ORFF Cert. - June 1st - June 12th, 2026
Orff Schulwerk is a unique approach to music education. Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman founded this child-centered approach that connects speech, movement, song, instruments, and listening, emphasizing creativity and active engagement by the children. Within these connections, the Orff approach addresses all aspects of a child’s musical development— performing, creating, listening, and analyzing—in ways that encourage the child’s joyful imagination and musical spirit.
Level One
Level 1 focuses on the foundational principles of Orff-Schulwerk, a music education approach developed by Carl Orff. Students explore music through active participation, including speech, singing, movement, playing instruments, and improvisation. The course emphasizes the development of musical skills such as rhythm, melody, and harmony in a hands-on, creative environment. This course is especially appropriate for elementary and middle school general music specialists serving children in school and church settings.
Level Three
Level 3 builds upon the foundations established in earlier levels, with a greater emphasis on refining and expanding teaching techniques and musical skills. Participants deepen their understanding of Orff-Schulwerk’s core principles, including improvisation, ensemble playing, and the integration of complex rhythms and harmonies. The course encourages teachers to design and lead more sophisticated, multi-layered activities that incorporate both individual and group work. Level 3 places a stronger focus on developing creative problem-solving skills in students, guiding them to explore composition, arrangement, and more intricate musical structures. Teachers also refine their ability to assess and respond to students’ developmental needs. The course promotes a collaborative approach to teaching, where students are encouraged to contribute ideas and shape the learning process.
About the Course
The daily schedule will include basic Orff pedagogy, recorder, movement, and special topics that will differ each day. Orff media include vocal exploration through song and speech, and barred percussion such as xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels as well as a wide variety of unpitched percussion instruments through which participants encounter the process. Foundational techniques include improvisation, composition, exploration of tonal and rhythmic ostinati, and bordun accompaniments.
Dr. Kay Dick
Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education
Lee University, School of Music
1120 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: (423) 614-8257
Email: [email protected]