Articles

Developing the Musical Skills of Children with Down Syndrome through the Orff Approach

AUTHOR :
Mahmoud Ahmed Elwakeel, Jacqueline Gamal Seydhom
INFORMATION:
page. 113~138 / 2025 Vol.54 No.3
e-ISSN 2713-3788
p-ISSN 1229-4179

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program based on the Orff approach in enhancing the musical skills of children with Down syndrome, with a particular focus on their ability to play Orff instruments\. A single\-group pre\-test–post\-test experimental design was employed to evaluate the program’s impact\. The participants were eleven children with Down syndrome residing at the Al\-Folk Charitable Foundation in Akwa Al\-Hissa, Kafr El\-Zayat, Tanta, Gharbia, during the 2022–2023 academic year\. They took part in a structured rehabilitation program grounded in Orff’s pedagogy, which emphasizes experiential learning through rhythm, movement, singing, and instrument playing\. The program was conducted once a week for 60 minutes over a 20\-week period\. Data were collected using an observation checklist designed to assess Orff instrument performance skills, supported by a teacher’s guide for program implementation\. The findings revealed statistically significant improvements in both overall performance and sub\-skills, with post\-test scores significantly higher than pre\-test scores\. Furthermore, the program demonstrated substantial effectiveness in improving musical performance, underscoring its educational value for children with Down syndrome\. These outcomes highlight the potential of Orff\-based rehabilitation programs and recommend their broader application, as well as future studies to examine long\-term benefits and adaptability across diverse educational settings\.

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