About Prairie Winds Orff
The Prairie Winds Orff Chapter was founded in 1979 by Sister Millicent Hinds, Sister Jeanette Hinds, and Teri Fay. We are dedicated Orff Schulwerk teachers in North Dakota. Our goal is to explore ways to create, sing, move, and play our way into the hearts of children through the use of Orff Schulwerk!
Prairie Winds Orff Mission is:
Prairie Winds Orff Mission is:
- to demonstrate the value of Orff-Schulwerk and promote its use in North Dakota;
- to support the professional development of our members; and,
- to inspire and advocate for the creative potential of all learners.
2025-2026 Teacher Workshops and Events
Music and Nature - Rob DelGaudio
October 4, 2025
9:00-4:00
Location: Lewis and Clark Elementary
Mandan, ND
Connect music with the beauty and wonder of the natural world through the Orff-Schulwerk approach. Participants will explore engaging songs, Orff arrangements, and create ostinati, all inspired by nature’s rhythms and sounds. This session invites educators to bring the awe of nature into their teaching in a creative, musical way.
Rob DelGaudio is a composer and elementary music educator based in the New York City area.. He holds a B.M. and M.M. from Manhattan School of Music and Hofstra University and has completed Orff Levels training at Hofstra University, Villanova University, and George Mason University.
As the creator of Music With Mr. DelGaudio, a YouTube channel with over 20,000 subscribers, Rob shares original songs and engaging lesson ideas for music educators. He is also a graduate of the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Writing Program and serves as the creative director of his own theater company, Pancake Productions.
Beyond his work in music education and theater, Rob leads the Tarrytown Ukulele Jam and is the author of Music, a Barnes & Noble exclusive book.
October 4, 2025
9:00-4:00
Location: Lewis and Clark Elementary
Mandan, ND
Connect music with the beauty and wonder of the natural world through the Orff-Schulwerk approach. Participants will explore engaging songs, Orff arrangements, and create ostinati, all inspired by nature’s rhythms and sounds. This session invites educators to bring the awe of nature into their teaching in a creative, musical way.
Rob DelGaudio is a composer and elementary music educator based in the New York City area.. He holds a B.M. and M.M. from Manhattan School of Music and Hofstra University and has completed Orff Levels training at Hofstra University, Villanova University, and George Mason University.
As the creator of Music With Mr. DelGaudio, a YouTube channel with over 20,000 subscribers, Rob shares original songs and engaging lesson ideas for music educators. He is also a graduate of the prestigious BMI Musical Theatre Writing Program and serves as the creative director of his own theater company, Pancake Productions.
Beyond his work in music education and theater, Rob leads the Tarrytown Ukulele Jam and is the author of Music, a Barnes & Noble exclusive book.
Pop Music with Purpose: Orff-Schulwerk in the Now
with Sarah Jensen (½ day)
Rhythms that Reach: Compose, Create, Connect
with Dr. Abbie VanKlompenberg (½ day)
January 24, 2026
9:00-4:00
Location: Sunrise Elementary School
Bismarck, ND
with Sarah Jensen (½ day)
Rhythms that Reach: Compose, Create, Connect
with Dr. Abbie VanKlompenberg (½ day)
January 24, 2026
9:00-4:00
Location: Sunrise Elementary School
Bismarck, ND
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.
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.
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.
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