Free Fall Orff Festival

Discover the Orff-Schulwerk approach to music and movement at HNMC’s Fall Orff Festival, a special two-hour introductory experience led by Mary Ella van Voorhis, who has completed all three levels of Orff-Schulwerk teacher education.
Developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, Orff-Schulwerk is an approach to music education centered on active, creative music-making. Music, movement, speech, and drama are brought together to help learners develop musicianship through participation, exploration, and creativity.
The Orff-Schulwerk process incorporates imitation, exploration, music literacy, and improvisation, allowing participants to develop musical skills while also discovering and creating their own musical ideas.
During the Fall Orff Festival, participants will have the opportunity to experience elements of the approach through:
-Singing and rhythmic speech
-Movement and folk dance
-Body percussion and instrumental percussion
-Xylophones and metallophones
-Musical exploration and improvisation
-Group music-making
-Creative movement and rhythm activities