Well, here goes - I spent a large part of Saturday at the Guildhall practice annexe in London, observing Cyrilla teaching Kodaly to a string of children from ages 5-11!!!

It was absolutely fascinating.

I observed her teaching all ages, from the beginner class (5-6 year olds) to the most advanced, who were 11 year olds. The difference was stunning, so you could easily see how much they had learned in their years there.

It was part of the Guildhall String Training programme, where the children spend a morning having an individual instrumental lesson, an ensemble session, a group Kodaly lession, a group Dalcroze lesson, and the chance to perform in the weekly concert. I observed everything except an ensemble session.

So to go back to the Kodaly, by the time they were 11, the children could recognise and name any interval and sing beautifully in tune, both with each other and alone. They could sing in canon, and all the "growlers" had 'found their singing voice'. They could all also hear notes, melodies and intervals in their heads - an incalculable skill. Cyrilla is one phenomenal teacher and they all absolutely love her!

When I observed the instrumental lesson (a violin lesson with a great teacher), I could see how the pupil could bring what she had understood and absorbed in her Kodaly lessons to her violin lesson. So, when she was trying to work a passage out, she would sight-sing the music and then find the notes from what she was hearing in her head, which of course made her intonation second to none.

The Dalcroze was great too (another lovely teacher), in that it got children to recognise and feel phrasing in their whole bodies, another incalculable skill when learning to play an instrument. There would be much less need for the teacher to explain phrasing because the pupil would already instinctively recognise and understand how to phrase and play musically.

Another lovely touch was that Cyrilla would get each child to guess (sing) a note when they first entered her teaching room, and then double-check it with a tuning fork. They all got it right. The musicality these children were imbibing in the most natural way was a joy to behold, and it's only a shame that Kodaly sessions aren't available to all children everywhere, as they are in Hungary as a natural part of the school day.

We just don't seem to realise in this country how easily musical potential can be nurtured and developed in any child. This musical potential would have so many spin-offs and beneficial effects upon other aspects of a child's learning that it seems almost a crime to neglect it in the way we do.

Perhaps with the new government initiative on getting more music into schools they can be persuaded to take on more Kodaly teachers and provide a daily Kodaly lesson for all primary age children - now wouldn't that be something! I'm up for a campaign, anyway!

Anyway, many thanks to Cyrilla for a wonderful day, and I thoroughly recommend it to all teachers here.

Violinia

Oooo - wish there was a 'smilie' that showed blushing!

Lets hope the lacking of posting response to this topic doesn't imply lack of interest....

Violinia

Not at all, it sounds as though you had a very interesting morning. I thought the following point you made was very interesting:

QUOTE

Perhaps with the new government initiative on getting more music into schools they can be persuaded to take on more Kodaly teachers and provide a daily Kodaly lesson for all primary age children - now wouldn't that be something! I'm up for a campaign, anyway!

Do you consider that to be a better way to spend the money than in giving "every" child the opportunity to learn an instrument?

QUOTE

Do you consider that (Kodaly lessons) to be a better way to spend the money than in giving "every" child the opportunity to learn an instrument?

Yes I do, and because Kodaly can be learnt in a largish group there's no great financial disincentive to schools being able to afford both, especially if the children learn their instruments in group lessons as well.

However, I heard on the news yesterday that the government aren't actually going to be providing any more funding for this music initiative, which makes you want to weep, especially as this particular lot have been much better than most people realise at providing funding for all sorts of good thigs. Grrrr.

Best wishes

Violinia

QUOTE

Do you consider that to be a better way to spend the money than in giving "every" child the opportunity to learn an instrument

From the little I know about it I would say yes.
The all round musical skills it develops using the childs natural instrument (the voice) may even serve to get more children into playing instruments. If they do go on to play an instrument they have enormous learning advantages and if they don't they have still gained the musical awareness anyway.

And it must be more cost effective

QUOTE (Violinia @ Jul 8 2004, 01:54 PM)

However, I heard on the news yesterday that the government aren't actually going to be providing any more funding for this music initiative, which makes you want to weep, especially as this particular lot have been much better than most people realise at providing funding for all sorts of good thigs. Grrrr.

What!!!!!!!!!!! So where is the money supposed to come from? Will there be cut backs elsewhere to fund it I wonder?

Actually in my county the music service do provide free instruments and lessons for children in primary schools. At our local school there are free violin lessons and my daughter had lessons for two years before she left. However, although this was offered to everyone it was really only taken up by the more affluent parents who could in fact afford to pay for lessons and instruments for their child. So I feel a bit sceptical about this govt. initiative for free instrument lessons. Yes I think it is great for ALL children to be given these opportunities but how many children at the end of day will actually benefit. A child coming from a family that has no interest in music may not get the support that it needs. So maybe something like Kodaly which will involve all the children may be of more benefit.

Are there any good books giving the details of the Kodaly method? It is something I would love to find out more about and don't have the time for a course in the near future. Dalcroze too. Thanks.

It is incredibly difficult to get a really good idea of how the two approaches work without actually doing them! Written down it's just not the same....if you can't get to a course, the next best thing is to watch experienced teachers.

After that - well, books! The most comprehensive book is also the most expensive! It is an American publication, 'The Kodaly Method 1' by Lois Choksy (ISBN 0-13-949165-1). You may be able to find it in libraries, or eBay or Amazon - or get someone visiting the States to get you a copy.

The best book of material for 3-7 year olds is 'Singing Games and Rhymes for the Early Years' by Lucinda Geoghegan (available through the BKA website - www.britishkodalyacademy.org).

'Dalcroze Today' by Marie-Laure Bachmann (ISBN 0-19-317424-3) is pretty wordy but good. Unfortunately there is not, at the moment, a really practical book for help with teaching Dalcroze - but I believe this is being rectified soon.

Good luck - hope you find the books interesting and that they inspire you to find out more and eventually go on a course or two!

Thank you- both the Bachmann and what seems to be an earlier edition of the Choksy are in the library so I can start investigating.

Glad you've found them!

Do please let me know if anything isn't clear or if I can help in any other way.