Music at Ashby Primary School

 

The Ashby Primary School music philosophy is a system of music education that has evolved from the inspiration and creativity of Zoltán Kodály. This philosophy was not invented by Kodály, but became famous because of his personal guidance of the Hungarian schools. In 1950 the first "music primary" school began in Kesckmet, Hungary. It was in this school that children received daily singing lessons, which in turn taught them the foundations of music. From 1950 to the present, this Kodály philosophy has influenced music education in over eighteen nations.

 

At Ashby Primary School there are Kodály methods being taught in every music lesson.

 

The musical objectives of Kodály musical training is to train all children to:

• Sing, play instruments and dance from memory, a large number of traditional singing games, chants, and folk songs, drawn first from the child's own heritage of folk song material and later expanded to include music of other cultures and countries.

• Perform, listen to, and analyze the great art music of the world.

• Achieve mastery of musical skills, such as musical reading and writing, singing and part-singing.

• Improvise and compose, using their known musical vocabulary at each developmental level.

 

 

How is the Kodály Philosophy Taught?

• Rhythm symbols and syllables are utilised.

• Hand signals (Solfege) are used to show tonal relationships.

• The moveable "do" is practiced.

• The musical material emphasised are a collection of folk songs and repertoire carefully selected for young children

• Concepts are taught according to the child's learning development.

• Singing is the major instrument. All children can sing and be successful

 

The children hear it first

Then sing

Then understand

Then read and write

And then create