Orff Schulwerk, also known as the Orff Approach, is a way to teach and learn music, which 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, which is the same way we all learned our language.
Orff Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs and dances as examples and basic materials. These may be traditional or original. Either spoken or sung, they may be accompanied by clapping and stamping, or by drums, sticks and bells.
Orff Schulwerk is total, active involvement in music making that incorporates speech, singing, movement and instrument playing in a creative environment. It develops the whole child with a balance of emotional and intellectual stimulation.
Orff Schulwerk offers a potential for active and creative music making by all children, not just the musically talented. This approach to learning, developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, builds musicianship through singing, playing instruments, speech and movement.
Active music making is the core of this philosophy, supporting both the conceptual and affective development of children. Active learners develop more thorough and better long-term understanding of the material and ideas involved. Children who regularly improvise and create their own dances and musical settings are uniquely prepared to solve problems in many other contexts.
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.