Case Study: Composing with Orff-Schulwerk in the Digital Classroom

Noemie Aschenbroich -

At a Glance:

  • Client: Sonya Rohde, an experienced K-5 General Music teacher at Hampshire Elementary School.
  • Challenge: Integrating technology with the hands-on Orff-Schulwerk methodology to make composition more intuitive and accessible for young students.
  • Solution: Using Flat for Education to provide a digital platform for composition that scaffolds learning, visualizes music, and fosters a collaborative community.
  • Key Results:
    • Enabled students to discover music through a process of trial and error.
    • Motivated students to compose in their free time and share their work with peers.
    • Provided a way for students to objectively listen to their compositions, correcting inaccurate notation.

The Client: Sonya Rohde, Orff-Schulwerk Music Educator

Sonya Rohde is a music educator with 16 years of experience. A certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher, she uses a creative process that emphasizes movement, improvisation, composition, and performance to help her students become leaders in their own education. Sonya's goal is to find a way to bring this hands-on, collaborative philosophy into the digital age.

The Challenge: The Hurdles of Traditional Composition

Sonya has traditionally used rhythm cards and written worksheets to teach composition. While she sees this as a good starting point, she recognizes its limitations.

  • No auditory feedback: Written worksheets don't allow students to hear their compositions being performed, which can lead to "inaccurate notation."
  • Lack of scaffolding: Composition is an intricate part of the Orff process, and Sonya needs an intuitive approach that allows for scaffolding based on age and understanding. She notes that Flat for Education is "missing a two-line staff that allows for students to explore two pitches such as just Sol and Mi."
  • The technology gap: Sonya also points out that the current method for adding notes can be a challenge, stating that a "drag and drop option... would be helpful for a majority of my students."

The Solution: A Digital Platform for Orff Principles

Despite some of the challenges, Sonya has found that Flat for Education is a powerful platform for supporting the core principles of Orff-Schulwerk. She uses it to create visuals for learning, compose and arrange music for her class, and, most importantly, empower her students to become composers themselves.

  • A Platform for objective listening: By using Flat for Education, students are able to "objectively listen to their compositions." This provides them with a crucial feedback loop that was not possible with traditional paper-based methods.
  • Motivation and engagement: Sonya has noticed a significant difference in student engagement and confidence. She says, "Students are motivated when they can listen and share their compositions," which encourages them to "discover their musical choices."
  • Fostering a community of creators: She also notes that her students are motivated to compose "outside the classroom by creating music in their free time and sharing with their peers," which is a perfect reflection of the Orff philosophy's emphasis on community.

Conclusion: A New Rhythmic Approach to Education

Sonya's story proves that technology is not a replacement for a hands-on philosophy like Orff-Schulwerk, but a powerful complement to it. By providing a platform that allows students to discover music through the process of composition, Flat for Education gives students a way to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the art form.

Ready to bring composition to your classroom? Start a free trial today and experience the power of a digital Orff platform.

Start a free trial today and experience the power of a digital Orff platform.

Musically Yours,

The Flat for Education Team