EXPLORING OUR ROOTS, EXPANDING OUR FUTURE Volume 3: Lessons 1-2

The Reggio Approach to teaching children originates from a small town in Northern Italy, Reggio Emilia. Founded in the aftermath of World War II, this approach to working with the young child is now a global phenomenon studied and replicated by many.

Students of the Schulwerk will easily correlate the similarities and support of these two philosophies. Carl Orff’s profound statement, "Let the children be their own composers" promotes a strong image of the child as creator and constructor of her/his own learning. Providing the child with quality materials in the realm of poetry and instruments supports the environment as another inspiration for the child’s construction of knowledge and aesthetics. Within authentic expressions of the Schulwerk philosophy, the teacher is not a dogmatic hoarder of knowledge, rather a co-creator of experience and knowledge with students.

TEACHER TALK
Brian Crisp interviews Beth Ann Hepburn

Crisp: What was your first introduction to the Orff-Schulwerk and what aspects attracted you?

Hepburn: I was very fortunate to have experiences with the Orff-Schulwerk approach in my undergraduate music methods classes, and while preparing for student teaching. After one of the lessons, my professor, Dr. James Scholten, told me I might not understand it yet, but I was definitely going to be an elementary music teacher, and not only that, an Orff teacher. He was right on! It could have been my enthusiasm during that lesson, or just that he could tell I was a duck in water...I remember LOVING each lesson we did during that class. When I was preparing for student teaching, I was advised to attend some Orff workshops—so I went to my first one. I still attend the workshops and encourage everyone to find a local chapter and attend.

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ORFF CONNECTIONS

Look for this school year’s final issue of Orff Connections in May 2007.

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