Instrument Explorers is an Orff-based early childhood music class, taught by certified Orff instructors, that introduces the joys of music making in a fun and educationally stimulating environment.
Through the use of various instruments, songs, movement, and games children will be introduced to the building blocks of instrumental and ensemble playing. Students will explore a variety of instruments including glockenspiel, xylophone, metallophone, ukulele, recorder, hand percussion, and world music instruments.
So what is the Orff approach to music education? Developed by composer and music educator Carl Orff along with his colleague Gunhild Keetman, the Orff approach is a well-known and established holistic approach to music and education based on the belief that all children possess innate musical talent and only need to be encouraged for it to grow. The Orff approach exposes children to music through singing, rhythm, improvisation, experimentation, ensemble playing, movement, and dance. Students will organically learn musical concepts by playing, experiencing, and sharing music making.
We offer financial aid and scholarships for all School of Music programs including private lessons for children and adults. For more information click here.
Patti Onorato earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She has sung, acted, and played various instruments in the U.S. and overseas with composers, performing artists, poets, visual and dance artists, and rock bands. With these collaborations she has worked on new music and new music theatre and opera pieces, often premiering the new works. Other performance projects include; soloist for The Old Moscow Circus in Japan as well as music director and composer for an all-woman cast of Julius Caesar (Juli Caesar).
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While performing internationally and in the states, Patti studied the “Orff Schulwerk Approach” at the Bloomingdale House of Music in NYC, and through Brooklyn Conservatory and Trevor Day School workshops. Patti has also studied West African drumming and dance, guitar, drums, piano, and recorder.
From 1997-2020 Patti was an instructor at Turtle Bay Music School where she helped to develop and teach in the Tuneful Sequence/Orffestra, Carnival of the Instruments, and Musical Mornings programs, teaching ages 12 months through 10 years. She has also taught as a PS Outreach music specialist for many schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn teaching PreK through 5th grades, and helped to establish a collaborative program for Public School Outreach Programs, combining the Orff Schulwerk with artists who specialized in Rock/Jazz, Modern Dance, Columbian Music, and Afro-Caribbean music.
Patti is thrilled to continue her teaching journey with friends and families at 92nd Street Y!
Instrument Explorers / Ages 1½-2½
Instrument Explorers / Ages 2½-3
Instrument Explorers / Ages 3-4
Instrument Explorers / Ages 4-5