Experiencing A Book In The Music Classroom

An Orff lesson may begin with the children listening to a short story. The children are asked how they would interpret some elements of the story. A group of children are asked to go to the unpitched instruments and pick out something to make a rain sound. Another group could be asked to pick out a happy sounding instrument. Other groups are asked to pick out sounds for the sun and the moon. The teacher reads the story again, adding the sound effects to the story. The teacher prepares the drone pattern by using body percussion. Body percussion is also used to establish tempo and rhythm.

The teacher asks the children if they would like to add a song and an accompaniment to the story. Together they create a short song relating to the story. The teacher brings out some Orff instruments: a bass xylophone, a bass metallophone, a couple of alto and soprano xylophones and metallophones, and some glockenspiels. Students are asked to improvise to the B section of the song. Song = A section, B = improv. of students, then A = song again. (Ternary form has just been learned by experience, rather than explanation.)

The teacher has already set up the instruments in C pentatonic so that the students will be successful with whichever notes they randomly choose. The class then separates into the unpitched and the pitched percussion groups. The teacher demonstrates a simple drone of CG alternating on half notes to give the character in their story some walking music. As the character does other parts of the story, the teacher and/or class decide to add something else (i.e., another drone, a triangle note, a low C on the bass instruments to signal a strong moment, etc.). The class performs their story with their "orchestra."