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
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.
Cultural Diversity in Music Education: The Road to Now
Raising global consciousness among Orff Schulwerk educators with respect to authenticity of repertoire and teaching approach.
Building Cultural Understanding Through Song
Suggestions for teaching songs in ways that promote musical authenticity while honoring the music of other cultures.
Glimpses at Genius: Keetman the Person, the Composer, the Improviser
This biography of Gunild Keetman focuses on her sense of humor and shyness, her dance compositions, and her life long accomplishments in education and as an improviser.
Through Technical Mastery and Composition, Keetman Re-imagined the Recorder
After a brief history of Keetman’s contributions to the Guntherschule, many applications of Keetman’s compositions for today’s classroom, drawing from Music for Children and supplemental books are presented, with a chronological list of her publications.
Keetman Employed Emerging Technology to Teach Children
Ketman’s work with children, from 1936-1962, includes the Berlin Olympic games, Bavarian Radio shows, TV, and films.
Finding Keetman
A touching story of pilgrimage to the home and burial site of Gunild Keetman.
Guild Keetman: Dates of Note in a Notable Life
A biographical photo journal of highlights of Keetman’s life, colleagues and accomplishments.
Keetman Remembered, Revered by AOSA Members
Colleagues write about Gunild Keetman: Carley, Gagne, Salzman, Frazee, Hamm, McCreary
Focus on Research: Discovering Interconnections between Music Description and Language Development
Flowers explores the connections between language and music with implications for teaching.
Folk Music of African American Culture Offers Perspective
Campbelle-Holman discusses the many threads that led to the African American culture and it’s music.
Sing Around the Dishpan
Goodkin interviews famous folk musician Jean Ritchie about her life and her music.
Portrait Series: Norm Goldberg and the Power of Music
Norm Goldberg has contributed to AOSA and Orff Schulwerk for nearly 40 years. This article is based on Hetrick’s interview with Goldberg.