A Carl Orff Music and Movement Education Programme for Hearing-Impaired Students

Abstract

A Carl Orff (Orff-Schulwerk) music and movement education programme for hearing impaired students (i.e., deaf and hard-of-hearing students) is presented in this study. This programme is based on the idea that hearing loss should not exclude the developing individual from opportunities for engaging with music. The usefulness and originality of the programme lies on the fact that it is one of the first attempts in Greece for music and movement education – as part of the school timetable – of deaf and hard of hearing students. Until recently, music education of hearing impaired persons was treated with caution and prejudices with regards to its necessity and effectiveness. In this article the theoretical principles underpinning the programme, the programme objectives and means, as well as its assessment procedures are discussed. The contribution of the Orff pedagogical approach in this programme is emphasised, as the programme’s key pillars are consistent with the theoretical principles of the Orff philosophy, while the means, the pedagogical techniques and the orchestra instruments of this pedagogical approach were adopted in the implementation of the programme.