The Kodály concept is an approach to teaching music developed by the Hungarian composer and educator Zoltan Kodály in the mid-twentieth century. He believed that every child should have access to good quality music training from the youngest age possible.
There is no Kodály “method” as such. He left us a set of guidelines and his thoughts on the importance of good music education. Several of his ideas inform our work at Reel Kids, including:
- music education should start from a young age
- singing is the best instrument (we all have a voice)
- unaccompanied singing is best for children
- relative solfa, rhythm names and hand signs are tools used by Kodály educators
- folk songs and movement are important to aid learning
Through unaccompanied singing and active participation, children can begin to acquire musical skills such as memory, inner hearing and good intonation – all extremely useful and necessary skills when learning to play an instrument.
“There is no complete spiritual life without music, for the human soul has regions which can be illuminated only by music.”
Kodály