Memorial Tribute – Alan T. Price
It is with great sadness that I share with
you the news the Alan Price passed away to eternal life in March of this
year. Alan had retired and
moved to South Carolina in order to be near his son.
Alan served as the General Music Teacher at
Edgemont School in Montclair, New Jersey for over 25 years. He pioneered the infusion of Orff
Schulwerk within the established Montessori approach to education. This unique magnet school program,
along with the Edgemont Orff Ensemble helped to promote a joyful, creative
spirit of music-making.
While completing his Orff Teacher Training
Courses through the Ridgewood/Columbia University Summer Program, Alan received
a $10,000 grant from the Montclair Board of Education enabling him to furnish
his classroom with a huge collection of both pitched and unpitched
instruments. With Alan’s
encouragement, the district also extended an invitation to the Northern New
Jersey Chapter offering them the opportunity to relocate their Saturday
workshops to the district from their original location in Ridgewood. Edgemont School became a major
destination for teachers from throughout Northern New Jersey who sought out
both the excellent facility and terrific presenters each month.
Alan always had the gym prepared for
action, and provided the chapter with almost any instrument that a presenter
would ever need. His own sharing
sessions, including the presentation of the Edgemont Orff ensemble in concert,
were always exciting and interesting. One of the many highlights of his
teaching career included the performance of the Edgemont Orff Ensemble at the
1994 AOSA National Professional Development Conference in Philadelphia.
On a more personal note, Alan and I were
not only colleagues—but close friends as well. Alan felt that his attendance at AOSA National Conferences
was very, very important. I had the great opportunity to share a room with him
at many of them around the country. Alan and I also took our AOSA Teacher
Training Levels Courses together over three summers. We reflected often on the terrific instructors that we
studied with and the impact that these men and women had on our own
teaching. (These included Steve
Calantropio, Marilyn Davidson, Sue Snyder, Jacque Schrader, and Elaine
Larsen.) We shared family
memories, classroom stories and –of course, music!
Alan has departed this life---but he
surely leaves members of the Northern New Jersey Chapter with fond memories of
his love of music and the children of Edgemont School who were blessed to have
shared music with him.
The Executive Board Members of the NNJOSA
Chapter have decided to honor Alan’s memory in a special way by making a
donation to the AOSA TAP Fund—which helps to supply Orff instruments to schools
with unique financial needs.
Knowing Alan’s special love of the instrumentarium, this donation will
help to keep his legacy alive through music.
Should you wish to contribute to the total
chapter gift, donations will be accepted at the first chapter workshop on
September 24th, or you can mail a check (payable to NNJOSA) to our
chapter Treasurer: Natalie Ernstes
– 252 Lakeview Drive –Newton, NJ
07860.
Thomas R. Charsky, Vice-President -NNJOSA
- Refreshments at NNJOSA Chapter Workshops
Please note that our chapter has always had a tradition of having refreshments at each workshop throughout the year. Coffee and tea, as well as paper products and other items (sugar, milk, etc.) have been provided from chapter funds. The chapter funds were never used to purchase food for refreshments but only for workshop expenses directly related to clinicians. Traditionally, the Chapter Executive Board has provided food items for the first workshop and other members of the chapter were encouraged to bring food items for the refreshment table at all other workshops. In the past, the chapter had utilized a sign-up list for members who wish to notify us in advance that they will bring an item for the next workshop. Recently, the number of people taking advantage of this has declined and many of the same members are always providing the refreshment items when they attend workshops. The Executive Board feels strongly that past traditions such as this should not simply cease to exist. The Schulwerk brings us together for musical sharing and the refreshment break gives us a change to gather socially-for sharing of other musical and school related ideas.
Effective with the Spring, 2010 workshops the policy for refreshments will be as follows:
1. The chapter will continue to offer both coffee and tea as in the past.
2. Any chapter member who comes to a workshop is most welcome to bring ONE item for the refreshment table to share during the break.
3. Items that you bring should be ready to serve – e.g. bagels already cut; cheese pieces and crackers; bakery items (doughnuts, coffee cake, etc.) that are ready to serve. A small portion (e.g. 6 bagels or mini-bagels) will be plenty—so that leftovers can be kept to a minimum. Both healthy items (as well as the other kind!) are welcome.
4. Whatever comes in will be served. If no items come in, then coffee and tea will still
be available.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
