Kodaly in the First Grade Classroom ― Developing the Creative Brain in the 21st Century

Since the mid-twentieth century, Zoltan Kodaly's child-developmental philosophy for teaching music has had significant positive impact on music education around the world, and is now at the core of music teaching in the United States and other English speaking countries. The Kodaly Today handbook series is the first comprehensive system to update and apply the Kodaly concepts to teaching music in elementary school classrooms.

Kodaly in the First Grade Classroom provides teachers with a step-by-step road map for developing children's performance, creative movement, and literacy skills in an organic and thoughtful manner. Through six years of field-testing with music kindergarten teachers in the United States, Great Britain, and Hungary (the home country of Zoltan Kodaly), authors Micheal Houlahan and Philip Tacka have developed a methodology specifically for 21st century classrooms. Houlahan and Tacka use the latest research findings in cognition and perception to create a system not only appropriate for the developmental stages of first grade students but also one which integrates vertically between elementary music classes. The methods outlined in this volume encourage greater musical ability and creativity in children by teaching them to sing, move, play instruments, and develop music literacy skills. In addition,Kodaly in the First Grade Classroom promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills. Although the book uses the Kodaly philosophy, its methodology has also been tested by teachers certified in Orff and Dalcroze, and has proven an essential guide for teachers no matter what their personal philosophy and specific training might be.

Numerous children's songs are incorporated into Kodaly in the First Grade Classroom, as well as over 35 detailed lesson plans that demonstrate how music and literacy curriculum goals are transformed into tangible musical objectives. Scholarly yet practical and accessible, this volume is sure to be an essential guide for kindergarten and early childhood music teachers everywhere.

Drs. Micheal Houlahan and Philip Tacka are co-authors of:Kodaly Today: A Cognitive Approach to Elementary Music Education and From Sound to Symbol: Fundamentals of Music, the Sound Thinking Series includingMusic for Sight-Singing and Ear Training Volumes I & II and Sound Thinking: DevelopingMusical Literacy Volumes I & II; Zoltan Kodaly: A Guide to Research; and numerous articles. Both have presented papers both nationally and internationally on aspects of music theory, music history and Kodaly studies and perception and cognition. They are faculty members for the Kodaly Certification Program at the University of Texas.