Carl Orff, well known as a composer (e.g. Carmina Burana), was keenly interested in music education. In the early 1920's Orff and his colleagues experimented with his ideas and he also composed musical exercises and orchestrated songs published in five volumes, Musik für Kinder, between 1950 and 1954. In 1961, the Orff Institute was opened at the Mozarteum in Salzburg which trained new teachers in the Orff approach. Several Orff-Schulwerk Associations have been formed around the world.

Features

• Key concepts - amalgamation of langauge, music and movement
• Rhythm is a primary element
• Movement is important in expressing the power of rhythm
• Language is the natural point of departure in music education for beginners, generating musical rhythms
• Active participation and creativity are paramount. "Schulwerk" is schooling (in music) through working (through being active and creative)
  • Experience precedes concept.
  • Trust in the natural process of learning by discovery
  • Provide a fascinating and stimulating environment to experiment and build knowledge
  • Each child is given the opportunity to improvise.
• Instruments include wooden xylophones and metal glockenspiels (with removable bars), drums, sticks and bells. Eventually recorder is introduced.
• Non-competitive atmosphere
• Like we learn our language, students are directed into learning music by hearing and making music first, then reading and writing
• Child-centered, the learning sequence is based on the child's natural stages of development. This sequence is not rigidly predetermined but depends on the teachers' judgment as the students progress based on the Orff principles.

Publications

The Schulwek texts have been translated into 18 languages and are based on the traditional music and folklore of each country in which it is used.

Conferences. See: Music Conferences.

Information and Organizations

American Orff-Schulwerk Association
P.O. Box 391089
Cleveland, Ohio 44139-8089
Phone: (440) 543-5366
e-mail: hdqtrs@aosa.org
http://www.AOSA.org/

Carl Orff Canada
c/o Joe Berarducci, President
#107-3680 Banff Court
North Vancouver, B.C. V7H 2Y7
e-mail: jhj_berarducci@bc.sympatico.ca
http://www.orffcanada.ca/

• Australian National Council of Orff Schulwerk
• The Austrian "Förderer des Orff-Schulwerk" Society
• The Orff Schulwerk Society of Germany
• The Orff Society (UK)
• Pédagogie Musicale Orff

Updated July 18, 2000