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History of Orff
Orff-Schulwerk is an approach of
music instruction for children which was developed by German
composer, Carl Orff (1895-1982). The beginnings of this approach
may be traced to the founding of the Guntherschule in 1924 by
Dorothee Gunther, for the training of adults and teenagers to
assist her at the school. Gunild Keetman, a student at the
Gunthershule, displayed such exceptional talent that she was asked
to become an instructor upon her graduation. As such, she became a
close associate of Carl Orff and she played a major role in the
writing of Das Schulwerk— ‘The School Work.’
Prior to WWII, the Gunterschule was closed by the German
government because the ideas being promoted by the school were not
compatible with what was expected. The school was bombed during
the war and nearly all was lost.
After the war, the Bavarian Radio commissioned Carl Orff to do a
series of broadcasts for children. The broadcasts were so
successful that Orff’s interest in education was once again
awakened.
In the early 1950’s, Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman wrote the five
volumes of ‘Music for Children.’ By 1961, the Orff Institute at
the Mozarteum Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts in Salzburg,
Austria, had been created. The principles and philosophy of this
approach have since spread to numerous countries around the world.
Philosophy of Orff
Orff-Schulwerk is an approach to teaching that includes all of the
elements of music, drama, and movement, but does not adhere to a
certain required “scope and sequence.”
Recognizing that music and movement is quite natural to a child,
this child-centered approach should reflect the way in which
children learn and develop. The experience of making music,
expressing themselves through music, is tantamount to the learning
process.
Carl Orff recognized that speech and song must be the natural
starting point for children. The natural starting point for
working with children is through children’s rhyme and appropriate
children’s songs.
Exploration of space, sound, and form, while often resulting in
rather crude reflections, is the elemental aspect Orff has
referred to in the learning process.
The child’s feelings precedes intellectual understanding. Through
a wide variety of experiences the “learn through discovery”
approach is basic. Children must discover the qualities of space,
sound, and form for themselves. Each child begins with individual
simultaneous contributions to the group as a whole. That community
of individuals develops the ensemble.
The individual contribution is most important in developing the
community throughout all of the Schulwerk. Without community,
music cannot be made.
While instruments are often used in the Orff-Schulwerk, the
emphasis is on the voice and body.
Rhythm reading and/or skills are introduced at an early age.
It does not wait until children have acquired the necessary
mathematical concepts which is the trait commonly associated with
the more traditional methods.
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To Contact Us:
Orange County Chapter
American Orff - Schulwerk Association
6570 E. Paseo Alcazaa
Anaheim, CA. 92807-4901
Bev Bullis, Co-President Cell:( 714) 345-2622,
Home:(760)789-2506
Eileen Maeda, Co-President (714) 964-1750
Tim Johns, Membership (909) 557-3582
Rochelle "Rocky" Brown, Co-Vice President, Programs
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Let the
children
be their
own
composers.
-Carl Orff |
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