The BKA is currently offering a CPD-accredited Certificate of Professional Practice in the Kodály Concept of Music Education.

This is available in four strands – Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Instrumental.

All four strands are offered at Level 1, for those with prior musical training. Students may have prior experience of the Kodály approach but this is not essential.

Level 2 (Primary strand only) was offered for the first time commencing at the Summer School 2017 and will next be offered in 2019

Level 2 for Early Childhood, Secondary and Instrumental, and a Diploma (for those wishing to teach adults) are currently in development.

For 2019/20 applicants, the Level One course will commence at the Summer School 2019

To apply please wait until bookings are open for the Summer School and then select the Certification option.

2018/19 fees can be downloaded here
Certificate Course Levels 1 fees 18-19

Level 1 is commensurate with our previous HE1 Springboard course (i.e. roughly first-year undergraduate level) and Level 2 is commensurate with our previous HE3 Springboard course (i.e. roughly third-year undergraduate level).

Level One

Level One will comprise:

Musicianship – approx. 20 hours
Methodology – approx. 10 hours
Teaching Techniques – approx. 6 hours
Repertoire/Song Analysis – approx. 6 hours
Conducting – approx. 6 hours plus 11 hours choir attendance
Kodály Philosophy (Level 1 only) – mostly self-study

At Level One students may opt for one of the following strands:
Early Childhood; Primary; Secondary; Instrumental

The course will be divided into two halves. Students may undertake just Part 1 in one academic year, and complete Part 2 in a subsequent academic year.

Part 1: Summer School (August 2019 tbc) and Study Weekend (Autumn 2019 tbc)
Part 2: 3 day course (Spring 2020 tbc) and Study/Assessment Weekend (June 2020 tbc)
It is essential that students attend all these designated study periods.

Each half of the course will contain assessment tasks. Upon successful completion of these tasks the student will gain credits towards the final qualification. Some tasks are written and some are practical. Successful completion of the Level One Certificate will be dependent on the attainment of a Level 4 musicianship assessment. The musicianship assessments will be available at two points during the year. NB The certificate course does not include additional training that some students may require to attain the appropriate level of musicianship.

Level Two

The Level Two Certificate course will be offered to those with several years of experience of Kodály training and teaching who have attained Level 4 Musicianship skills or higher. The successful completion of Level Two will include the attainment of a Level 8 Musicianship Assessment (Level 10 for Secondary).

For 2019/20 applicants, the Level Two course will commence at the Summer School 2019 (August 2019).

Level Two Methodology will include:

The process of teaching any new melodic element (toneset)

• how to collect and sequence songs for teaching any new toneset
• how and why to associate kinaesthetic and visual experiences to the auditive ones in the preparatory phase
• role of singing-games in the teaching of any new melodic element
• how to associate name, sound and symbol in the practising phase
• how to develop different musical skills (including musical hearing, sight-reading and musical writing, creativity) while reinforcing and deepening any new toneset

Music listening: Developing attentive listening skills with the aid of movement

• games for teaching how to be in a quiet and listening mood
• role of song-teaching by rote through conscious observation in the development of attentive music listening
• music listening examples to develop the sense of beat, metre and form through associated movements
• music listening examples for experiencing and differentiating timbres, dynamics, tempi, characters etc.

Development of polyphonic sense

• how to guide children from the simplest rhythm or melodic conversation to the singing of bicinia

Upon enrolment, students will receive the student handbook which details all aspects of the course.

For further queries please contact Lucinda Geoghegan: education@kodaly.org.uk

“It is essential that the material used should be musically attractive. If children do not look forward with thrilled expectation to the music lesson, no result is to be hoped for; if they do not feel refreshed and full of joy, all labour is lost.” Zoltán Kodály