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
Focus on Research: A Research Base
New research validates an integrated curriculum of music and reading in specific areas: learning transfer, engagement, aural discrimination, and visual discrimination.
The Orff Practicioner as Language Arts Teacher
Guided experiences in listening, speaking, singing, playing, moving, and creating all contribute to mastery of language in its written and oral complexity.
Orff Process Successful in Teaching Students with Special Needs
Music therapist/music teacher, Marti Bessinger discusses her success using the Orff approach both with students with and those without disabilities.
Orff Schulwerk Helps Uncover, Express, and Heal Emotional Conflicts
Bondruke is a practiciing music psychotherapist who uses Orff Schulwerk principles in her work with children.
A-Tisket A-Tasket
Children’s Book Review: This picture book, with a diverse group of characters, features Ella Fitzgerald’s song and bold illustrations by Ora Eitan, brings the chase game to life. Opportunities exist for jazz history, syncopation study, movement and women’s history.
Adaptation is the Fifth Component of the Schulwerk
Kaplan discusses the need for adaptation with students of various disabilities, levels of functioning, strengths, and needs.
Older Adults Respond to the Orff Approach
The article examines the physical and social aspects of music therapy in a geriatric setting from an Orff perspective.
An Orff Approach to Music Therapy
Colwell explains that the Orff approach is an exciting possibility for practicing music therapists.
Portrait Series: Avon Gillespie Enlarged, Enlivened the Schulwerk
Goodkin discusses the work and influence of the late African American Orff Teacher, Avon Gillespie. Includes an interview with Gillespie by Marie Blaney. Reprinted from the Fall 1989 issue of the Echo.
Orff Schulwerk Background Helpful in Teaching a Musical Savant
University voice teacher, Greg Rike, discusses his work with a 50 year-old musical savant and how his Orff training has informed with their journey together.
Reaching Students with Special Needs Through the Orff Approach
Music therapist, Anita Gadberry, discusses her use of the Orff approach with her clients with developmental disabilities. Gadberry specializes in children and adolescents with autism.
When the Sky Is Like Lace
Children’s Book Review: Picture book telling the tale of enchanted nighttime rituals dreamt in the mind of a child using vivid, whimsical text that draws the reader into the strangeness of the night.
The Dot
Children’s Book Review: This picture book by Peter Reynolds tackles fear of failure in a way that invites both children and adults to overcome their perceived limits.
From the Classroom: Sifting Through a World of Music
Abril advocates for taking care when selecting music for the classroom. Be aware of implicit and explicit evidence of cultural, ethnic, or gender bias and consult with individuals of the culture to determine how the music represents their culture.
Hope for Our Children: Sharing the Migrant Experience Through Music
Strategies to address the educational, social, and developmental needs of Latin American migrant children in the Orff Schulwerk classroom.
Multicultural and World Music in AOSA as Reflected in The Orff Echo: 1968-2002.
An overview of articles pertaining to multicultural and world musics published in The Orff Echo, 1968-2003.