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Orff
music classes are a fun way for children to explore and create music.
When combined with a character education approach, this playful
method helps children to grow traits like confidence, honor, and
patience, to name a few.
Orff music is a fun way for children to explore music by doing what they love to do – move, sing, dance, clap, and play. They learn to accompany songs and improvise rhythms and melodies using both unpitched and melody instruments.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is Carl Orff?
What is the Orff Approach?
What are Orff Instruments?
What are the Benefits of Orff Music?
Can Orff Music Include Character Education?
How Do You Teach Character Education in an Orff
Music Class?
WHO
IS CARL ORFF?
Carl Orff (1895-1982) is probably best known as the composer of Carmina Burana. As an educator, he developed a unique approach
to creative music teaching, known as Orff Schulwerk, which
has inspired a global movement in music education. There are Orff
music chapters for teachers in all 50 states and in countries all
over the world.
WHAT
IS THE ORFF APPROACH?
The Orff approach to music education is holistic, experiential and
process oriented. It is for all children, not just the most musically
or intellectually gifted. The Orff teaching process addresses the
learning styles of aural, visual and kinesthetic learners, as well
as the various intelligences described by Howard Gardner, psychologist.
In the Orff process, children learn through doing, exploring and
improvising. The emphasis is on experiencing music in ways that
are fun and exciting. While the children are actively making music,
they are being guided through a step-by-step process that moves
them forward through ever increasing skill levels. Based on solid,
pedagogical principles, Orff philosophy applies a structured, sequential
development of knowledge and skills to help each child grow musically.
However, Orff is more than music alone; it is comprehensive. Orff
starts with language - the rhythm of the words. Rhymes, poems, and
stories are an integral part of Orff classes. Because of the innate
connection between rhythm and language, Orff music gives children
a head start in their language development and reading skills.
In addition, using local nursery rhymes and folk music, the Orff
process is applicable in any culture and language. Thus, cultural
diversity is an integral part of the Orff music classes.
WHAT
ARE ORFF INSTRUMENTS?
Unpitched metal instruments (triangles, bells, tambourines, cabasa,
cow bells, jingle taps), wooden instruments (tone blocks, guiro,
rhythm sticks, claves), and numerous shakers and drums are among
the many instruments the children can choose to play.
Orff melody instruments played with mallets are unique to the Orff
classes because they are child size, easily accessible, and have
a good quality of sound. These instruments include xylophones (bass,
alto, soprano), metallophones, (bass, alto, soprano), and glockenspiels
(alto, soprano).
All instruments have removable bars so that “wrong”
notes can be removed to make playing and improvising easier.
WHAT
ARE THE BENEFITS OF ORFF MUSIC?
Orff Music helps children
• Develop musical skills.
• Enhance coordination.
• Improve listening skills.
• Increase language skills.
• Expand creativity.
• Build self-confidence.
• Work cooperatively in groups.
CAN ORFF MUSIC INCLUDE
CHARACTER EDUCATION?
The Orff process presents opportunities for a teacher to weave development
of character education qualities through the music class. These
qualities may include honor, creativity, self-confidence, awareness
and enthusiasm, among others. For example, the children learn honor
as they listen to each other and work together to create the music
they play. Each step in the process of music making can build self-confidence
and expand creativity. Because each child is an integral part of
the music, they become aware of their individual part as well as
how they fit into the whole piece of music.
HOW
DO YOU TEACH CHARACTER EDUCATION
IN AN ORFF MUSIC CLASS?
Ask an adult to say the ABC’s. Wouldn’t they hear the
melody of the ABC song in their head? Can you remember the words
to patticake and feel the rhythm in your hands? Anybody
remember School House Rock? These are examples of anchoring
information through words, melodies, and rhythms.
In Orff class the character trait of confidence might be explored.
After a discussion of the concept, the children learn a rhyme about
confidence. They move and clap to the rhythm, and then play the
rhythm of the words on instruments. Next, melody is added as the
children sing the rhyme. The children then learn to accompany the
song on the xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels. By this
time, their confidence level is high enough to introduce improvisation
and the music can be played for their own enjoyment, or to share
with others.
When character education words are taught Orff style, the words
and concepts are anchored in a deeper, more powerful way. In Orff,
children move to the rhythm of the words, sing the words, play instruments
to the words, and accompany and improvise melodies to the words.
They are more receptive to the concepts behind the words. These
positive affirmations become an integrated part of the child’s
thinking. They receive and internalize these concepts and they actually
have fun doing it.