Elementaria: First Acquaintance with Orff-Schulwerk

I am tempted to give this book a 6, since it is considered the bible of the Orff-Schulwerk approach. Sure enough, it gives complete instructions on how to set up an instrumental ensemble, how to play the instruments, and how to teach the gross motor activity. In fact, it presents some ideas which I put to immediate use in my work as a preschool English teacher in Korea.But theory is important as well as method. Why should certain activities be taught? Why should the instruments be played a certain way? Why is the Orff approach better than the others? Why are certain musical activities and gross motor activities beneficial? If these questions were answered, I would give this book a 6.

I am tempted to give this book a 6, since it is considered the bible of the Orff-Schulwerk approach. Sure enough, it gives complete instructions on how to set up an instrumental ensemble, how to play the instruments, and how to teach the gross motor activity. In fact, it presents some ideas which I put to immediate use in my work as a preschool English teacher in Korea.But theory is important as well as method. Why should certain activities be taught? Why should the instruments be played a certain way? Why is the Orff approach better than the others? Why are certain musical activities and gross motor activities beneficial? If these questions were answered, I would give this book a 6.

Must buy for music teachers!

I bought this book as a required text for an Orff Levels workshop. We only focused on the movement section of the book. Honestly, without the help of my instructor in demonstrating the activities, I would have found the book useless and difficult to follow. On the other hand, I appreciate that the writer has created many movement patterns and ideas that will help any Orff teacher who may not have the time to create their own. There are many different patterns to choose from. I don't recommend this as a "First Acquaintance", maybe save this one for the third date.