Orff- Schulwerk

1. Orff-Schulwerk By: Kelly Leyba

2. Approach • Early 19th century Germany • “Pedagogy to organize elements of music for children through speaking, playing, and dancing.” • Puts basic musical elements into small forms to make music manageable for small children • Songs • patterns • Based on personal experience • Believed that integrating music and movement was fundamental to the learning processes

3. Music Lessons • Characteristics • Performing • Listening • Improvising • Analyzing • Emphasis on feeling musical elements • Ostinati • short pattern of notes which is repeated many times • Used this accompaniment for singing and movement • Simple instruments for children’s expression

4. Creativity • Creativity is central to Orff-Schulwerk’s model of music pedagogy • It is important that the teacher facilitates creativity • His plan allows for multiple kinds of original work • Teacher should be prepared to • Help students notate the music they create • Evaluate what music is produced • Relate their creative efforts to learning musical form and style

5. Criticism • Orff-Schuwerk’sapproach is often criticized for lack of structure BUT • The open and flexible nature of his instruction aligns well with Technology-based music instruction • Acknowledges a need for understanding musical elements without attempting to overrun students brains with procedural knowledge • A precise structure could be destructive to the nurturing of creative elements