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
Folk Songs are Valuable Teaching Tools
Woody discusses reasons to use folk songs in the Orff classroom.
The Orff Approach in Creating a Wayang
This article recounts Schuck’s experience helping her students in Stuttgart, Germany create a Wayang- a Chinese opera.
Dia de Muerte: Day of the Dead, a Lively Celebration
The Day of the Dead celebrations, associated with the Christian celebration of All Saints day, are prevalent in Mexico and Hispanic families and culture groups througout North America.
Hurry, Flurry
A four-part canon about winter based on a melody by Johannes Brahms.
Blues Journey
Children’s Book Review: Illustrated children’s book featuring the poetry, art, and history of the blues. The reader can musically trace the lines of African American history through modern urban life.
Folk Song Bibliography
A short list of Spurgeon’s favorite folk songs for teaching children.
Traces of Paradise in Traditional Hawaiian Music
Hawaiian music teacher, Linda Weyman describes the Polynesian origins, dance-accompanied chanting, and other traditions, that are the foundations of Hawaiian folk music.
Orff Process and Performance Changes College-student Attitudes
Trenfield recounts her experiences as a college music education methods teacher using the Orff approach to help her students prepare a program presented to an elementary school audience.
The Creative Process Reflected in Nature
Shultz discusses the legacy of the writings of Arnold Burkhart, first president of AOSA, and John Holt, author of several books on educational reform in elementary educatiion. Both called for a change in the schools from content to process.
The Rote Song: Does One Size Fit All?
Gault talks about teaching rote songs in the elementary music classroom, citing research on song acquisition by children. He also discusses his own research project on two ways to teach a song.
Don’t Let Science Bug You
The author relates how she was able to emphasize science in her music classroom.
Touching Eternity: The Enduring Outcomes of Teaching
Professional Development Book Review: This book embraces a view of teaching as a humanistic and artistic endeavor. Aimed at researchers and the scholarly community.
Abiyoyo Returns
Children’s Book Review: The sequel to the original title, this children’s book features the lullaby song of the Xhosa people of South Africa and the message of kindness and cooperation while providing opportunities to meet multiple musical objectives.
Piano Improvisation Develops Musicianship
Kertz-Welzel writes about the importance of improvisation at the piano. Carl Orff said the ideal piano improviser should “get ears on his fingers.”
The Schulwerk, Early Music, and Renewal
Andrews discusses the relationship of the early music revival in the early 20th century and the Schulwerk. Orff and Keetman were greatly influenced by this music and included it in their work at the Guntherschule.
Translating Balinese Music from Gamelan to Orff Ensemble
Harnish discusses the Gamelan ensemble of Bali. In 1997 he arranged some simple Balinese pieces for Orff ensemble. The article discusses that process.