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Welcome to my website, come on in! Here you’ll find out how to play the frame drum, workshop dates & more!
Roots in Percussion
James Allen, a K-5 level 3 Orff certified music specialist was a featured presenter at the AOSA National conference in 2021, and the elementary headliner for the 2023 NYSSMA conference in Albany this summer.
James presents workshops to Orff chapters, school districts, universities, and state conferences, created a frame drum unit and presented a webinar for Musicplay.com, and wrote an article for "Reverberations" on frame drums. He also freelances as a percussionist.
James obtained a BFA from SUNY Purchase, a Masters in music performance from Yale, and a teaching certificate from CCSU.
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Experience
Meet James
A professional percussionist with experience from Broadway to reggae, James brings his passion for frame drumming and body percussion to his classroom as well as professional workshops. A performer, composer, and educator, James' drumming is a journey of creativity and global sonic experiences. Blending his formal education from SUNY Purchase, Yale, and CCSU with Orff, James will bring a dynamic experience to all who attend his workshops.
Accolades
24 Years teaching elementary music.
BFA: SUNY Purchase; MM: Yale; Teaching certificate: CCSU
Level 3 Orff trained.
Connecticut Orff treasurer, past membership secretary/member-at-large.
Published frame drum composer.
Workshop presenter: frame drumming/composition.
Percussionist for: Broadway tours, regional theater, orchestras, dance classes, jazz trios, reggae groups, Sephardic groups, and singers/songwriters.
Workshop dates.
Stay tuned for updates!
October 1st, 2022
Workshop for KESNE of New England (Kodaly)
October 8th, 2022
Workshop for St.Louis AOSA
October 16th, 2022
Presentation of Orff process to NAFME students @ University of Connecticut
October 26th, 2022
Presentation to music education students @ Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut
February 4th, 2023
Workshop for Reno AOSA
April 29th, 2023
Workshop for Evergreen AOSA
April 1st, 2023
Workshop for Little Rock AOSA
October 20th, 2023
Workshop for Chicago AOSA
February 3rd, 2023
Workshop for Kansas City AOSA
April 6th, 2024
Workshop for Little Rock AOSA
Past Dates.
August 2020
Body Percussion and Frame Drumming, Darien, Connecticut Music department
September 12th, 2020
Connecticut Chapter AOSA Snapshot Saturday workshop: "Wherever You Go, There's Your Drum!" Virtual
September 23rd, 2020
Workshop for MusicPlayonline: “Put it All Together: Frame Drums, Body Percussion, Composing, and Improvising!”
December 5th, 2020
Long Island American Orff-Schulwerk Association @ Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York "Frame Drums and Tubanos: Perfectly Orff"
October 1st, 2021
Body Percussion and Frame Drums @ Waterbury, Connecticut Music Department
October 16th, 2021
Workshop for Connecticut American Orff Schulwerk Association “Come Together As One As We Move, Create and Drum” @Hartt School of Music, West Hartford, Connecticut
November 2021
"Frame Drums: Perfectly Orff! "AOSA National Conference: Charleston, SC
January 20th, 2022
“Frame drums techniques in the Orff Classroom” Little Rock school district Zoom workshop
March 4th, 2022
“Frame Drums, Etc!” @ Waterbury, Connecticut school district
March 21st, 2022
Presentation of Orff process and frame drum techniques to music students @ Western Connecticut State University
March 31st 2o22
Connecticut Music Educators Association Frame Drums in the Music Classroom @ Hartford, Connecticut
April 3rd, 2022
International Sunday Sharing “Frame drums and Keetman Bricks” Virtual
April 13th, 2022
“Frame Drums, Etc!” @ Waterbury, Connecticut school district
April 14th, 2022
Presentation of Orff process and frame drum techniques to music students @ Central Connecticut State University
september 14th, 2022
Presentation of Orff process to CMEA chapter @ Hartt School of Music
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