 Group size |
3-10 participants |
 Time |
20-30 minutes |
 Overview |
This activity employs music to foster self-expression and create a sense of belonging to a group. The aim is to allow participants to express themselves in a group setting and help them integrate and socialise by playing together. Therefore, this activity shows the precious value that music has as a non-verbal means of expression and catalyst for integration. |
 Learning Objectives |
- Learn to play musical instruments through fun, success-oriented activities
- To find an individual voice within a group setting
- To express oneself in a group setting
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 Materials |
- Musical instruments that do not require much previous technical knowledge to produce sound, such as Orff instruments (xylophones, metallophones), percussion instruments (drums, tambourines, calves, maracas, wood blocks, etc.), instruments in pentatonic tonalities (Orff instruments, tone bells, or instruments such as piano or marimba prepared in a way through which a pentatonic scale can easily be played), boom whackers, etc.
- Colour stickers
- A medium in which to provide visual performance cues, such as a whiteboard or projector
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 Preparation |
Prepare the venue with the necessary material for the activity. Position the different musical instruments so that those belonging to the same family are together. Put them in a way that can be accessible for the participants while being in a circle. Define if participants are going to sit, stay on the floor, or stand. |
 Implementation |
Participants will be positioned in a circle with similar instruments sectioned together. Each instrumental section will be instructed on how to perform specific ostinato patterns, which combine to form a larger interlocking rhythm or melody. Once all sections have a moment to solidify their parts, the group performs the musical idea while each participant is allowed to take turns improvising. |
 Debriefing and evaluation |
Questions to ask participants at the end of the activity:
- Did this activity help you overcome some obstacles concerning expressing yourself within a group?
- How would you describe the experience of playing together?
- Do you feel empowered by this activity?
Questions to ask facilitators at the end of the activity:
- Do you think that through this type of activity, participants become more conscious of themselves?
- Do you think that playing together is an effective way to help individuals integrate?
- What would you change or improve about this activity?
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 Other useful resources |
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An example of how the Orff approach is implemented in a class of young kids. It shows the various activities involving music that can be performed by following this approach. This video can serve as a useful source of inspiration on how to perform the activity and what other steps could be added if the facilitator is willing to expand it.
Through the website of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, useful information about the approach, how to implement it, its benefits, and the skills that participants can acquire can be found. It also provides practical examples, and it includes specific sections concerning the teaching process, music literacy, how to execute the performances, and the power that this approach has as a tool for integration.
This article complements the previous one by adding additional information concerning tips on how to implement the Orff approach into your own programme and how to get the best out of it.
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