The Orff Echo Editorial Board is soliciting articles for the Fall 2026 issue. The featured topic is “Why: Motivation.” The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2025.
Motivation is at the heart of every decision we make as teachers. In Orff Schulwerk-inspired classrooms, understanding why we teach the way we do drives us to create meaningful, engaging, and joyful learning experiences for our students. The “why” shapes how we approach our students, the music we select, and the creative processes that unfold. In essence, our “why” influences not only how we motivate our students, but how we sustain our own passion and commitment to our students and our craft.
We invite various types of submissions such as: (1) philosophical and theoretical work reflecting the application of Orff Schulwerk; (2) interpretation and adaptation of Orff and Keetman’s pedagogical techniques for music and other teachings; (3) empirical and/or historical research related to Orff Schulwerk; (4) articles that support AOSA’s diversity statement. We remind potential contributors, lesson plans are reserved for Reverberations articles.
For the “Why: Motivation” issue, we invite writers to consider the following questions:
- What motivates you to teach through the Orff Schulwerk approach, and how do you connect with your “why” in your daily practice?
- How might we help students discover their own “why” for learning, creating, and expressing themselves through music?
- In what ways can we explore intrinsic motivation as a means to empower students as independent, creative musicians?
- How do we keep our own motivation alive, especially in times of challenge or uncertainty?
- What does it mean to be motivated by a sense of purpose, community, or social responsibility in the Orff Schulwerk-inspired classroom?
- How does reflecting on our “why” help us create more inclusive, responsive, and supportive environments for all learners?
In addition to feature-length articles, the editorial board seeks shorter-length contributions. These are accessible opportunities for individuals to share windows and insights into Orff Schulwerk professional practices, contexts, and history. These short-form spotlight pieces (500–1,000 words) are reviewed and published on a rolling basis.
Please contact Erika Knapp ([email protected]), Christa Jones ([email protected]), or Kelly Poquette ([email protected]) with submissions or questions regarding the Fall 2026 issue, “Why: Motivation.” For general questions about The Orff Echo, send inquiries to Linda Hines ([email protected]). Articles can be submitted through the Echo Articles Submission Form at bit.ly/echosubmission.