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03
JUN
Kodaly (born on December 16, 1882, in Kecskemt, Hungary and died, March 6,
1967, in Budapest), was a prominent composer and authority on Hungarian folk
music. He was also important as an educator, not only of composers but also of
teachers and, through his students, contributed heavily to the spread of musical
education in Hungary. He was a chorister in his youth at Nagyszombat (now
Trnava), Czech., where he wrote his rst compositions. In 1902, he studied
composition in Budapest. He toured his country in his rst quest for folksong sources in the year before his graduation from Budapest University with a
Cate
thesis (1906) on the structure of Hungarian folk song. After studying for a short
time in Paris with the composer-organist Charles Widor, he became teacher of
theory and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music (1907-41).
First o, let me say that in order to give a complete overview of the Kodaly
Method would take more than just this article to accomplish. I hope to give you
enough information on the advantages of using the Kodaly Method for teaching
music, so that you will continue your learning through the resource books that I
listed at the bottom of this article. Here are some of the key elements used in the
Kodaly method.
Steady beat is the rst concept taught in level one. Notice that I say level and
not grade. Kodaly is a concept that is non-graded. This makes the teaching of the
most fundamental concepts applicable even to beginners of music education in
highschool and beyond. The sequence of the concepts stay the same, but the
material used to teach these concepts are age appropriate and left up to the
discretion of the teacher.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on using the pentatonic scale in the beginning.
One of the great advantages of using the pentatonic scale is that the notes
represent all of the intervals that are needed in singing in an extended range as
the voice develops but will not put unnecessary strain on the inexperienced
singer. Another wonderful advantage of singing pentatonic songs are because
instruments are easily incorporated for improvisational purposes. Any tone
played in a pentatonic scale will blend (or sound right) with the singers
pentatonic song.
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sightreading.
NOTE: The rst interval taught using the Kodaly Method, is the falling minor third.
(derivative from many childrens songs, such as tattle-tail, and rain, rain, go
away)
This example demonstrates the use of pictures and hand signals which help the
student better understand the overall concept of sight reading.
The Kodaly Method was not invented by Kodaly, but is a system of music education
which was evolved in the Hungarian schools under his inspiration and guidance.
its possibilities with your own students. You may nd students understanding and
mastering musical concepts more quickly and singing more beautifully than you
ever imagined.
Quote: If there is something to be gained and very little to loose, then by all
means, TRY! W. Clements Stone
Additional Links
Kodaly Institute
American Kodaly Institute
Kodaly Music Institute
Resource Books on Kodaly
Kodaly Today: A Cognitive Approach to Elementary Music Education
the Kodaly Method I: Comprehensive Music Education
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