About Zoltán Kodály
“To be concerned with the kindergarten and its music is not a minor pedagogical matter, but the very building of a nation.” - Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer and pedagogue. His belief about the spiritual, cultural, and emotional influence of music on young minds inspired him to provide principles of music education. With these values in mind, Kodály and his followers developed the Kodály inspired music education philosophies, which are included in the education policies of several countries and are actively used in classrooms today.
The Kodály Philosophy
Kodály inspired music education is an approach to music education rooted in the idea that music should be a social and cultural experience. Kodály believed that everyone is born with musical aptitude that should be developed as early as possible, first at home, then within the regular school curriculum. The aim is to instil a love of music in each child.
The Kodály Methodology
The Kodály approach is dynamic, age-specific, sequential, scientific, enjoyable, progressive and ever-evolving. The process involves a sequential layering of skills and concepts designed to build success for every child. Understanding rhythm develops through rhythmic syllables and multiple movement activities. Melodic and harmonic understanding develops through Solfege syllables using the moveable “do” system, interval training, and hand signs. The process begins with singing games and leads to instrument playing, improvising, composing and arranging, reading and notating, analyzing, and evaluating.
Using the natural instrument
The human voice is a natural and available instrument. Singing is the foundation of children’s musical development. Just as children develop language by hearing and imitating speech patterns, they learn to match pitch and sing in tune by listening and imitating patterns. Almost all children can sing age-specific songs in tune. Next, singing in harmony further develops the ear, fosters artistry within groups of music makers, and creates a sense of community.
Kodály training develops musicianship through singing. The student engages in the most direct of musical responses without the technical demands of an instrument. This practical approach, combined with a clear progression from the simple to the complex, facilitates the development of excellent musicianship skills, such as sight-singing and keen pitch discrimination, high levels of musical literacy. Kodály training is suitable for all ages and stages and facilitates all musical forms like classical, Bollywood, popular, Jazz, etc.