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
Copyright: The Complete Guide for Music Educators – Alfred Pub. Co. 1998
Professional Development Book Review: An overview of the principle of copyright and a short history of copyright law.
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.
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.
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.
From Childhood to Adulthood: Our Legacy Speaks
A collection of interviews with adults who experienced Orff Schulwerk students as children.
Orff Schulwerk in an Elementary School: An Administrator’s Point of View
This administrator has seen first-hand what Orff Schulwerk can do for students. Communication between the music educator and the administrator is vital.
Into Different Worlds: What Improvising and Composing Can Mean to Children
A research project with fourteen 12-year old students who experienced improvisation and composition for 21 weeks.
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?