Movement & Orff

What is Orff?

The Orff approach to music education is based on the ideas and developments made by Carl Orff (1895-1982) a German composer and educator. Orff described music for children as "never alone, but connected with movement, dance, and speech - not to be listened to, meaningful only in active participation." It is through this basic principle that Orff developed an approach to Music Education that is experiential, process oriented, addresses the learning styles of aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners, and encourages children to experience music at their own level of understanding. In Orff classes, children learn through doing, exploring, experiencing, and improvising.

Orff classes are based on things children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance and keep a beat on various types of instruments. These natural impulses are directed into learning music by hearing and making it first, then reading and writing it later. Orff classes encourage creativity through the student's natural responses to music:

RHYTHM
Orff starts with language - the rhythm of the words. For children, speaking, singing, music and movement are all naturally connected, thus, rhymes, poems, and stories are an integral part of Orff classes. Also, because of the fundamental relationship between rhythm and language, Orff music gives children a head start in their language development and reading skills.

MELODY
Melody is taught in the same way as rhythm. By chanting rhymes and reading stories and poems, children are able to identify simple intervals that result from the natural pitches of the words. Later, these intervals and pitches can be combined to create a melody that can first be sung and then be transferred to instruments.

IMPROVISATION
Improvisation is the most essential element to the Orff classroom because it encourages children to learn through exploring and experiencing music first-hand. Although the thought of improvisation scares most adults, improvisation to children is liberating! With improvisation, there are no rules: children are free to create their own rhythms, melodies or dances within preset boundaries.

What are Orff Instruments?
There are several different families of instruments that are used in the Orff classroom. The instrument families are included under two main categories: pitched and un-pitched instruments:

- Un-pitched
Metal Instruments: triangles, bells, tambourines, cabasas, and cowbells.
Wooden Instruments: tone blocks, guiro, rhythm sticks, claves.
Shakers and Drums

- Pitched
Orff Melody Instruments: (played with mallets) xylophones,
metallophones, and glockenspiels. These instruments are unique to Orff classes because they are small in size, easily accessible, and have good quality of sound.
***All melody instruments have removable bars so that "wrong" notes can be
removed completely to encourage playing and improvising.***

Who is teaching the classes?

Stephanie Pesant, B. Mus. in Music Education, M.Mus. in Flute Performance (U of T)

When is it?

The Orff Classes are scheduled as follows:

For 5 year olds:
Wednesdays 1:45-2:30pm

How much does it cost?

Cost of Orff Classes:
$180/ 12 wk session of 45 minute weekly classes
$120 /8 wk session of 45 minute weekly classes

Limit of 8 children per class.

ORFF 2007-2008 SCHEDULE:

8 WEEK SPRING 2008 Session: April 16th - June 4th, 2008

How do I join?

Call us at 416-537-5995 to register; registration forms are available to be printed off from our website as well.