American Orff-Schulwerk Association - Music & Movement Education

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American Orff-Schulwerk Association
PO Box 391089
Cleveland, OH 44139-8089 USA
(440) 543-5366
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Through the eyes of Administrators-
The Value of Orff Schulwerk

William B. Stroud, Ed.D

The sixteen years that I served as an elementary principal provided me with many positive and lasting memories. Among the most rewarding was the good fortune to spend fifteen years in schools where students had a music program utilizing Orff Schulwerk. The benefits of this approach were immediately evident whenever I would walk into a music class regardless of the grade level. The students were actively engaged and could demonstrate they understood the concepts being taught. This was also true when the instruments were used to deepen the students’ understanding of the concepts being taught in Social Studies and other subjects. Students labeled as discipline problems, when engaged in Orff Schulwerk activities led by a trained caring teacher, were frequently transformed into the stars of school performances with renewed feelings of efficacy. A conference (National School Boards Association) which I recently attended featured the author Daniel Pink whose book, A Whole New Mind, describes preparing students for their future and not our past. In his book and presentation he describes the need to develop the left side of the brain as continuing to be necessary but not sufficient for the challenges of the future. The degree to which the right side of the brain is developed as a complement to the development of the left side will have a major impact on whether students will have the creativity needed to compete in a global economy and address future social issues. In his presentation he described how 50% of the incoming freshmen at Georgia Tech have strong music backgrounds. While it may not be possible to provide all students with a vocal or instrumental music background that prepares them for recitals, it is possible to provide them with an approach to music instruction that is engaging. The Orff Schulwerk approach to music instruction is engaging and has the potential to stimulate the development of student creativity and unlock a broad range of possibilities.

William B. Stroud, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Interim Co-Director Educational Leadership Program
St. John Fisher College
Rochester, New York

photo of Douglas Wilson

Douglas Wilson

A common result of public school education is a loss of creative thought. Orff Schulwerk encourages students to be creative and engages them in the creative process. Through Orff Schulwerk, creative thought is cultivated and honored. My dream is to move the creative thought from music to art, and into movement in physical education. The Orff Schulwerk philosophy can be the basis for creative writing, scientific thought, and math problem solving.

Douglas Wilson, Principal
Carolyn S. Reedom Elementary School
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV.

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