|
Carl Orff (1895-1982) is a German composer known particularly for his operas and dramatic works. He and his colleague, Gunild Keetman, developed an approach to music education which has inspired a pedagogy taught around the globe.
The Orff approach to Music Education is experiential and process oriented. It is for all children, not just the most musically or intellectually gifted and encompasses aural, visual and kinesthetic learners.
Orff's philosophy is a structured, sequential development of knowledge and skills which encourages joyful participation, creativity, and personal musical growth from all participants. His approach taps the very essence of our beings. 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. Through the Schulwerk, all children are successful. The Orff philosophy combines the elements of speech, rhythm, movement, dance, and song. At the heart of all this is improvisation - the instinct children have to create their own melodies and to explore their imaginations.
Elemental music is never only music but an integration of movement, dance and language. It is music one creates oneself in which one is involved not as a listener, but as a participant.
Carl Orff
|