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A Music Revolution!!: The Zoltan Kodaly Way

© Deborah Jeter

The Kodaly Method, Kodaly Philosophy, The Kodaly Concept, The Kodaly Approach, however you want to say it, it's applications get results! Never before had I experienced such an increase in musicality as when I began using Kodaly's sequencing with my students.

In this article, you will find:

1. Background on Zoltan Kodaly 2. Explanations on the Methodology 3. Classroom Applications

Zoltan Kodaly was born in Galanta, Hungary in 1882 and died in 1967. He was Hungary's greatest composer and music pedagogue. Today, Kodály's music teaching methods are world famous. In Kecskemét, there is the Zoltán Kodály Grammar School where children receive an extensive education in music, and since 1975 the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Pedagogy where music teachers from all over the world can learn Kodály's teaching system.

Background on Kodály

• The Zoltan Kodály Homepage

Perhaps the best place to begin learning about Zoltan Kodaly is, of course, the Zoltan Kodaly Homepage. However, I found the information to be somewhat sketchy in sections but there is this page, which explains the rhythmic syllables used and information on sol-fa or solfege, which is helpful in understanding the principles and basis for using the Kodaly Approach.

• The next site, gives a good overview of the various events in Kodaly's life. It has succinct and helpful information for presenting a thorough background on Kodaly to your students.
• If you have additional interests in the city of Kecskemet, this site, is very good.

Methodology

According to Kodály, because young children's natural means of musical expression is the voice, music instruction should be vocally based. Children are taught through their own singing games to sing in tune, to improvise, and to sight sing music.

Music Education: Methods of Jaques-Dalcroze, Kodaly, Orff

Classroom Applications and Beyond

Music, The Universal Language

Offers a brief overview of the principles and approaches to teaching music.

The Musical Fun site for Teacher's Songs and Games

At this site there are listening activities, info on composers, music software, a strategy for teaching songs to elementary children, a lesson on keeping the beat, and a paper on, "Whole Language" and it's lessons for teaching "Music Literacy".

And for good listening resources, go here and here.

Kodaly Institutes Some of the best institutes for getting a Kodaly certification.

Bibliographies on Kodaly

A Bookstore with lots of great Kodaly resources

An Article on the Kodaly Method offered at MusicStaff.com. Supply some feedback, so we can all benefit from networking.

British Kodaly Academy The British Kodály Academy is a registered charity dedicated to working for the improvement of British music education through courses, workshops and demonstrations relating the philosophy and practice of Zoltán Kodály to British musical heritage.

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