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 Schulwerk: Vol. Three of his 8 Volume Autobiography, CARL ORFF/Documentation: His Life and Works
Professional Development Book Review: “The Blue Book,” translated by Margaret Murray offers a definition of Orff Schulwerk. It outlines Carl Orff’s meeting of historical figures through photos, stories, compositions, speeches and comments.
Jabuti the Tortoise
Children’s Book Review: Jabuti, the multi-colored tortoise, plays his flute to trick the animals in the rain forest into silly pranks. The tale originates from the oral traditions of the Amazon Tribes.
Rememberbing Nancy Ferguson
A shared memory of this significant contributor to Orff Schulwerk in the United States.
Mabela the Clever
Children’s Book Review: This picture book is an adaptation of a folktale from Sierra Leone, Africa. The story passes on tribal wisdom and moral to young children.
Focus on Research: Teaching Music to children in Times of Crisis
The authors surveyed music educators about teaching music in a time of crisis. The study looks at questions about changes in lesson plans/performance, the reasons for the changes, and how they encouraged students to express understanding of events through music.
Playing with Blocks
Using the OS Volumes and building materials (musical elements) teachers and students can create word games, movement, songs, and expand creativity.
Teaching an Instrumental Piece From the Volumes
The author explains how he chooses modalities of learning, conceptual learning, whole-to-part-to-whole, rearrangements and improvisation by using OS Volumes.
Mining for Gems: Working with Small Pieces and Fragments by Orff & Keetman
Small pieces and fragments from the Music for Children Volumes become spring-boards for something new. Models conceptual teaching and improvisation.
Creating a Partnership with the Volumes of Music For Children
The Music for Children Volumes can become a source of inspiration, for rearranging to suit your students’ abilities, needs, and finding musical balance through germ ideas and elemental ideas.
It Was Meant To Be – A Portrait of Barbara Grenoble, Part Two
An account of how Barbara Grenoble went from a public music teacher to private music Orff Schulwerk teacher?
Raising Confident Boys: 100 Tips for Parents & Teachers/Raising Confident Girls: 100 Tips for Parents & Teachers
Professional Development Book Review: Using both books side by side gives parents and teachers suggestions of how to structure learning and other topics to suit both boys and girls.
We’ll Be In Your Mountains, We’ll Be In Your Songs: A Navajo Woman Sings
Professional Development Book Review: A collaboration of a university professor and an indigenous Navajo teacher to preserve the culture. This is a celebration of Navajo music and culture. Book and CD
Will Standards Save Public Education?
Professional Development Book Review: A collection of essays about the role of standards in education.
Out of the Classroom: Towards Authentic Advocacy
The article is a reflection of why we teach music and a reminder to authentically promote music for its own sake.
Dough $, Re, Mi: A, B,C’s of Educational Fundraising
Good advice for soliciting funds for your music program. Offers positive suggestions for seeking out foundation grants.
This is Why I Am An Orff Teacher
A personal account of a music teacher experiencing poor music education and being transformed when observing an Orff class.