See an Orff Class in Action

In Orff Schulwerk classrooms, children begin with what they do instinctively: play! Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally as students become confident, life-long musicians and creative problem solvers. The Orff approach to teaching is a model for optimal learning in 21st Century classrooms.

This 7-minute video, with teacher commentary, models how children learn through Orff Schulwerk.

[john-marymuzeyi]

I like the approach of empowering the children - to make connections, steer their own understanding, encourage creativity, own and enjoy their work; and building their knowledge / skills on all these factors. Thanks for making and sharing this video.

[noelieangevine]

The children are respectful because they find out they can make beautiful music. There are methods for teaching in the Orff style. I took methods classes. It's absolutely amazing.
When the children find out their name ha a rhythm, and that another child's name has another rhythm, they can say and play those rhythms at the same time. They have to believe that they can do it. With the pentatonic scale, it always sounds good.

[painetcirque]

It's explosive. My mind is crowded with ideas of teaching, only from watching this video. Thank you so much!

[mrs.friesen]

Beautiful examples of the Orff Schulwerk classroom in motion!
And the teachers' comments added to the understanding of what goes into an Orff Schulwerk lesson.  Thank you for making this video.  :)

[davidmcaninch]

If was a music teacher, I’d teach instruments of all kinds, and the elements of a rock and roll band: guitar, drums, bass, vocals, but I’d need some help with keyboards, since I’m not very good at it. But that aside, I’d say something to inspire the kids on my first day. I’d probably steal a quote from Dead Poets Society (R.I.P. Robin Williams) and I’d tell the kids to huddle up so I could tell them the secret: “We don’t read, write, play or listen to music because it’s a good hobby. We read, write, play and listen to music because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion!! Medicine, law, military service, yes, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But music, passion, romance, love, joy, happiness!! Isn’t that what we stay alive for? To quote a song from Bad Company, ‘Don’t you know that you are a shooting star? Don’t you know? Don’t you know that you are a shooting star? And all the world will love you just as long, as long you are!!!’ How long will your shooting star fly?” And then I’d talk with them about the lesson plan and what I expect from them. I’d tell them to treat each other the way they wanna be treated. And then I’d introduce them to the musical instruments that they’d play for the year. And I’d make my class as fun and as enjoyable as I possibly could.