What is the Kodály Method

Kodaly was an incredible composer and music educator. One story goes that in 1925, Kodaly overheard schoolchildren singing and was so appalled, that he set out to overhaul Hungary’s music education system

Kodaly believed that heritage and culture was very important in one’s music education. And he asserted there was no better music than that of a child’s culture to teach children basic musical literacy. This is why all of the songs used to teach are children’s folk songs and folk games.

The central principles of Kodaly are these:

1. Music should be taught from a young age. Kodaly believed that music was among, if not the most important subject to teach in schools
2. Music should be taught in a logical and sequential manner.
3. There should be a pleasure in learning music; learning should not be torturous.
4. The voice is the most accessible, universal instrument.
5. The musical material should be taught in the contest of the mother-tongue folk song.

The Kodaly method places an emphasis on intuitive, interactive learning. The techniques used to engage the students as much as possible and integrate body movement and singing.

• We will be using a movable “do” system.
• We will use handsigns for movable “do”.
• Rhythm is going to be a core subject in what I teach. (Yes! Even preschoolers can read rhythms and LOVE IT!)

Students will learn how to look at music and be able to hear it in their heads before they hear it in their ears.

We will be learning how to read music like they can read their books.