This year’s September school holidays provided more than a break from teaching; it provided the opportunity for many music educators to attend and complete an Orff Level! Levels 1 and 2 were held in Perth and we had some of our own educators travel to Sydney to complete Level 4 training.
In this Blog post you will find reflections and stories from some of those who attended the inspiring world of Orff Levels. Here’s what they had to say…
Level One – Perth, WA
Reflection Contributors: Emma Trudball, Alexandra Thomson and Merja Priest
Orff Level One Delegates and presenters in Perth.
Emma Tudball, Edith Cowan University – Level 1:
I had a wonderful week at Orff Levels with many amazing presenters and colleagues. It was fun getting to know everyone, making music with one another and learning about the Orff-Schulwerk approach. I particularly loved seeing how one small rhyme/piece of music could be scaffolded to become a much larger work with many complementary parts.
My favourite class was Movement and Dance because I love the connection between music and movement. In this class there were so many opportunities to explore creativity and improvisation in a fun and engaging way. I am excited to see how I can incorporate all I’ve learned throughout the week into my future classes, from new repertoire, body percussion, tuned and untuned percussion, borduns, ostinati and much more!
“Coming to WAOSA Levels yeah, it is really fun!”
Alexandra Thomson – Level 1:
Between my school teaching schedule and university commitments, the stars must have truly aligned for me to take the Level 1 Orff Schulwerk training course. It happened to fall in the one precious week of the year when both timetables were on break – so I jumped at the chance to finally gain my Level 1 certificate.
At first, I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. My studies focus on secondary music education, while Orff is most commonly associated with primary classrooms. But as the week unfolded, my perspective completely shifted. The Orff approach opened my eyes to new ways of making music accessible, inclusive, and joyful for every student, no matter their age or experience.
Each presenter brought an incredible passion not only for the Orff philosophy but for music education itself. Their energy was infectious, and every session offered fresh insights and creative ideas to take back to the classroom. I left the course buzzing with inspiration, and with a renewed enthusiasm for teaching music across all ages.
Moving forward, I’m excited to integrate elements of the Orff approach into my own teaching – particularly in classroom music for beginners. Its emphasis on exploration, imitation, and play will be invaluable in helping students build confidence through movement, singing, and instrument work. I also plan to draw on Orff-inspired techniques to make improvisation less intimidating, encouraging students to take creative risks and express their ideas freely through sound and rhythm.
This week reminded me that music learning doesn’t have to start with notation – it can start with play, curiosity, and joy.
Merja Priest – Level 1:
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the Orff levels 1 course I attended during the holidays. I absolutely loved every part of it! I loved being surrounded by other music teachers and getting a lot of ideas on how to improve my own teaching practices.
The focus of the Orff approach on enabling children to create music straight away, with minimal instructions, has always inspired me and I loved having the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the world of Orff. I was especially captivated by the improvisation element, which added a unique dynamic to our learning, and I cannot wait to implement all these ideas we learned in my classroom.
One of my favourite classes was the technique and improvisation classes, where from the very beginning we were making music and learning the same way we want the students to learn. I have spent the rest of the holidays excitedly planning the term ahead and am planning on using so many rhymes and songs that we learned.
Level 2 – Perth WA
Reflection Contributor: Vanessa Munns
Orff Level Two delegates and presenters in Perth.
Our recent gathering brought together an intrepid group of five level 2 participants, each eager yet slightly apprehensive about what lay ahead. As we entered the workshop space, we were met with an atmosphere that quickly dispelled any fears of being overwhelmed. We were meant to be there! The camaraderie that developed between presenters and participants was palpable, with many memorable moments. One of the highlights was our time spent familiarizing ourselves with the alto recorder, which often elicited cheerful squawks and laughter as we navigated its nuances.
Mutual respect and collaboration became the cornerstones of our learning environment. Ideas flowed freely in all components. Particularly amusing was the dance routine assessment where scarves were used—this playful addition left everyone in stitches and illustrated our ability to find joy in the learning process.
Amidst the raucous laughter, our facilitators—Carol, Helen, Andy, Annette, and Jackie—guided us to a deeper understanding of the Orff teaching philosophy. Their insight was invaluable, providing us with practical tools and approaches to implement in our own teaching contexts. I now feel that I understand the movement component so that I will actually be confident enough to incorporate it next term!
As we leaned on one another, the blend of different strengths became a powerful asset to our learning. This experience not only enhanced our understanding of the Orff philosophy but also forged lasting connections among us, highlighting the importance of collaboration in educational practices.
Many thanks for the scholarship WAOSO and bring on Level 3!
Level 4 – Sydney NSW
Reflection by Anita Newhouse
Orff Level Four delegates and presenters in Sydney
My Levels journey began back in 2009, so saying I was excited to finally complete it is a massive understatement! Levels 1–3 were completed locally in Perth, however this year I was able to travel to Sydney to undertake the Level 4. The travel experience was wonderful—it gave me the chance to meet educators and work with two fantastic Australian presenters: Dr Robyn Staveley, and Peta Harper.
The workshops were more fluid than in previous levels, with the different disciplines coming together to focus on developing artistry and embodying learning. A particular highlight was the guided listening tasks, which have already found their way into my lessons this term. I have returned enthused with new ideas and a renewed passion for the Orff Schulwerk approach. Achieving this long-term professional goal feels is incredibly rewarding, and I’m so grateful for the support from both WAOSA and my school that made it possible.
Concluding Thoughts
WAOSA are grateful to the presenters who worked enthusiastically and diligently to share the Orff Schulwerk method through Levels training; You have once again inspired others on their music teaching journey. We hope all delegates enjoy implementing new ideas in their teaching and that perhaps someone new reading this might want to come along and share an Orff-fully wonderful experience at one of our future events where we work towards achieving the hope that “Every child should have the opportunity to experience the joy of music” (Carl Orff).
