Do you remember the first time you played Ring around the Rosie? What were you imagining that made you want to play it over and over again or was it the sheer joy of falling with your friends? This active workshop recreates the playfulness of singing and playing games that engage the brain and stimulates the imagination. The connections between song and learning will become evident as the day progresses.

Pam Vellutini has 25 years experience teaching elementary music education in the Ashland and Phoenix-Talent School Districts as well as DoDDS Germany. For the past 4 years Pam taught Music 373 at SOU, a methodology class for music and elementary education majors on how to teach and reach children through music. Pam is the founder and director of Ashland Taiko and currently runs workshops and classes for children and adults. A past board member for Music EdVentures Inc. she is still active with the organization and keeps busy promoting the Song Works approach to music education.

Betty Phillips is retired but continues to work for the Corvallis School District after 31 years of teaching both Music K-5 and 1st and 2nd grades. She is a Lead Mentor for new teachers, facilitates the Elementary Music Team, provides professional development during the New Teacher Academy and will be presenting a workshop for ways to use music in the classroom this fall. She also substitutes for elementary music and elementary classroom. Being involved with Music EdVentures Inc. since its inception, she incorporates its principles and strategies in all aspects of her teaching, whether classroom or music, children or adults. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, golfing, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Tony Williamson taught K-5 music with the Gresham / Barlow School District for 18 of his 27 years teaching in Oregon. He has been a presenter at numerous teacherconferences, early childhood and district in-services, and is a charter and founding member of Music EdVentures Incorporated, a non-profit teacher education institute. Recently he has taught several music education courses with the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest. In his teaching he emphasizes using “song adventures” to create classroom community and sensitivity along with music and academic skills. Recently retired, Tony continues to enjoy gardening cooking biking, and just about anything Italian. He lives in Portland with his partner, Mark.

This workshop may be taken for training hours or for college credit. Cost is $20 for 8 training hours or $55 for college credit with completion of follow-up assignments.