Kodály method
[1] Kodály became interested in the music education of children in 1925 when he overheard some students singing songs that they had learned at school.
Kodály was appalled by the standard of the children's singing, and was inspired to do something to improve the music education system in Hungary.
His work resulted in the publication of several highly influential books that have had a profound impact on musical education both inside and outside his home country.
[2]: 16–17 Kodály’s efforts finally bore fruit in 1945 when the new Hungarian government began to implement his ideas in the public schools.
[7]: 15 The creators of the Kodály method researched music educational techniques used throughout the world and incorporated those they felt were the best and most suited for use in Hungary.
[5]: 58 The Kodály method incorporates rhythm syllables similar to those created by nineteenth-century French theoretician Emile-Joseph Chêvé.
The Kodály method also includes the use of rhythmic movement, a technique inspired by the work of Swiss music educator Emile Jaques-Dalcroze.
[5]: 45 Kodály was first exposed to this technique while visiting England, where a movable-do system created by Sarah Glover and augmented by John Curwen was being used nationwide as a part of choral training.
[5]: 44 Kodály found movable-do solfège to be helpful in developing a sense of tonal function, thus improving students’ sight-singing abilities.
The first Kodály exercise books were based on the diatonic scale,[7]: 3 but educators soon found that children struggled to sing half steps in tune and to navigate within such a wide range.
Only after children become comfortable with these pitches are fa and ti introduced, a much simpler feat when taught in relation to the already established pentatonic scale.
Kodály added to Curwen’s hand signs upward/downward movement, allowing children to actually see the height or depth of the pitch.
[7]: 14 In 2016, computer scientists at Northwestern University invented an instrument which is controlled by the hand signs, facilitating their learning.
[12] Studies have shown that the Kodály method improves intonation, rhythm skills, music literacy, and the ability to sing in increasingly complex parts.
[13]: 24 Outside music, it has been shown to improve perceptual functioning, concept formation, motor skills, and performance in other academic areas such as reading and mathematics.
