Students Play Ostinatos Using New Orff Instruments

While our 3rd-5th students are preparing for the Christmas program next week, our K-2nd classes have been making use of new Orff instruments in music class. Through a generous donation, St. James was able to purchase 2 sets of instruments for the music classroom. Developed by German composer Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, the Orff Approach and instruments allow the students to explore how music is created and have a role in its creation. Orff instruments include xylophones, glokenspiels, marimbas, and metallophones. Students began learning with them recently by playing an ostinato, or a repeated musical pattern, on their new xylophones and metallophones. They also “layered” rhythm instruments over the ostinato. All of our students at St. James are so excited to experiment more with their new instruments!