Kodaly-based approach to music through singing games

What is it ?
A hands-on, active approach to learning about music and musicianship. Suitable for any age and ability, based on the life work of Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) a Hungarian composer, folk-song collector and teacher. Kodaly believed children should learn about musicianship – about the nuts and bolts of music before learning to play a musical instrument. We challenge children when we give them an instrument and expect them to produce a musical sound at the same time as we expect them to understand the complex system of dots and lines on a page called ‘music’.

Through singing games involving beat, rhythm and pitch, musicianship is actively and naturally assimilated.

What do I do?
I facilitate workshops and musicianship programmes based on the Kodaly approach to learning music, in Aberdeen and North East Scotland. Participants learn fundamental musical concepts through rhythm and singing games.

What do participants gain?
Bypass the typical frustrations of struggling with musical notation. Gain a deeper feel for beat, rhythm and pitch. Create your own rhythmic and melodic patterns as you gain an understanding of each concept. It is not an instant method of learning, but it should stick and it certainly is fun.

• Helps both physical and mental coordination
• Encourages creativity
• Encourages mental agility
• Develops team work
• Provides a solid foundation for learning a musical instrument.

Music tuition

• Highly experienced piano teacher
• Successful tuition at all grades
• Specialise in motivating and empowering the reluctant or frustrated student!

Dance music

I play piano (in the Cape Breton percussive style) with the yousedancin? ceilidh band.

More information

• Contact me to find out more.
• Kodaly views: information and further links about the Kodaly approach on the National Youth Choir of Scotland site.