Sep. 19, 2007 - Kodaly Method for the Christian Homeschool - Lesson Plans
Kodaly Methods for the Christian Homeschool
Lesson Plans
Week Two - 45 Minutes Class Time PDF Download:
Please note the pdf download does not include all of the links included below.
Introduction to Music (~10 Minutes)
Listen to a piece by Bach.
{Choose a recording with a clearly audible steady beat. Have the music playing as children arrive and encourage quiet reflection on the music until you are ready to move on. If you have Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring it is perfect for the slow steady rhythm. Any of the organ fugues would also work well. You can find free downloads at Classical Archives. The "free" membership includes five downloads per day and is not exactly advertised.}
“Did you hear the steady beat?” This piece was written by a man named Bach; and he named it _______________ . Bach was a man who loved God and understood his highest calling as a musician.”
“Who remembers what the highest calling of any musician is?” Great Job! (I am planning to pass out candy corn to those who answer.) Praise of God our Maker is the highest calling of any musician. Let’s speak Psalm 92:1-3 in rhythm with a steady beat this week.
{Teacher should practice ahead of time to work out your tempo, etc. I am using 4/4 time, with two beats on Lord, O, Most, High; and eighth notes on “to proclaim your love in the morning” so that the steady beat falls on every other syllable. I also have as eighth notes the first two words at the beginning of each line; and all other notes are quarter notes, with a rest after faithfulness. This should be taught in a listen/ repeat pattern. Next week we will add more to this, so it can be a once or twice through as you please.}
1 It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
KODALY CONCEPT: The Kodaly method focuses teaching the steady beat through speaking rhythms, rhythm syllables, and the listen/repeat pattern. For this selection, Rhythm syllables will be added next week. The Kodaly method includes listening to the master composers at the earliest ages with a listening ear.
Rhythm Training (~10 Minutes)
What’s In A Name?
1. Make a Steady Beat out of each child’s first and last name. Practice a few times.
2. Now add the Kodaly rhythm syllables for each name. Practice like this: Sam*son Blu*ber*ry, Ta*Ta*Ti*Ti Ta; Sa*man*tha Mich*e*len Ta*Ti*Ti*Ta*Ta*Ta -- practicing once or twice for each name before adding another name. Here is a link regarding the Rhythm Syllables
KODALY CONCEPT: The Kodaly method teaches the “steady beat” as a first skill in music training and uses rhythm syllables to teach rhythm.
Warm Up (~2.5 Minutes)
“Feel The Buzz” Have your children put their index finger over the vocal chords as you did last week. “Today we are going to warm up our voices a bit by singing what is called a pentatonic scale. Can you say that?”
Hum together up and down a scale with finger on vocal chords a few times. Alternate to open syllables such as Ahh. This is only a slight warm up; and introduces the pentatonic scale. Don’t forget to use the hand signs for So and Mi!
KODALY CONCEPT: The Kodaly Method uses the pentatonic scale for warm up and hand sign practice.
Sign Training (~5 Minutes)
This section is nearly the same as last week.
Review the Hand Signs for So and Mi; and have the students alternate for several minutes between the notes. The children will enjoy doing the signs themselves; and this helps the kinesthetic learner. Sing with them. Then allow them to sing without you. You may wish to use a keyboard to help them center the pitch at first. End by having the students sing in two groups. Start this by having some of the strongest students sing So, and then add the other students with yourself singing Mi. Hold the notes for several minutes.
“When two different notes are sung at the same time; what is it called?” Harmony.
KODALY CONCEPT: The Kodaly method teaches that hand signs facilitate accurate pitch.
Singing (~15 Minutes)
My Faith Looks Up To Thee (Protestant Hymn)
Sing the song once through with your students. They should be able to sing along for at least part; as you worked on this last week. Add a few more lines with the sing/repeat method until they are able to sing independently on a few lines. Again, listen to a recording of the song. If you have a different recording that would be excellent. Don’t forget to use the hand signs for So and Mi.
I’ve Been Working on the Railroad (Folk Song)
Review and learn a bit more of this song. Learn at least the first stanza well enough for the next activity. For my students, this song was more familiar. “Today we are going to add something new. We are going to travel around the room as we sing. We will try a few different modes of travel; walking, skipping, and running. We will decide which is most appropriate for the steady beat of this song.” You may wish to use your recording of this song to maintain tonal contact with your running students ☺.
KODALY CONCEPTS: The Kodaly Method uses the music of the people to encourage participation, promote National pride, and provide a common ground. Using familiar music aids in ease of learning the hand signs. The Kodaly Method promotes rhythm awareness through large muscle movement.
Music Theory (~10 Minutes)
Game – Learn Musical Alphabet -- Use the following letters (A B C D E F G A) of Alphabet flashcards or Alphabet tiles. Hand the set one at a time to each of your students out of order and with one (different) letter missing. Have them place the letters in order from A to A and tell you the name of the missing piece. You may have them work together in pairs if one at a time is not feasible.
Show A on the Musical Staff and listen to an A from the piano or pitch fork. Each week we will review and add a new letter on the staff.
KODALY CONCEPT: Teaching theory is to begin early, and starts simply with the introduction of the staff through visual presentation and active participation.
I think I may try this in the near future. I was wondering if you could create a category for your Kodaly lesson plans and link your blog entries so I could find them again when I am ready to try it. I really appreciate the obvious hard work you put into this.
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
