THE ORFF METHOD:

HISTORY
The Orff Method, created by Carl Orff, is a way of teaching
children music that engages their whole self, physically and
mentally. It is a mixture of dancing, singing, using percussion
instruments and, at times, acting. This method values the role of
play and movement while learning different concepts. Also known
as Orff-Schulwerk (literally translated to school work, in regards
to the area of music) or Music for Children, this method was first
developed in the early 1920s with the help of Gunild Keetman.
However, other theories state that Mary Wigman, a student of
Emile Jaques-Delacroze, who was also very influential in music
education, also assisted Orff in developing this method. Although
these two methods are similar, they differ because of the use of
percussive instruments in Orffs method.
In 1924, Carl Orff joined together with another teacher and
created the Guenther School, which focused on gymnastics,
dance and music. They believed that music, dance and speech
work together, rather than being separate ideas. Orff called this
elemental music, which referred to the speech, music and
movement created by children who had no special training. More
simply, the children did these actions without really thinking
about them.
Children have the ability to find their own rhythms and dances
used in response to music. This is considered one of the starting
points of this method, when Orff and Guenther began this
movement in Berlin. However, because of World War II, these
plans and ideas were put on hold until 1948, when a German
Broadcasting Authority persuaded Orff to continue his efforts in
music education.

Since the 1950s, Orff-Schulwerk has taken root in many

classrooms across North America and has become a regular
teaching method when it comes to Music Education. This method
encourages students to become active in their learning because
the classroom becomes a place of meaningful activity. In a sense,
students become in charge of their own learning because of the
amount of activity and movement used in this method.
Improvisation plays a major role in the Orff method, which allows
students to be confident in the music they are creating, since it is
flexible and adaptive to their abilities.
A goal for teachers using this method is to created musically
self-sufficient students (Exploring Orff. Steen, Arvida), which is
done by allowing students the independence needed to explore
music and their ideas. Because improvisation and participation is
encouraged in the Orff method, students have a greater sense of
ownership, since it is their classmates and them that create the
music. The classroom then becomes a place of excitement and
fun, rather than traditional lecturing lessons. However, it is still
important to focus on teaching and learning, rather than solely on
the fun our students are enjoying.
The Orff-Schulwerk method is a way to encourage learning in a
music classroom through movement, dancing, singing, body
percussion and other percussion instruments. It allows children to
think creatively and freely through the use of improvisation. This
method could greatly influence students appreciation and
knowledge of music through non-traditional teaching methods.
BIOGRAPHY
Carl Orff
July 10, 1895 March 29, 1982

Carl Orff was a German composer who is best known for his
composition, Carmina Burana, and his work in music education.
Orffs 1937 piece, Carmina Burana, was very popular with the
Nazi Germans when it was first premiered in Frankfurt. It was
performed many times and Orff became a favorite of Hitler.
Surprisingly, he quickly rose to the status of being one of the top
composers in the Third Reich. Because of the Nazis support, Carl
Orff is a rags to riches story, since he was very poor before
Carmina Burana was made famous. Before composing this
masterpiece, Orff spent his time editing 17th century operas.
Throughout his success with composing music, he was also know
for his Schulwerk method, which taught children about music
through singing, dancing and other actions. Again, very
surprising, Orff created this method, targeted at the Hitler Youth
Movement.
Despite his dark past during the war years, Orff continued to
develop one of the most successful, worldwide-known music
educating techniques that is widely used today. His method is
used to teach children about music, rhythm and tone use
activities that include: singing, dancing, body percussion, nonpitched percussion, recorders, movement and various other
elements. Before his involvement with the Nazis and composing,
Orff was one of the founders of the Guenther School (1924),
which focused on movement and music. It was here that he
began formulating ideas of how children learned when these two
elements were combined.
Orff is possibly best remembered for his methods called
Schulwerk, which means schoolwork, which was developed
together with Gunild Keetman. Keetman was originally more
involved with the actual teaching than Orff was. Schulwerk was
first a collection of pieces written for the children at Guenther
School. It was also called Musik fr Kinder (Music for Children).

These pieces of music were simple compositions, which could be

learned and performed by children at varying skill levels. Orff and
Keetmans work was made popular in Germany in the 1950s by
the use of radio and television broadcasts, which then turned into
a global concept in music education.
Today, Carl Orff seems to be remembered for two important parts
of his life: the composition of Carmina Burana and his influence in
music education, through the use of his Orff-Schulwerk method.
METHOD
The Orff Method is a very broad approach to music education, as
there are many different ways to teach in this way. Students will
learn music through singing, dancing, chanting, using percussive
instruments, acting and moving. There are many different
resources such as books, cds, and dvds that are helpful in
creating lessons, however, there is no set curriculum for the OrffSchulwerk method. Teachers have the opportunity to create their
own lessons based on the age and skill of their classes.
This method is not only used with children in classrooms.
Recently, it has been used with seniors, hospital patients
(palliative) and other teaching situations, such as private lessons
and in churches. Carl Orff wanted his method to instill musical
creativity in whoever participated in this method. In the Orff
method, students of any age are encouraged to learn music in a
new and creative way, rather than solely focusing on the notes
and rhythms. Students learn through exploring, improvising and
doing, which may be a foreign concept to some music educators.
It is important to remember that in the Orff-Schulwerk method,
no child is left out. Participation is key!
When learning a new song, students can begin by speaking the

words. By doing this, they will get the basic rhythm of the lyrics.
After they have a good handle on this, the singing of notes should
come more naturally. It should be noted that the students voices
are their instruments, which is another important part of the Orff
Method. Also, non-pitched percussive instruments can be added,
creating a more rounded experience to a particular song. The use
of instruments allows children to express themselves freely
through improvisation. Songs are not the only resource teachers
can use, poems and stories also work very well. By using a book,
the teacher can first read it to the class. After it has been read,
students can come up with sound effects that will occur every
time something repeatedly happens in the story, for example, a
door shutting or someone tip-toeing across the floor. Various
sound effects can be associated with different events through out
the story or poem. Also, if there are words that are repeated
often, a little song can be connected with this part of the story.
(See example in Music, Fun & Song: A Collection of Elementary
Music Resources, pg. 10). These particular parts can be notated
on a poster or on the chalk/whiteboard so students can see where
their part fits in. Associating visual cues may be helpful to some
students, for example, a foot stomp may be noted with X and a
finger snap could be *. This notation needs to be simple enough
for the children to understand quickly so they are not getting
caught up in trying to decipher the code!
Through the Orff-Schulwerk method, students will learn about
music in a new and exciting way. Children are allowed to be
spontaneous in creating rhythms, which will create an entirely
new sound to what may be a common song. This is creating the
elemental music. On Steven Calantropios (a brilliant man,
when it comes to Orff methods) website, it is stated, Elemental
music is pattern-based music built on natural speech and body
rhythms, familiar melodic patterns, and simple forms that can be
learned, created, understood, and performed without extensive

technical or theoretical musical training. (www.scalantropio.com)

On this topic, Carl Orff said, elemental music is never only music
but an integration of movement, dance and language. It is music
one creates oneself in which one is involved not as a listener, but
as a participant. The Orff method encompasses the body and
mind in learning new approaches to music education. Because
there is no set way to teach using this method, teachers are
given the freedom to help students learn in a way that is
accessible to them, helping these students have a greater
understanding of the excitement that music can hold!