Music Ed Methods: Orff

In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. Next up: the Orff method!

Carl Orff

1. Creator

Carl Orff (1895-1982) was a German composer, conductor, and educator who is perhaps best known for his famous oratorio, “Carmina Burana.” He composed this piece while serving as music director of the school he co-founded in Munich. He came up with his ideas based on his belief in the importance of rhythm and movement in association with music. 

2. Philosophies

The Orff method (also known as Orff-Schulwerk, the Orff Approach, and Music for Children) is a way of introducing and teaching children about music on a level that they can easily comprehend. The main goal of this method is to teach through a variety of mediums, including singing, chanting, dance, movement, drama, and playing percussion instruments. Teachers also encourage improvisation, composition, and the child’s natural sense of play. 

3. Types of music and instruments

In the Orff classroom, teachers mostly use folk music and music composed by the children themselves. They utilize a very wide variety of percussion instruments, including xylophones, glockenspiels, bells, maracas, triangles, cymbals, tambourines, and drums.

Orff instruments

4. Typical lesson

Since there is no standardized curriculum in this method, all teachers design their own lesson plans. For example, a teacher may choose a story to read in class. Students are then asked to choose instruments to represent a character or word. As the teacher reads the story again, students add sound effects by playing the instruments they selected.

5. Quote

“Since the beginning of time, children have not liked to study. They would much rather play, and if you have their interests at heart, you will let them learn while they play.” -Carl Orff

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Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services