The Orff Schulwerk Approach

• Kate Hagen
• Posted 2/23/21
• 0 comments

What is Orff Schulwerk?

Where does the term “Orff” come from? Have you also heard “Schulwerk” at some point in your teaching career?  If you have, do you automatically think those terms are related to barred instruments in general music classrooms?  

Orff is a philosophy of music education developed by Carl Orff during the 1920s combining music, speech, movement, and drama, while imitating the way children play. The term “Schulwerk” is German for schoolwork. Typically, when teachers refer to the “Orff Approach,” they are referencing this teaching philosophy.  

The fundamental premise of the Orff approach is that children learn music by creating it themselves. Carl Orff believed children could learn music much in the same way they learn language, through imitation, exploration and improvisation.  Orff is a “child-centered way of learning.” Teaching musical skills and concepts using the Orff approach utilizes a four-stage learning process:  imitation, exploration, improvisation, and literacy. 

The Process

Teaching musical skills and concepts using the Orff approach utilizes a four-stage learning process:  imitation, exploration, literacy, and improvisation.  Imitation occurs when students imitate a musical model provided by the teacher, such as singing, playing or moving.  Exploration happens when students are given the opportunity to play with sounds and movements, in order to change, extend, or create their own ideas.  Literacy is the stage when students label what they have learned in the imitation and exploration stages.  Improvisation is the most advanced level and requires students to sing, move or play using their own ideas within the context of a piece of repertoire.  All three components lead to a deep and meaningful understanding of musical concepts. 

The Instruments

Instruments used when teaching the Orff Schulwerk approach are easy to learn and play and are specifically designed for classroom use.   The instruments used are both melodic and percussive. Carl Orff believed that percussive rhythm instruments like this are the most natural and basic form of human expression. 

Although first thoughts of this approach make people think of instruments, students will often learn a complete piece of music by singing and using their body percussion before touching a xylophone. 

The Orff-Schulwerk approach to music education has a long and diverse history that can’t be explained entirely in just a few paragraphs. For more information about the Orff approach, we recommend visiting the homepage of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, where you can access additional information about Orff-Schulwerk, as well as find opportunities for teacher training. 

 Additionally, if you are curious and just can’t wait for a live class, here are some resources to help you learn more about this child-centered active-music-making approach.

Orff Philosophy

These resources explore the history and philosophy of the Orff Schulwerk Approach.  We curated these books because they represent the best overview of this teaching approach and will get you started in the right direction. 

The Volumes – the Original Schulwerk

The volumes and supplemental books are the original texts developed by Carl Orff and his associate, Gunild Keetman, in Germany during the 1920s.  Teachers across the world still teach from these original works.  A word of caution for teachers new to this approach, these books are not designed to be taught verbatim.  Orff teachers take elements of the pieces in these books and adapt them to fit their student’s needs.  If you attempt to play the pieces as written, you and your students will be frustrated.  I recommend taking an Intro to Orff class, Levels training, or consult an experienced Orff teacher before you attempt to decipher the volumes on your own.  That being said – these books offer a wealth of material for you and your students and are an invaluable resource. 

The following lessons will provide you a look at the breadth of experiences your students can have using just a single excerpt from one of these books:

• RU Ready for This? Exploring Rhythmische Übung
• RU Ready for This? Lydian Mode
• Give Me Some Chocolate

A Modern Approach

These resources follow the philosophy of Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman but were not written by them.  Many of these authors trained with the students of Orff and Keetman, and their work reflects this training.  Easier to follow than the Volumes, these books have taken the spirit of the volumes and written comprehensive lessons that explain every step Orff Process for teachers.   

The Hybrid Approach

Each of these curriculum series and individual titles have taken elements of the Orff Process and combined these elements with other teaching philosophies.  Or the authors have further adapted the spirit of the Orff Process and expanded it to musical genres and instruments not used by Orff and his contemporaries. 

Do you use the Orff philosophy in your classroom? Ever taken an Orff course? Tell us about it in the comments!