Teaching Through Singing (Kodaly Approach)

Organization of American Kodály Educators (2018). The Kodály concept. Retrieved from https://www.oake.org/about-us/the-kodaly-concept/
mrfrederickmusic (2012, August, 3). Interview with Zoltan Kodály [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dow-m3BuuNk
J.I M (2015, July 7). Kodály summer school [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrTshUY1oko.

From the interview I watched between Kodály and the conductor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, I learned a lot about Kodaly's background and his approach to teaching. One of the things I learned was that his approach was based on Hungarian Folk songs because that is where he is from. He believed that if this was used in foreign countries that they should develop their own array of songs based on their own country and its traditions. This approach mainly focuses on singing, but Kodály also intended this to focus on some sort of improvisation because he believed that kids are able to take songs they've learned growing up and melodies they have heard and create their own music based on that.  He knew that introducing singing would be easier for students because they had heard music and folk songs from their family growing up. The goal of this approach is to develop a well rounded student. Students begin with certain musical skills that continue to grow and build off of one another. This approach allowed teachers to reach a wider range of students because teachers use music that more students can relate to, besides just classical music. Something interested Kodály stated in his interview was that the folk songs of certain countries could easily translated into classical music. This means that his method could foster music making in other aspects like playing instruments. Something else I learned from this reading is that the Kodály approach uses a lot of selfege to develop students musical and listening skills. They are able to hear melodies, harmonies, and dictate them all. After watching the videos and reading the article I learned a lot about Kodály, why and how he created this approach, and how it can foster life long music making for all students.