ABOUT

Cantabella Training Choirs (CTC) offer an excellent program using the methods of Hungarian music educator Zoltan Kodály for our youngest members.  Singers progress through three training levels in classes with no more than 18 students to ensure more individual attention.

Here are the three levels of this division:

  • CTC-1: K – 1st grade

  • CTC-2: 2nd – 3rd grade

  • CTC-3: 4th – 5th grade

Training choir CURRICULUM

Cantabella Training Choir (CTC) & Kodály

CTC uses the Kodály Method as a vocal approach to teaching the skills of music literacy to young children. It evolved under the inspiration and guidance of the famous Hungarian composer and music educator, Zoltán Kodály.

Kodály’s Music Education Philosophy

• Is based on child-developmental research in its learning sequence and builds on the way young children progress naturally in music, from the minor third, through the notes of the pentatonic, to the full scales of the major and minor modes and beyond

• Begins with the total and concrete experience then moves to the symbolization of that experience

• Follows the same learning process as that of language

  1. Aural – Oral – Kinesthetic

  2. Written – Pictorial – Abstract

  3. Read – Recognized

• Orders musical concepts in a logical sequence with each concept being:

  1. prepared

  2. made conscious

  3. practiced

• Is more concerned with the functional aspect of music reading rather than just the ability to name musical terms.

Major Goals of the Kodály Concept:

• To develop music literacy, that is the skills of music reading and writing through sequential development (to be able to read, aurally perceive and sight-sing from the printed music).

• To develop interest in the singing of children’s songs and the playing of singing games as a wholesome alternative for leisure time.

• To provide an atmosphere for developing self-confidence and creativity through successful musical activities (i.e. vocal performance, reading and writing of music, physical movements coordinated with singing, etc.).

The Kodály approach utilizes:

  1. Rhythm symbols and syllables ( ta ta ti ti ta )

  2. Hand signals to show tonal relationships (John Curwen hand signs)

  3. Movable “DO” (solfa-do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti)

  4. The musical mother tongue (i.e. folk songs)