Experienced band directors know they need teaching strategies and activities that are not only innovative but also provide creative and engaging breaks in the routine for students. In addition, expectations based on the National Standards suggest new approaches to many of the performance-polishing strategies directors have come to rely on. Teaching basic music concepts is an important part of any music program. Most ensemble directors want to improve their students' understanding of the foundations of music, even with the time constraints imposed by concert preparation. Focusing on fundamental concepts such as beat, meter, tempo, rhythm, and phrase structure improves student understanding and, therefore, performance. Surprisingly, a traditional approach from the general music classroom, Orff Schulwerk, offers fresh possibilities for ensemble directors and provides a variety of methods for effectively teaching music concepts. While Orff is often associated with younger students and pitched percussion instruments, the conceptual teaching possibilities include understanding advanced rhythm patterns, exploring beat and meter, enlarging melodic and harmonic vocabulary, and improvising--all concerns familiar to ensemble directors, but often not fully explored. Orff-Schulwerk strategies can help band students explore these concepts with hands-on activities and then transfer their experiences to performing.