| The Kodaly Method (pronounced ko-day, with a silent | | | | The same applies for the development of musical |
| "l") is a musical education paradigm used to build | | | | literacy, using the Kodaly method. |
| singing and ear tuning abilities in young children. Using | | | | The Kodaly method teaches singing and listening |
| the Kodaly method for musical training, children are | | | | techniques comprised of rhythm symbols and |
| able to develop their musical ability by singing | | | | syllables, along with hand signals to demonstrate the |
| traditional folk songs. There is no musical "grade" with | | | | relationship between tones. The hand signals enable |
| the method, as is awarded in piano or other | | | | students to visualise the tone, to determine whether |
| instruments. | | | | it is rising or falling. |
| Instead, the aim of the Kodaly method is to assist | | | | By way of introduction, songs or melodies that are |
| every child to become musically literate. This is done | | | | native to the student are introduced first. Primarily |
| by utilising several approaches, central to the Kodaly | | | | these must be in the mother tongue (from their |
| method: use of rhythm, solfege, sight-reading, | | | | country of native origin), for greatest effect. Songs |
| listening, writing, performing and creating music. | | | | from other cultures can be gradually introduced, |
| Musical literacy is also developed using aural and visual | | | | which concentrate on vocal awareness, to widen the |
| memory experiences. | | | | singing voice. |
| Building on this basic understanding they soon learn | | | | Young children start at the base level where they are |
| how to perform, listen to and analyse classical music | | | | taught to sing in tune to match musical patterns. For |
| of the world. Further, their skills increase in order to | | | | example, Do-Ray, Do-Ray-Mi, etc. Building on this, |
| compose music of their own. | | | | children learn to say musical words in a rhythm, and |
| The basic philosophy of the Kodaly method teaches | | | | clap a beat. |
| that all people who are capable of "lingual literacy" | | | | One key aspect of the Kodaly method is the use of |
| (those who have the ability to speak) are also | | | | the body in the expression of music. So in addition to |
| capable of musical literacy. Musical literacy skills are | | | | bringing their voice in tune and clapping to the beat, |
| built from the basic understanding of language | | | | the next level is to step to a beat. They will also |
| development. | | | | learn how to clap the rhythm of a text, and clap the |
| There are three sequential learning concepts that are | | | | rhythm while thinking about the words whilst not |
| traditionally learnt in language development: | | | | voicing them out loud. |
| 1. Aural - students first learn to listen to sounds and | | | | For more advanced users of the Kodaly method, |
| tones in order to form words 2. Written - once | | | | classical instruments such as xylophones (with |
| words are understood, words and tones can be | | | | removable bars) and recorders are introduced. But |
| translated into written form 3. Reading - the student | | | | for the beginner, learning music using the Kodaly |
| develops the ability to read written material | | | | method is akin to learning a language. |