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 Play-Party in Indiana
This article is an excerpt from Leah Wolford’s 1915 masters thesis, published as a book in 1958. She discusses her experiences at play parties in the first years of the 20th century.
Folk Songs of the Ozarks
Spurgeon writes about the background of folk music in the Ozarks region of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. He discusses collections of recorded and printed music from the region.
Focus on Reserach: In Search of Music in American Cultures
Campbell discusses how teachers may collect and use regional music in their classrooms.
Strings with Orff, It’s in the Score
Krumich talks about his middle school ensemble, called SCORE, made up of strings, choral singers, Orff instruments, and recorders.
Music, Drama, and Integrated Language Arts
The author discusses the development of drama skills in the elementary music classroom as part of a whole language approach to teaching.
Point-Counterpoint: Should Music Literacy Be the Primary Goal of Elementary Music Education
Echo readers share opinions on the role of music literacy in the elementary music classroom.
Joachim Matthesius, a Remembrance
One of the founders of AOSA, Joachim Mattesius, is remembered in testimonials from many of his friends in the Orff world.
Gold Rush Revels
Riddell discusses the songs of the California gold rush in 1849.
At Home with Carl Orff, July 28. 1971
In 1971, Loney interviewed Carl Orff about his compositions and the Schulwerk at Orff’s home in Bavaria.
Orff-Schulwerk: a Middle School Perspective
Tisbert says that Orff Schulwerk meets many of the developmental needs of preadolescent children because it fully engages students in the learning process.
Starting in the Middle
O’Reilley points out that Orff’s work at the Guntherschule was aimed at young adults. She says that middle school students thrive when Orff-Schulwerk is implemented at the middle school level.
A Conversation with Dee Coulter about Adolescence, Learning, and Schools
Gilpatrick interviewed nationally recognized eductional consultant, Dee Joy Coulter. Coulter discussed the increasingly early onset of adolescence.
Adapting Orff to Middle School
Vance shares teaching suggestions and discusses her success in using the Orff approach with middle school students.
Nature vs Nurture, Can a Male Vocal Model Provide Effective instruction at the Primary Level.
Funk discusses his use of falsetto in pitch matching instruction in the lower elemenatry school.
Focus on Research – Middle Level Education: Some Facts and Figures for the Music Educator
Conkling discusses some of the research in middle school education and shares research-based suggestions for working successfully with children at this age.
Children, Dance and Music Education in Bali
Green discusses her work in Bali, teaching English through music.