Five days of exciting music making and learning, led by international experts, Maree Henessey and Rosalie Scott, inspired by the Kodály approach to music making and learning – along with conducting with local choral expert, Andrew Withington, and evening sessions from local musicians, to widen our practice, including Kapa Haka, West African drumming and more.
This summer we are offering an overview of the approach, that gives a taster of the level training, with examples of how the approach can be used throughout a child’s school years from primary to upper secondary. Participants will study musicianship, methodology, conducting and choir and can enter at any level of musicianship and conducting, from beginner to advanced.
After the five days, participants are welcome to enrol in an online mentorship programme, led by Maree and Rosalie, and Ōtautahi members will also have local mentoring available. The mentorship programme will also be available to people who have completed at least one level of Kodály training, through any accredited provider.
There are part time streams and a full time stream and options suitable for classroom teachers with limited musical experience as well as for music major graduates and musicians with no teaching experience. Choir leaders can opt to just attend musicianship, conducting and choir or attend the full programme.
Scholarships available for recent music performance graduates, and lived experience cultural experts.
About the Kodály approach
The Kodály approach is holistic and accessible, for teachers who are passionate about helping all their students become resilient learners and lifelong musicians.
When music is taught or learned using Kodály’s approach, skills vital to advanced music making such as “inner hearing”, rhythmic co-ordination and harmonic hearing are strongly developed at an early stage.
In a well researched pedagogical sequence, within a framework of folk songs and singing games, students learn through doing, playing and singing. Musical elements are experienced before being named and once learned are practised, and thoroughly understood before new elements are added.
Music making is at the centre, and classes are joyful, stimulating and fun.
Teachers trained in the Kodály approach are challenged to continually improve their own musicianship and teaching practise. They develop skills in long and short term planning with learners at the centre.
One of the most exciting parts of embarking on this journey is the opportunity to develop your own musicianship. The course meets the needs of beginner to advanced musicians.
The training is rigorous yet completely non competitive. Teacher training is joyful, challenging, liberating, musical, fun and transformative.