop) that will be offered this coming year. 

            Our year kicks off with a workshop by Peter and Mary Alice Amidon of the New England Dancing Masters.  This workshop will feature dancing, storytelling and literature.  The workshop will be on September 26 from 9 AM until 3 PM at the new Oakwood Intermediate School in Allendale.

            Our second workshop will feature nationally and internationally renowned presenter Doug Goodkin from the San Francisco School in California.  This will be a combined presentation of our Michigan Chapters—West Michigan, Detroit, and Mid-Michigan.  It will be held at Olivet College in Olivet on October 17,  from 9 AM until 4 PM.

            In February, our third workshop will be at Hope College and will feature Dr. Christina Hornbach from Hope.  She will be presenting a workshop “Sing, Chant, Move and Play:  What to do in Music Day after Day.”  This will be on February 20 from 9 AM to 1 PM.  

            Our final workshop of the school year will be at the Crowne Plaza and hosted by Meyer Music.  Popular clinician Artie Almeida will be presenting on ‘Fun with Fundamentals’  This workshop is always a great way to finish the year.  It will be on April 24 from 9 AM-3 PM

            LUNCH?  Some things to note about this year’s workshops are that we will have a potluck lunch at the first workshop—more to come about that.  The second workshop will offer lunch from Olivet’s food service.  This will be done at the expense of the individual.  We will likely go out for lunch after the third workshop.  The final workshop will have lunch included (this past April it was Italian!) 

            WEST MUSIC—We will again be offering product sales from West Music at the first two workshops.  If you have a West catalog and would like certain books or recordings (CD/video), we can order them for no shipping costs and WMOC will get 20% back from all sales.  If you would like to order please let me know three weeks prior to the workshop and I should have them for you there.

            NATIONAL CONFERENCE—If you have not had the opportunity to attend the AOSA National Conference—this is the year to consider doing so!  Three days of top-notch workshops, concerts, evening sessions, networking with others in our field is always a mountain-top experience.  And this year, it is across the lake in Milwaukee!  So consider carpooling with other members and joining us for this conference. November 11-14 are the dates and it promises to be a fantastic conference!

FACEBOOK—If you are on facebook, take a look at the West Michigan page.  We would love to have more members!

BONUS WORKSHOP—Thanks to Marcia Working for setting up a chapter share workshop for us at her school for going thru our favorite volume pieces.  We will be meeting on March 20 at Marcia’s school in Portage for this workshop.  So whether you have one to share or would like to learn some pieces from Music for Children, please join us.

DISCOUNTS—Do you know someone in your district who would benefit from WMOC membership?  Do you know others from another district or profession (music therapists) who would use Orff philosophy in their field?  Getting multiple people from one district or a current member getting a new member to join WMOC gets both/all a $20 discount.  Just send in your registrations together.    

GRADUATE CREDIT/SB-CEU’s—These are available again from Western Michigan University.  If you are interested in getting one (1) graduate credit for our series of workshops or SB-CEU’s contact Marcia Working for information regarding paperwork and requirements at the first workshop.  If you just need documentation of your attendance at workshops, we can gladly help with that as well-- see me for that!

REGISTRATION—there will be a prize given for the first registrant, so register early.  Also, early registration saves $$$. 

DOOR PRIZES—as of the writing of this letter, we are going to have door prizes at our first workshop from West Music, Suzuki and Peripole-Bergerault.

RAFFLE—we hope to be doing a raffle again this year to support our scholarship program.  More information to come!

Best wishes to a great start to the school year!  See you on September 26!

Dan De Zwaan

West Michigan Orff Chapter President