January Workshop

Name: January Workshop
Start: 2026-01-24T09:00:00-06:00
Location: Sunrise Elementary School

Schedule

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026 at 09:00 am

UTC-06:00

Location

Sunrise Elementary School | Bismarck, ND

Come join us on Saturday, January 24th, for a day with two excellent presenters. Register online at https://www.prairiewindsorff.com/membership.html
Sarah Jensen has taught Prek-5th grade music at Saint Anne School in Bismarck for the past 23 years. She earned her Orff Levels through the University of Mary and would encourage anyone and everyone to give it a try! Sarah is a Suzuki Classical Guitar instructor as well as a Suzuki Prenatal and Baby Music Certified. She took Kodály level 1 and 2 training at the University of Mary in 2024/2025. She has also contributed to the Quaver Music curriculum and served as a Advisory Board Member for 10 years. After school, she teaches at the University of Mary a Movmement and Music class for General Education students and teaches guitar and ukulele classes. Sarah has an obsession with glitter and can be found in her glitter room making sparkle pens for friends or hanging with her awesome husband and 4 kids after work.
Pop Music with Purpose: Orff Schulwerk in the Now
Discover the power of popular music in the Orff Schulwerk classroom! This dynamic workshop explores how pop songs can be the perfect vehicle for teaching core musical concepts, strengthening ear training, encouraging improvisation, and building meaningful connections with your students—and that’s just the beginning. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to arrange student-relevant music using Orff instruments in creative, accessible ways. Walk away with fresh material, renewed inspiration, and the confidence to craft your own engaging arrangements that meet your students where they are and challenge them to take a step further.

Abigail Van Klompenberg is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota), where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Dr. Van Klompenberg also supervises student teachers in Minnesota and North Dakota, including placements in elementary general music classrooms and secondary performing ensembles. Before teaching at the collegiate level, she taught K-12 general music and choir in Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, and Kentucky. She completed Orff Levels training at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas). She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early-Middle Childhood (Vocal Music).
Rhythms that Reach: Compose, Create, Connect
The Orff Schulwerk is a natural path to develop social and emotional awareness in the music classroom. This session explores how rhythm, movement, and creative music- making can support social-emotional learning and trauma-informed teaching. Participants will engage with activities that encourage cooperation, self-regulation, and
empathy through composition, musical performance, and movement. Together, we’ll discover ways to create meaningful, inclusive musical experiences that support the whole child.