Orff Method Notes

Orff Method: Carl Orff (1895–1982) was a German composer and educator known for his influential approach to music education, which emphasizes the use of rhythmic movement, singing, and the use of instruments to enhance musical understanding.

  • Frequently referred to as elemental music making.

  • The pedagogy is closely linked to the child’s world of play and fantasy, of games, chants, and songs.

  • In its original form, elemental music was exploratory, with music, movement, and speech interrelated and overlapping.

  • Orff believed children to be:

    • Naturally musical

    • Uninhibited in their expressive movement

    • More receptive to his brand of musical training than adults.

  • The collaborative efforts of Orff and Keetman resulted in:

    • The establishment of the Schulwerk method

    • The publication of five volumes of chants, songs, and instrumental pieces called Musik für Kinder (Music for Children).

  • Principal components of the Schulwerk:

    • Imitation and exploration of music and its components

    • Opportunities to improvise original pieces as learners become more musically skilled.

  • As adapted in the United States, the process is extended to four stages:

    • Imitation

      • Simulaneous - Echo-like in the form of an interrupted canon (leader claps, then the group)

      • Canonic - Overlapping in a continuous canon

    • Exploration

      • Example: "Now that we know the rhythm, can you play it (faster or slower, louder or softer, on a different instrument, on two alternating pitches?"

    • Literacy - reading and writing

    • Improvisation - creating from understanding

  • Quarter notes and eighth notes may be introduced in kindergarten and first grade.

  • (sol-mi and mi-re-do) in the first grade, proceeding to the pentatonic scale by second and third grade, and extending to the reading and writing of the diatonic scale by the fifth grade.

  • The Orff process is complemented by the use of musical features such as:

    • Folk and folk-like songs in the pentatonic mode

    • Ostinato patterns that are spoken, sung, played, and moved

    • Tonic drones or pedal tones

    • Static and moving bourdon accompaniments on xylophones and various other percussion instruments.

  • The Music for Children Volumes contain songs, chants, rhymes, dances, instrumental pieces, and improvisation ideas.

  • Each volume contains:

    • Pentatonic melodies

    • Speech and rhythm

    • Movement and dance

    • Instrumental ensembles

    • Improvisation and creativity

  • Volume 1 focuses on simple pentatonic melodies, rhythmic speech, games, and simple accompaniments.

  • Volume 2 introduces diatonic major scales and songs and dances with more harmonic variety.

  • Volume 3 focuses on minor modes, richer musical textures and emotions.

  • Volume 4 emphasizes bordun accompaniments and use of modes.

  • Volume 5 encourages development of rhythm and ensemble skills through rhythmic training patterning, and structure improvisation.

  • The key features of the Orff Teaching Process are based on the idea that children learn best through play and active participation.

  • Lessons are exploratory and creative, allowing students to discover musical concepts through experience.

Key Features of the Orff Teaching Process

  1. Integration of Elements:

    • Singing

    • Speaking/chanting

    • Body percussion (clapping, stomping, snapping)

    • Movement and dance

    • Playing instruments (especially Orff instruments like xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, and unpitched percussion)

  2. Improvisation and Creativity:

    • Students are encouraged to improvise, compose, and arrange music.

    • Rather than just reproducing existing pieces, they actively create and explore sounds and rhythms.

  3. Use of Speech and Rhythm:

    • Speech (chants, rhymes) is often used as a foundation for rhythm work.

    • It’s a natural entry point for children to develop rhythmic understanding.

  4. Elemental Music:

    • Orff used the term “elemental music” to describe music that is:

      • Simple, but not simplistic

      • Based on patterns and ostinatos

      • Closely tied to movement and speech

      • Accessible and participatory

  5. Process Over Product:

    • The focus is on musical growth and discovery rather than performance perfection.

    • Learning is layered, with concepts introduced through experience, then named, practiced, and applied.

  6. Use of Pentatonic Scales:

    • Orff often used pentatonic scales (which have no half steps) because they are easy to improvise with and always sound consonant.

Typical Orff Lesson Sequence (Process)

  1. Experience – Students explore a musical idea through play, speech, movement, or listening.

  2. Imitate – They echo and copy patterns or movements.

  3. Internalize – Through repetition, the musical idea becomes familiar.

  4. Create – Students are guided to improvise or compose using the idea.

  5. Refine/Perform – They organize and share their creations.