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.
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Extensions to articles published in The Orff Echo can be found in the AOSA Resource Library.
List of Orff Echo Articles
For the Classroom: Bill of Rights Rap
In this “For the Classroom” column, Gooden shows ways to teach a poem about the Bill of Rights
Canon Corner: Though He May Rage and Roar
A 3-part canon about winter’s cold.
The Life Cycle of a Folk Song
Burnett talks about how to teach a folk song meaningfully and across all ages from infant to senior citizen.
What does Orff Have to do with Real Music?
Neill points out that children must be actively involved in the music-making process for optimal learning to occur. He advocates the use of folk and historical musical materials in the Orff-inspired classroom.
Keith Bissell: Vanguard of Orff’s Schulwerk in North America
An interview with Bissell, a pioneer of Orff Schulwerk in Canada, that shows how OS was embraced as the approach was introduced into North America.
A Look at the Latest Research Resource: Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning
Robbins discusses the landmark 1992 publication, edited by Richard Colwell, and looks carefully at research in the Schulwerk.
Early Dance with Children
When teaching early (13th-18th century) dance, the author advocates choosing considering the original context of the dance as well as the appropriateness for the group.
The Orff Echo, Fall 1992
Focus Topic – Early Childhood. Articles in this issue include:
- Music Workshop for Mothers and Babies
- Dancing Daddies: Movement Classes
- If Things Go Wrong, Just Sing a Song: Music in the Kindergarten Classroom
- “Baby Play, Baby Sing”
- How Early Is Early?
- For the Classroom: Orff Schulwerk and Integrated Learning
- Focus on Research: What Happens in the General Music Class
The Frankfurter
Short and fun, this four part canon was shared in the “Canon Corner” section of the contents page in the Summer 1992 issue of The Orff Echo.
The Orff Echo, Summer 1992
Articles in this issue include:
- Martin Buber – Carl Orff: Theory of Mutuality and Schulwerk
- The Magic Carpet
- Rounds and Canons – Dance Them and Sing Them
- Focus on Research: Be True to the Nature of the Approach
- Don Martin (Mexican Children’s Song/Game)
- Hail to the Planets
The Wee Falorie Man
Traditional Irish canon shared in the “Canon Corner” section of the contents page in the Spring 1992 issue of The Orff Echo.
The Orff Echo, Spring 1992
Articles in this issue include:
- Body Music
- Teaching From Models: Speech
- Sing it With Signing
- Focus on Research: Resources for Teaching
- Producing “The Sea and Me”
- Music Programs: An Alternate Solution
Town and Farm
A four part canon shared from the “Canon Corner” section of the contents page in the Winter 1992 issue of The Orff Echo.
The Orff Echo, Winter 1992
Articles in this issue include:
- Tips to Recorder Players – Part 2; “Ours” is an Oral Tradition…”
- A Look at Concrete Poetry
- Music Experiences at the Beginning of Life
- Erich Katz – Carl Orff
- For the Classroom: “Forty-One Presidents”
The Orff Echo, Fall 1991
Articles in this issue include:
- Movement and Dance: Integrated Elements
- Remembering Gunild Keetman
- Regional Folklore: Untapped Source
- Editorial: On Winter Celebrations
- Tips to Recorder Teachers
- Autumn Leaves
- Music with the Visually Impaired
- For the Classroom: Man in the Moon
- Getting in Tune with Your Best Spirit
Sweet and Lovely
A 3-part canon that invites vocal improvisation from the “Canon Corner” section of the contents page in the Fall 1991 issue of The Orff Echo.