Orff Schulwerk Curriculum and Arranging
Date
July 27-July 31, 2026
On Campus
Course Code
8026B
Credits
3
Tuition
$1,194
Course Description
This course is for Orff Schulwerk teachers who are seeking a framework to organize or design their curricular scope and sequence, even as they arrange and compose centering the Orff Schulwerk approach.
The curriculum component uses the Backwards Design, Universal Design for Learning, and Culturally Responsive pedagogy frameworks to establish learning objectives and aligned assessments for each grade level. The coursework references noted publications of national and international Orff Schulwerk specialists. Participants will specifically center culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy while designing their curriculum, as the essence of the Orff Schulwerk is to center the humans who are making and creating music.
The arranging component of the course focuses on composing and arranging for music classes as well as Orff Schulwerk ensembles. These will provide space for student agency, improvisation, composition and movement possibilities. This component reinforces the composition, improvisation and arrangement aspects and expectations of AOSA approved levels courses.
Pre-requisite: participating teachers must have successfully completed at least Level 1 Orff Schulwerk teacher education course.
Instructor
Manju Durairaj was born and raised in India. She studied in Pune, India. She was involved in graduate research projects on comparative pedagogical practices of Indian (Carnatic) and Western Music at Middlesex University, London, UK. She graduated with her second master’s degree and K-12 certification from VanderCook College of Music, Chicago. Manju is the Lower School Music Teacher at the Latin School of Chicago. She is vice president elect DEI of AOSA, past president of the Greater Chicago Orff Chapter and is a certified Orff Schulwerk Levels Instructor. She is a certified Arts Integration specialist. She is on the Elementary General Music Council of IL Music Education Association. She is an adjunct professor at VanderCook College of Music, Chicago where she teaches curriculum design and elementary methods graduate and undergraduate courses. Her continuing teaching education courses, on campus and online, include Culturally Responsive Music Education, Technology, Arts Integration, Curriculum Development, Responsive Classroom, and Redesigning Teaching and Learning for 21st Century. She is a frequent clinician at various state, national, and international conferences. She has been published in the Orff Echo, Reverberations, Illinois Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, and the Journal of the Council for Research in Music Education. Her publications with Hal Leonard include InterAct with Music Assessment Levels 1 and 2, InterAct Levels 1&2 Student Activities for Devices and Print, Technology in Today’s Music Classroom and Dancing Around the World with Music Express Magazine.