Carl Orff, Creator of Schulwerk
Innovative Music Programme for Children and Beginning Musicians
Sep 5, 2008
With creative synergy fueled by inspiration from medieval mystery plays, folkloric material and international fairytales, as well as from Greek tragedy, Carl Orff, (1895-1982) a Bavarian composer, achieved world fame through his composition Carmina Burana. He will be remembered as a powerful creative artistic personality of the 20th century. Not only has his music left a valuable legacy for the world, but his educational programmes have had an even more profound impact on the way children learn and appreciate music. The official Orff website provides history and information about the development of the pedagogy and how to become involved with this modern approach to music education.
Orff the Educator
Since the 1930’s Orff's Schulwerk a programme of elemental music and movement instruction, has enlivened music pedagogy for children in over 30 countries around the world.
From 1925, and for the rest of his life, Orff was the head of a department and co-founder of the Guenther School for gymnastics, music and dance in Munich. His passion was for working with musical beginners. In an environment where he had constant contact with children, his work evolved so that he developed theories in music education, able to be applied to all beginning music students.
The Orff Musical Educational System
Schulwerk (1930-35), when translated into English reads simply as Music for Children. It was a simple system of musical instrumentation designed to allow untutored children to perform musical pieces with relative ease. Throughout much of his life, Orff worked with children, using music as an educational tool. The melody and rhythm of compositions are often determined by the words of the song.
Orff's ideas were developed, together with Gunild Keetman. Their development and implementation were innovative for the times of music education for children. The system became known as Orff Schulwerk. The pedagogy is attractive for modern educators because its design seems to foreshadow the notion of Multiple Literacies. The music is elemental and combines movement, singing, playing and improvisation, providing a thorough grounding for the developmentof the skills required in music education.
Schulwerk as a Well Accepted Pedagogy
The magic of Carl Orff's "Schulwerk" was an inspiration from the Greek concept of "mousike." It has evolved from an understanding of the way that the performing arts can be integrated into the general curriculum. The elemental forms of music are seen as the basic building blocks of human aesthetic experience. The ideas behind his "Music for Children" have been absorbed into the music educational culture of many nations.
An Australian Example
The Australian Ways With Orff website showcases a variety of expressions of Schulwerk inspirations translated into an Australian context. The music is rich and diverse, making available an example that has not only been influenced by Schulwerk, but one that has also been an adaptation that inspires Australian children through the creativity of Australian artists and educators. There are small audio samples accompanied by downloadable PDF lesson ideas that make this form of teaching easy. Teachers can learn about and ease into the ideas available on the CD, while feeling supported by this material. The CD can be purchased from the site.
Orff-Schulwerk Associations
Orff-Schulwerk Associations exist in many countries. These associations regularly inform their members on current topics of elementary music and movement education. They also encourage professional exchange and offer seminars in continuing studies. If you are interested in knowing more details they are listed on the official Orff website.
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