Music in the Classroom: Zoltan Kodaly

A major philosophy in music education is Zoltan Kodaly who lived from 1882 till 1967. He was a Hungarian composer who turned to education and devised a system of musical education. This system, known as the Kodaly method, incorporates folk music into the classroom. Kodaly's system had a profound effect on his country and his system eventually spread throughout the world (Young 1976).

Kodaly felt that music is a necessity of life and that only music of the finest quality is good enough for children. He feels that music education should begin nine months before the birth of child. He feels that music instruction must be a part of general education for everyone, as it trains a child to listen and pay attention (Kodaly 1983).

Kodaly feels that the approach to teaching music is based on using folk music. He then goes on to identify folk music, as students' own folk music, as in music that relates to them, such as patriotic songs (Young 1976). He feels that this is a starting point for musical learning. Students will begin to understand and appreciate all styles, genre and cultures of music, bringing about understanding and tolerance (Kodaly 1983).

According to Kodaly, because young children natural means of expression is the voice, music instruction should be verbally based. Children are taught through their own singing games, to sing in tune, to improvise and to sight sing music (Kodaly 1983).

The ability to read and understand the notion of music is central to Kodaly's goal of making children independent. He feels that ear training children helps them process information from concrete to abstract. He feels that it is a four step processes teaching preparation, awareness, reinforcement, and evaluation. The melodic and rhythmic elements introduced are done so in a precise and orderly sequence, providing children with examples of structure (Young 1976). The primary use of a vocal method helps student become better verbal and auditory learners, as well as increase and provide them with an opportunity to practice their vocabulary.

REFERENCES

Young, P.M. (1976). Zoltan Kodaly: A Hungarian Musician. Greenwood Publishing Group. Wesport, CT

Kodaly, Z. (1983). Selected writings of Zoltan Kodaly. Boosey & Hawkes. New York, NY