Rob Amchin Goes to China!

Rob Amchin has been writing books for Beatin' Path Publications since 1997. His titles include, Recorder Frolics, Alto Antics, Moods & Modes, Spring Songs, Autumn Songs and a currently underway project with the working title, Mixed Pickles. He's taught many times overseas including courses and workshops in Russia and Poland. This week he's in China with his wife Deb touring and presenting Orff workshops for the teachers there.

Rob was an invited presenter to the National Conference on Art Education for Rural Children in China. He gave three 6-hour presentations focusing on fundamental strategies in Schulwerk pedagogy. The conference took place in Xining, the capital of Qinhia Province in Central China from July 27-29, 2012. The Qinghai Normal Universtiy hosted the event. The 150 participants sang, folk danced, sang, improvised using movement, body percussion and instruments, made new discoveries using their own poetry and children's games, created new choreographies to music by Handel and Saint-Saëns, while learning the fundamental pedagogical goals of Orff teaching.

Rob taught a children's group as part of the event. Rob's wife, Deb, helped in giving short lectures on early childhood, Montessori, and children's singing voice. As a closing activity, participants shared their native folk songs and children's games and sang Viva la Musica.

This is Rob's second trip to China and he's hoping to return annually to plant the seeds for more Orff studies for the teachers there. There is a wide interest in Orff teaching and Rob's hoping to help it's development in China.
Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Great News and New Products

Drum It Up! a great new book by Sandy Lantz and Gretchen Wahlberg should arrive any day now. Pre-orders have been coming in and folks are really going to be pleased with this new book. Sandy and Gretchen's conference sessions and level courses have been hugely popular for many years and the activities in this book are the best of the best activities for drums of all kinds in the elementary music classroom. The extra bonus in this book are the extensive lesson plans written in a beautiful, sequential, easy-to-understand style using the Orff process.

The newest publication from Beatin' Path is well underway. Steven Kennedy, a native of New Orleans and lead music teacher at the Wilson Charter School in New Orleans, is writing a new marimba book of original tunes and arrangements of songs from New Orleans. These tunes echo the grooves of music legends, Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Buddy Bolden, and John Boutte. It also includes some widely known folk tunes associated with New Orleans like, "When the Saints go Marching in" and "Great Big House in New Orleans." Steve is hard at work on this new volume and we expect it to go to press in just a few weeks. Check back here for more news!

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Free Stuff on Judy Sills' Website

There's some treasure to be found in them thar hills friends...  A pretty well kept secret is ready to see the light of day. Buried deep in the Beatin' Path website is a new FREE collection of activities, songs for elementary music classes with Orff process and complete lesson plans.  Free Web Songs is a pdf file that can be downloaded and printed on your own printer.

Download free songs and lesson plans here.

Judy used this as a free testing ground for new materials that she has presented at workshops and level courses both in the USA and Canada.  Some of these materials may find their way into publications in the future, some may stay free forever!  All of these songs have full Orff orchestrations and full lesson plans written by a true Orff master teacher. 

All of these songs and activities are previously unpublished. Judy says,  "Help yourself!"

Download Free Web Songs by Judy Sills 

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Jon Madin's First Book, Marimba Music 1 Now Available!

Marimba Music 1 (book/CD) is a collection of easy pieces for diatonic marimbas, xylophones and other instruments. Each piece has simple and more challenging parts. All pieces have been extensively classroom tested and are suitable for children aged 8 to adults.

Included is a professionally produced audio CD of complete performances of each song.  The arrangements are suitable for movement, listening, or playing along. View and listen to a preview on his website.

http://www.beatinpathpublications.com/JMadin/home.html

Marimba Music 1 was first published in Australia in 1994 and has proven it’s value over and over.  During Jon Madin’s visit to the USA in 1997, this book along with several of his following publications were introduced.  They have been available on a limited basis in North America but now Beatin’ Path Publications is the publisher and distributor in North America for all of Jon Madin’s wonderful publications for elementary school music classes. To see all of his publications visit his website.

I was lucky enough to attend Jon's sessions at the Seattle AOSA conference in 1997 and was completely won over by his friendly, inclusive style of teaching.  I immediately came back to my home school and began to make marimbas and play these wonderful songs.  I've helped build 16 Aussies and Bass Marimbas since that wonderful conference.  I recommend this as well as his other fine books.


Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Marimba Music 1 Now Available from Beatin' Path Publications, LLC

The long wait is over!  Jon Madin's very first book of marimba tunes for kids is now available from Beatin' Path Publications.  Since Jon decided to distribute his books in North America with us, his six  books have come online one at a time.  They are all now available for music teachers all over the country.

Marimba Music 1 is full of great tunes with complete lesson plan suggestions.  Some of the tunes are songs that are accompanied with marimbas, some are instrumentals for dancing.  I used this book and Marimba Music 2 as 'go to' materials during my career at Stewart Middle school ever since I saw and met Jon in 1997 at the Seattle national Orff conference.  Talk about a life changer! Jon is an incredible teacher, inventor and writer and his work made a huge difference in my teaching.  This one, as well as his other 5 books, are well worth checking out.

http://www.beatinpathpublications.com/JMadin/home.html

Marimba Music - 1 (Book/CD) - is a collection of easy pieces for diatonic marimbas, xylophones and other instruments. Each piece has simple and more challenging parts. All pieces have been extensively classroom tested and are suitable for children aged 8 to adults. Each piece has extensive suggestions for lesson plans and includes instrumentals, songs, and dances.

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

New Releases and New Projects at Beatin' Path

Well, Drum It Up, that fantastic new book of drumming activities is off to the printer this morning.  Sandy and Gretchen are ecstatic with the birth of this new 'baby.' Both of these fine musicians have been teaching for 25 years+, have lead workshops and sessions nationally and at the state level, and are very highly regarded as Orff Levels Instructors.  They've finished their first opus and are looking forward to publishing more of their tried and true classroom tested material.  Look for much more from this dynamic duo!

Meanwhile, Steven Kennedy, lead music teacher at the Andrew Wilson Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana, is in the midst of a brand new project for his marimba ensemble.  He's arranged and composed 10 tunes from the heritage of New Orleans music.  With such a rich cultural tradition to draw from, his capture of the essence of New Orleans music and it's application to his school kids will be a wonderful addition to the collection of Orff music for marimbas.

The highlight of this new collection is the Treme Song by John Boutte.  This great tune was used on the recent HBO TV hit "Treme." Mr. Boutte has graciously allowed Steve to arrange the tune for his kids and include in this book.  I can't wait to see how it will be received.  It should be a fun piece to play.

We'll work this summer to finish this project and hopefully release the book with a CD in early September.  Stay tuned!


Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com