Hotel Tips:

• Stay at the “official” hotels.  AOSA works hard to negotiate the best rates possible.  Even though there may be other hotels available, you may end up paying for transportation or walking long distances at late hours.  Besides, this is a great opportunity to stay at top level hotels at motel prices.

• Not only is graduate credit available at a reasonable cost, certification renewal credit is offered for even less.  Be sure to check with your school district if you require pre-approval for renewal credits.

• Shuttle services to the hotels may be cheaper than taxis. Often, if you purchase a round-trip shuttle ticket, it is even cheaper.  Be sure to call the shuttle company the day before leaving conference and reserve your spot on the return shuttle.

• Check-out can take some time, so be sure to allow enough time to arrive at the hotel entrance at least five minutes before your scheduled shuttle departure time.  Allow extra time to get to the airport as the shuttle often makes stops at several hotels which can take extra time.

Sessions:

• If you are new to Orff Schulwerk, take advantage of Introduction to Schulwerk (IS) on Thursday.  This multi-session class is designed to give you a “taste” of the Schulwerk.  Recorder, movement, singing and instrument playing are all included.  Registration is limited to the first 90 people.

• Conference and hotel meeting room spaces often define the number of people who can comfortably attend a session.  These sessions are “ticketed.”  Your registration form is your ticket.  Session monitors do not permit attendance without the proper ticket.

• Register early to get your first choice in sessions.
 
• Many sessions are repeated so they can easily fit into your schedule.

• Look for key words in session descriptions such as “early childhood,” “recorder,” “assessment,” etc.

• Don’t be afraid to sign up for a session even though you have never heard of the presenter.  Not all presenters publish their materials commercially.

• Although there are four session times on Thursday and Friday, you may only sign up for three sessions.  The fourth time will be for exhibits or showcase/exhibits.  Get pre-approved purchase orders from your school so that you can take advantage of bargains on the exhibit floor.

• Check your AOSA Membership Directory and Resource Guide prior to attending conference so you can be sure that exhibitors are on your school district’s pre-approved purchase order list.

• Several exhibitors have their authors or representatives present “showcase sessions.”  These sessions, while promoting materials available for purchase, are presented by prestigious authors and composers.  Showcase sessions are located close to the exhibit hall and do not take the entire 90 minutes, so there is built in time to visit the exhibits.

• If you are attending with a friend, don’t schedule yourselves for the same sessions.  Divide and conquer; then share.

• Besides workshop-type sessions, there are also sessions on research and discussions on hot topics:  Meeting of the Minds and President’s Panel.  The topics will be listed in the conference book.

• Maps of the Convention Center and hotels are located in the back of the conference book.  Each night, map out your route so you know how to find your way around the next day.  Write your room numbers on your registration sheet so you can find your next room easily.

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