Carl Orff
July 10, 1895 – March 29, 1982
About Central Texas Orff
Sunday, July 27th 2008
Orff Schulwerk is a way to teach and learn music. It is based on things
children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance, and keep a beat on anything near at hand.
These instincts are directed into learning music by hearing and making music first, then
reading and writing it later. This is the same way we all learned our language.
Orff Schulwerk is designed for all children, not just the privileged, talented, or selected few.
There is a place for every child and each contributes according to his/her ability. Orff Schulwerk
happens in a non-competitive atmosphere where one of the rewards is the pleasure of making good music with others.
Orff Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as examples and basic materials. These may be
traditional or original. Spoken or sung, they may be accompanied by clapping and stamping or by drums, sticks,
and bells. The special Orff melody instruments include wooden xylophones and metal glockenspiels that offer
good sound immediately. Played together as in a small orchestra, their use helps children become sensitive
listeners and considerate participants. With Orff Schulwerk, improvisation and composition start students on a
lifetime of knowledge and pleasure through personal musical experience. Learning is meaningful only if it
brings satisfaction to the learner, and satisfaction arises from the ability to use acquired knowledge for
the purpose of creating. For both teacher and student, Orff Schulwerk is a theme with endless variation.