What is Orff Schulwerk?

Schulwerk literally means "schoolwork," but the Orff approach should lead to a sense of playful discovery rather than work.  Originally developed by Carl Orff of Carmina Burana fame, this holistic approach to music education has been drawing in children with nursery rhymes, chants, and xylophones for more than 60 years.  At the core of the Orff approach is the ancient Greek idea of Mousike- a seamless combination of music, poetic word, and physical movement.

Carl Orff wanted to bring what he called “elemental music” into the classroom. 

“Elemental music is near the earth, natural, physical, within the range of everyone to learn it and to experience it, and suitable for the child…

It is music that one makes oneself, in which one takes part not as a listener but as a participant…”
-Carl Orff

Below is a little example of our 3rd graders combining music and rhyme to play an Orff inspired piece. 


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