Have you ever heard of something called Orff? It's not a character in "Star Wars" or "Lord of the Rings." It's actually a method to teach music.
K-8 music teacher Shawn Lopez started using the Orff Approach at Rolling Hills Public Charter School in Boise at the beginning of this school year.
"It's kind of like the building blocks. You've got to start simple and then kind of build on that," Lopez said.
The Orff Approach was developed by German composer Carl Orff in the 1920s. Lopez explained the basic concept.
"Students should have the ability to just be able to experience and enjoy music through instruments like xylophones," Lopez said. "Experience it through the simplicity of performing them."
Lopez says xylophones are key to the approach because of that simplicity. They can be played by students no matter their musical ability.
"Play a simple note, but still feel a part of the production," Lopez said.
Kids can start with one note and build up to two and so on.
"I want them to feel a sense of accomplishment," Lopez said.
They can also be part of something bigger than themselves when they play as a group.
"We all have different parts that we play, but there's this idea that what we're creating together there's really a sense of community," Lopez said.
And the students get it.
"Whether you have a musical background or not we can all come and play different parts to make a beautiful piece," 6th grader Brennan Priebe said.
Plus "they make a really cool sound," 6th grader Karly Kidder said.
The really cool sounds of many xylophones, plus recorders and singers, all came together to make a beautiful piece at the school's recent holiday concert.
"We didn't miss a note at the concert, and it's just awesome," Kidder said.
That's music to Shawn Lopez's ears.
"I feel really great because I got to see everyone on there contributing and doing their part and being able to see the bigger picture, and seeing their faces' reaction," Lopez said. "It just lets me know you're in the right field, you're doing the right thing and you are making a difference in these students lives."
One side note: Lopez used a $750 grant from CapEd Credit Union to buy several xylophones.