The Orff Echo is the national, peer-reviewed quarterly journal and philosophical voice of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. Our mission is to demonstrate the value of Orff Schulwerk and promote its widespread use; to support the professional development of our members; and to inspire and advocate for the creative potential of all learners. Non-members may contact the editor for information.
Interested in writing for The Orff Echo? Check out how to get involved in the process:
Extensions to articles published in The Orff Echo can be found in the AOSA Resource Library.
List of Orff Echo Articles
Orff Explorations in the Basque Region
How Orff Schulwerk educators can engage students in exploring the language of Euskara, discovering cultural connections through games, practicing improvisation and technique, and participating in expressive, choreographed movement activities.
Singing Is, Afterall, Storytelling
Case study on integrating children’s literature with music instruction.
Be Silly: Embracing Humor and Play in the Music Classroom
Humor and playfulness in classroom management and instruction can support a positive classroom community and deeper relationships with individual students.
ABC and you and me
Children’s Book Review: Picture book inspires creative lessons resulting in engaging movement.
Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington
Children’s Book Review: Picture book explores the life of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.
Remembering AOSA Luminaries
Various AOSA members pay tribute to the legacy of AOSA experts whose work still resonates.
Being Norma Jean Swaisgood: Self as Instrument
Reflection on impactful teachers and how they affected the author’s choice of career and a call for all current educators to realize their influence on their students.
Mindfulness: Tools for Educators Teaching the Orff Schulwerk Process
The author introduces readers to the seven pillars of mindfulness, and gives applications for how they can be utilized in the classroom to support Orff Schulwerk processes.
To Be, To See, and Be Free
Explore the world of sound through Orff Schulwerk. Discover the power of movement, music, and silence in nurturing children’s creativity and connection to the universe.
Radical Being: Existing Freely in the Music Classroom
Explore the transformative power of “radical being” in education, rooted in queer theory. Embrace active cognizance, vulnerable reflection, and unconditional love to dismantle barriers and foster belonging. Connects seamlessly to Orff Schulwerk.
The Power of Observation to Foster Cultural Responsiveness
Being present and aware while teaching, engaging in the 5 R’s of reflexivity, can help educators adjust their lessons to engage in culturally responsive teaching.
Advocating for Emergent Bi/Multilingual Students
Discover how to support emergent bilingual and multilingual students in music education through the Orff Schulwerk approach. Explore strategies for engaging linguistically diverse learners and fostering inclusive classrooms.
Spinning Webs of Connectivity in Orff Schulwerk and Guinean Drumming
In this article, Yeshima details their experiences with Guinean drumming, its traditions, and how these experiences reflect what it means to grow in the Schulwerk.
Reflecting on Professional Growth
Reflecting on personal growth, the author details what it has looked like at multiple stages during his time as an Orff Schulwerk practitioner, as well as provides resources that are helpful for Orff practitioners who endeavor to reflect on professional growth.
What Does Orff Schulwerk Mean to You?
Explore the personal journey of self-reflexivity in the Orff Schulwerk approach. Discover how individual perspectives and life experiences shape this unique music education philosophy.
Creative Exploration: Improvisation and Composition with Primary Elementary Students
Explore how primary-age students engage in music composition using movement, instrumental expression, listening, iconic notation, and arts integration. Discover their creative growth and musical exploration.