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  • ORFF MUSIC & MOVEMENT in EARLY CHILDHOOD
  • Orff-Afrique Master Class (Summer 2027)

Where Innovation Meets Tradition

Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2026 Courses! (Please note that due to scheduling conflicts with Hidden Valley, this year’s Certification Course schedule is unusual, beginning on a Friday and ending on a Tuesday. This is a one-year change only.)

”A music exclusively for children that could be played, sung and danced by them, but that could also in a similar way be invented by them— a world of their own.”
– Carl Orff

Orff Schulwerk is a dynamic approach to music and movement education created by composer Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman.  Proceeding from a strong conviction in each child’s natural musical promise, the Orff approach draws it forth through the child’s world of games, chant, song, movement, folk dance, drama and work on specially designed Orff instruments just right for the beginning musician. With over a half-a-century of tried-and-true practice in over 40 countries worldwide, the Orff approach remains on the cutting edge of all educational practice.

The only course of its kind, The San Francisco International Orff Course combines the structure and sequence of the American Levels Training courses with multicultural material and an international student body representing over 25 countries. We attract music specialists, dance teachers, classroom teachers and professional musicians eager to learn how to engage their students in joyful dance and music-making. Our esteemed faculty have between 10 and 50 years of experience working with children and are much in demand giving teacher-training workshops and courses nationwide and worldwide. 

This year, we are offering three different courses. (See Menu-in the upper right corner-for further information about each course).

 

  • LEVELS I, II and III — July 24 – August 4, 2026. These Orff certification courses take place at Hidden Valley Music Seminars,  a beautiful retreat setting in the Carmel Valley, two hours south of San Francisco. The camp atmosphere allows for complete immersion and many opportunities for more music and dance when the day’s formal classes are done.
  • THE JAZZ COURSE:  June 21- July 2, 2026. Jazz is American music celebrated worldwide, but rarely included in the elementary music program. This course offers a rare opportunity to learn and experience jazz accessible to children of all ages in the place where it was born— New Orleans! Participants will learn, games, songs, dances, jazz arrangements for Orff Ensemble and more by day and explore the  rich musical offerings out in the city by night. No previous jazz or Orff experience required—all are welcome!
  • ORFF MUSIC & MOVEMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD—July 20-22, 2026.  This unique 3-day course, held at The San Francisco School, brings together Orff specialists and TK-3rd grade classroom teachers to explore, collaborate, and create.  The two areas of focus are Integration and Music & Movement Stories.  A perfect way to discover new ways to weave music and movement into the science, math, and language arts curriculum.

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