Welsh in the Kodály classroom

How can we best use the Kodály approach in Wales?  Are there any Welsh pentatonic folk songs?  Many schools in Wales are bilingual, but often children arrive in the classroom with little or no Welsh language skills.  Can using the Kodály approach help to support their language acquisition?  How do we support those whose mother-tongue is Welsh using the rich folksong tradition in Wales?  An opportunity to discuss these questions and find out more!

Lucy Clement-Evans

Originally from Birmingham, Lucy has lived in Wales since 1996.  She came to Wales to study music at Bangor University where she graduated with a BMus degree, and subsequently an MA.  She plays the piano and clarinet, but her passion is for music education.

In 2002 Lucy was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Scholarship to research interactive music education in America, Germany and Luxembourg.  During her time abroad, Lucy became certain that she wanted to work in music education, more specifically with young children.  She investigated a range of approaches of music education searching for training opportunities, and discovered the Sound Beginnings Professional Development Certificate in Early Years Music (Kodály) which she completed in 2004.  The Kodály approach has been the foundation of her work ever since.  However, in 2015 Lucy decided to begin training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and was awarded her Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics in 2018.  Never one to miss an opportunity for further study, Lucy is currently studying for the Kodály Certificate in Professional Practice, Primary Level 2.

During her career, Lucy has worked in schools, with festivals, in the William Mathias Music Centre, and trained as a primary school teacher gaining her PGCE in 2006.  Lucy has been a music tutor with Sistema Cymru, Codi’r To since September 2016 and is responsible for the musicianship work with pupils from nursery to Year 2.  She is also Lead Education Practitioner with Ensemble Cymru (professional chamber music ensemble) for a project with Ysgol Tudno for 6 months aiming to make chamber music a part of the everyday life of the school.