The Application of the Orff Schulwerk Approach to Improve the Pedagogical Competency of Teacher Candidates

Abstract

The Orff schulwerk is one of the creative approaches in the music learning process. The aim of this approach is to develop the sense of ‘pulses, meters, tempos, and rhythms’ physically by expressing those elements of music through movement and music activities. In our research, we propose to apply this approach to improve the pedagogical competency of teacher candidates that will be needed when they have to teach music in school. By using the method of action research, teacher candidates are treated to apply this approach. The findings is the understanding of Orff schulwerk approach in the music learning process is depend on the teacher candidates’ confidence to express their musical ideas freely. The result show that the more freely they expresses their musical ideas through exploration activities, the better the improvement of their pedagogical competency in teaching music. The conclusion is the application of Orff schulwerk approach can improve the teacher candidates’ pedagogical competency as long as they understand that teaching music in school is not to make professional musicians, but to foster the characters of students that related to the educational goals in the school curriculum of Indonesia, i.e. the students character building.