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Original Songs and Ensemble Pieces for Upper Elementary
Karen Petty has written this collection of pieces that are mostly modal. These sounds are magical and magnetic to young students, but not every piece is in a mode. A couple of pentatonic pieces and one hexatonic piece round out the collection.
Included Teaching Tips and Orff Process ideas make these melodies and ensembles accessible. Most all have an element of movement – body percussion, in an added dance or within the teaching process itself. Several have aligned extensions for improvisation and composition and assessment.
All of these pieces are accessible, child-friendly, tested and true. Because our ears like repetition and Elemental Music is made of patterns, ostinati and layers, these pieces will charm and motivate your students!
Karen Petty loves working with people - tall and small. An Orff Specialist for 40+ years – in both NYC and Colorado – she currently teaches Music K-5 in Parker, Colorado; and in Orff-Schulwerk summer courses. Her service includes multiple offices in RMC-AOSA and NYC-AOSA plus AOSA Regional Representative, Recording Secretary and current Treasurer.
Orff Schulwerk remains an invigorating and innovative approach to teaching music and movement. As such, its role is to lead the way in creative and active music education. AOSA partners with other active music making organizations without losing what makes Orff Schulwerk unique. The importance of movement and improvisation within Orff Schulwerk set it apart. The beauty of the Orff process is that it is not a regimented, “cookie-cutter” music method, but with structure and artistry provides an open, playful, evocative and creative approach to music learning. Each lesson may unfold in a fresh new way as each group of learners bring their own unique spark to the mix.
In Orff Schulwerk, music making and music literacy develop in a natural, creative, elemental journey that parallels the way any language is acquired – through imitation, exploration and improvisation – with music literacy developing naturally over time. A big benefit of Orff Schulwerk is its effect on music and movement educators and most importantly, the way it impacts students – helping them become active, creative, independent and collaborative music makers and enthusiastic appreciators of music and the arts.
Orff Schulwerk embodies the 21st Century Learning buzz words – Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. Orff Schulwerk has made a huge impact on me personally - not only in my teaching, but also on me as an individual - learning from and connecting with amazing people who embody this child-like philosophy. As AOSA celebrates its 50th anniversary as an organization, we can honor our strong beginning and look forward to a brilliant future and the next 50 years.
