There are three philosophies and methodologies used in teaching music at Ruffing. They are integrated into each lesson and used in a unified way to provide the children with maximum experience and information.

Eurhythmics/Dalcroze Method
The first is the Eurhythmics/Dalcroze Method used for guiding students to experience the elements of music such as rhythm and melody through sequenced movements led by the teacher. This process is helpful for separating beat from rhythm, helping students to feel phrasing and melody, and creating an atmosphere of musical independence and creative expression that is unique to each child. The class is set up so that students perceive and respond to variations in the music thus internalizing relationships in the music. Their response is total: mind, body, ears, eyes, feelings. These experiences lead to music reading and performing.

Orff-Schulwerk Process
The Orff-Schulwerk Process involves the child in a total musical experience; including singing, speech, movement, instrumental playing and drama, pitched and non-rhythmic and melodic ostinati (repeated patterns) which enhance musical concepts, creativity, and facilitate improvisation and composition.

Kodaly Method
The Kodaly Method is focused on the melodic and rhythmic aspects of music making and is analytic in nature. The process relates to singing with solfege (do, re, mi, etc.), learning hand signals for the tones of the scale, ear training, sightseeing, part singing and greater melodic awareness. It also uses syllables for speaking and analyzing the rhythms used in our music (ta=quarter note, etc.).