Building Musicianship and More…In Every Learner
Releasing creativity that extends far beyond the music classroom, Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman conceived an approach to building musicianship in every learner through the integration of music, movement, speech and drama.
A Teaching Model for Optimal Learning
In Orff Schulwerk classrooms, children begin with what they do instinctively: play! Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally as students become confident, life-long musicians and creative problem solvers. The Orff approach to teaching is a model for optimal learning in 21st Century classrooms.
We recognize that these videos give just a glimpse of the Orff Schulwerk approach in action, and that there are many, many ways that educators across the country and around the world have used this approach to inspire students in different and equally unique ways.
Listen to More Orff Classrooms
With Orff Schulwerk, no classroom experience is ever the same. Listen to a few samples.
| “Rainy Day” by Izzy D | |
| The student composer created an original pentatonic melody for soprano recorder. Her peers shared the task to create an arrangement for the melody using: elemental form, interludes, bordun, complementary ostinati patterns, and instrumental sound-scape to support the melody. The class also created choreography for the final performance. | Chris Judah-Lauder Middle School Music Teacher Good Shepherd Episcopal School, Dallas TX  |
| “Water Come a Me Eye” | |
| While engaged in a world music unit students explored: body percussion patterns; melodic and rhythmic patterns; improvised rhythm patterns (cajón); 16th note subdivision (shaker); and a spontaneous improvised tag ending (steel drum soloist). | Dave Thaxton Music Teacher Diedrichsen Elementary School, Sparks NV  |
