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Who?
● Carol Orff is a German composer, conductor, author and
pedagogue. Carmina Burana (1937) and his contributions to
the music education field are among his greatest, most
well-known accomplishments. Likewise, Gunild Keetman
was a German composer, performer and teacher. Together,
the two German-natives created Orff Schulwerk (Orff Schoolwork).
Why?
● The Orff Schulwerk, or Orff Approach, was created to nourish the musicality of
children through elemental activities in music and movement.
What?
● Orff Schulwerk is a developmental approach in music education that builds
musicianship through active music making. Specifically, through singing, playing
instruments, speech, and movement. Key areas include:
○ Intellectual: Linear and intuitive intellectual capabilities, as well as
artistic knowledge and skill
○ Social: Artistic and leadership development through an ensemble
setting
○ Emotional: Avenues for non-verbal expression of emotions, release of
emotion and tension, enhancement of self-esteem
○ Aesthetic: Develop standards within styles being explored
● Common activities:
○ Imitation: Accurate replication (echo response of a given pattern)
○ Exploration: Guided experiences in applying suggested ideas
○ Improvisation: Exploration of original material through invention
○ Composition: Creation of original material
How?
● Practical uses of Orff Schulwerk include:
○ Expressing oneself through composition
○ Interacting with music making in multiple ways before learning to read
or write it
○ Utilizing improvisation to foster creativity
○ Exploring poems
○ Exploring other cultures
Advantages?
● Stimulating creative imagination
● Development of basic musicianship skills
● Recognition and use of strengths
● Fostering musicianship growth
Challenges?
● Difficulty improvising in a group setting
● Children won’t develop intonation
● Late exposure to written music
● Constant development of standards or “what is good”
○ Why should this matter?
American Orff-Schulwerk Association (2018). Carl Orff & Gunild Keetman. Retrieved
from https://aosa.org/about/orff-keetman/ (Links to an external site.)
American Orff-Schulwerk Association (2018). More on Orff Schulwerk. Retrieved from
https://aosa.org/about/more-on-orff-schulwerk/ (Links to an external site.)
American Orff-Schulwerk Association (2018). Watch children in Orff Schulwerk
classrooms. Retrieved from
https://aosa.org/about/what-is-orff-schulwerk/watch-children-inorff-schulwerk-classr
ooms/ (Links to an external site.)