Orff Basic Class Notes 2013 - Beatin' Path Publications, LLC

Level 1 Basic Orff Syllabus
Purpose:
The purpose of this class will be to train teachers in the pedagogy and philosophy of Orff Schulwerk.
Teachers will be learn about the planning and presentation of lessons in the areas of movement,
classroom performance, listening, and composition by experiencing lessons that are taught using
Orff Schulwerk processes.
Objectives:
1. To become familiar with basic movement/dance vocabulary and technique and to develop
the ability to use these skills for communication and creativity.
2. To develop skills in singing, speech activities, recorder playing, and ensemble playing on
the Orff instruments.
3. To explore strategies for presenting all types of art music to students in active and creative
ways.
4. To develop writing and orchestration skills in simple forms within the style of Orff Schulwerk.
5. To develop the creative ability to experiment with the elements of movement, melody,
speech and rhythm through improvisation.
6. To review and discuss current literature and writings concerning Orff Schulwerk processes.
Content:
1. Rhythm: from imitation to creation using convergent to divergent rhythms in duple and
triple meter with speech, body percussion, non-pitched and pitched percussion, singing, and
movement. Question/answer, ostinato, rondo, free rhythmic improvisation. Body percussion
notation.
2. Melody: bitonic, tritonic, folkloric, and pentatonic.
3. Harmony: simple bordun, with its possibilities in 2/4, 6/8, 3/4, 4/4; moving bordun with
5th moving.
4. Timbre: knowledge of the instruments-range, tessitura, sound color; rhythmic and melodic
notation.
5. Form: motive, phrase, antecedent-consequent, period, question-answer, rondo, canon and
two- and three-part song forms (AB and ABA).
6. Active Listening: analysis of specified works of art music emphasizing listening skills and
using speech activities, improvisation, ensemble playing, instrument making and movement.
7. Movement: movement and language; movement and drama; creative movement; movement
with hand drums; basic step vocabulary; and basic folk dance elements.