Workshop Schedule

Joyful Recorder: Playful and Engaging Ideas for the Music Classroom
Oct 12, 2024 — 9a-1p
Ocean Air Elementary
11444 Canter Heights Dr.
San Diego, CA 92130

Natasha Thurmon teaches K-5 general music, choir, strings, Recorder, and Orff ensemble at Boldt Elementary in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, TX. She has a BME in Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University an an MM in Music Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She completed her Orff levels at Trinity University, and teaches Recorder at the San Jose State University Orff Levels Course. Natasha is past president of Central Texas Orff, and currently serves as a Trustee for the American Orff Schulwerk Association. She has presented at various state conferences, as well as at the national AOSA conference and for Orff chapter workshops. She serves as chair of the Communications Committee for her local union, Northside AFT.

Emergent Bi/multilingual Latine Students and Orff Schulwerk
Feb 1, 2025 — 9a-1p
Crown Point Junior Academy
4033 Ingraham St.
San Diego, CA 92109

Victor Lozada, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Bilingual Education at UNT Dallas. He taught K-5 general music for 14 years in Texas where he held Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, and First Steps certifications. His research includes the intersections among music and bilingual education. He frequently presents these topics at international and national venues such as NAfME, American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), International Kodály Symposium, Organization of American Kodály Educators, and National Association for Bilingual Education. His research can be found in Journal of General Music Education, Orff Echo, Bilingual Research Journal, and NABE Journal of Research and Practice among others. He offers suggestions for how to engage students with being critical about curricula in his co-edited book Engage and Empower! Expanding the Curriculum for Justice and Activism, especially his chapters on rap music and antiracism. He serves as the Vice President-Elect of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access for AOSA. 

A Year in the Life… A Sequenced Curriculum
Mar 8, 2025 — 9a-1p
McMillin Elementary
1201 Santa Cora Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91913

Lisa Odom (Sullivan) is a curriculum specialist and music educator with 33 years of experience creating professional development resources and teaching K-5 students. In June 2022, Lisa retired from classroom teaching. Currently Lisa provides opportunities that support and mentor other music teachers through Professional Development, Individual Mentor Services, and support in the daily classroom through “Artist in Residence” experiences. Lisa taught for Carmel Clay Schools in Carmel, IN for 28 years and then taught K-2 music for Skokie School District 69 for 5 years. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Music from Butler University and a Master of Arts in Education from Ball State University. She served three years as the Region VI representative for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) and has presented at various AOSA, National Association for Music Education and Indiana Music Educators Association conferences. In 2008, Lisa was named Carmel Clay Teacher of the Year. In 2017, Lisa was named Elementary Music Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Music Education Association, signifying outstanding achievement in the field of music education. During the summer months, Lisa teaches Orff Schulwerk Levels, and Orff Curriculum at Anderson University in Anderson, IN and DePaul University in Chicago, IL.