KODÁLY CERTIFICATION TRAINING

Kodály Certification Training

Levels I, II, & III and Choral Track Levels I, II, & III

The Kodály approach of music education is based on the work of Hungarian composer, educator, philosopher, and ethnomusicologist, Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). It is now used widely throughout the world to train musicianship in children and adults. Kodály-inspired instruction uses a carefully organized sequence of musical elements and concepts taught through developmentally appropriate song materials and musical activities. Using high-quality traditional folk music as the initial core musical material, Kodály-inspired musician educators engage their students in joyful, sequential, developmentally appropriate, child-centered and interactive sound-based instruction. Through this instruction, students are exposed to systematically graded, properly paced presentations to assimilate ideas organized according to the inner logic of music. Students are guided to discover, articulate, read, write, improvise and create with the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and form in unison singing, part work, creative activities, and instrumental work, while developing skills in movement, listening, memory, inner hearing and conducting. Instruction is directed toward providing students with skills requisite to writing what they hear and sing (dictation), as well as hearing and singing what they read (sight reading).

Instructors include: Corey Fisher, Dusty Francis, Bethany Houff, Kathy Kuddes, Georgia Newlin, Kristin Vogt and Melissa Young.

  • Dates: June 29 - July 15
  • Times: Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Noncredit Cost: $1,100*
  • Graduate Credit Cost: Participants wishing to receive 3 hours of graduate credit for this course may do so for an additional $1,500.
    • Do not include this payment with the $1,100 workshop fee. Once you have indicated your desire to take the workshop for college credit in the workshop registration process, look for instructions that will be included in your workshop registration confirmation email. Pay the $1,500 graduate credit fee separately to SMU through the university credit registration system.
  • Housing Cost: There is no on-campus housing available for Kodály this summer.
  • Required Materials: A list of materials will be sent to you prior to the workshop through a link to West Music Company.

Presented in conjunction with the Plano ISD Kodály Certification Program.

*Inquire about a discount for schools sending 10 or more participants.

 

PREREQUISITES

Level I is a prerequisite for Level II. Level II is a prerequisite for Level III. A bachelor's degree in music or a strong background in music theory is required for this class. Participants must be able to read and write music notation proficiently in order to take this course.

This course is presented in conjunction with the Plano ISD Kodály Certification Program, which is endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) and follows the guidelines of OAKE. There will be nightly assignments as part of the course requirements. Please allow a minimum of two hours each evening to complete your assignments. In addition, 100% attendance is required to earn credit and to move on to subsequent levels of training. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. Due to the intensive nature of this program, participants are strongly encouraged to avoid scheduling additional activities during the course.

REGISTER HERE 

COURSE LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS

LEVEL I: Pedagogy includes intensive study of Kodály philosophy, principles, pedagogy and techniques with a particular emphasis on readiness curriculum, repertoire, skills and strategies for early childhood. A detailed study of American folk music will focus on selection, collection and performance practice of materials from aural traditions appropriate for young children. Musicianship study will include development of aural skills, solfège proficiency, detailed study of pentatony and basic classroom conducting. A degree in music, music education or a strong theoretical music background is required for success.

LEVEL II: Pedagogy includes the continued intensive study of materials, techniques and pedagogy for sequential skill and curriculum development with emphasis on intermediate level concepts and elements for developing musical literacy. The study of folk music materials will provide a continuation of the study of various aural traditions and begin the study of pedagogical song analysis. Musicianship study will continue the development of aural skills, intermediate solfège proficiency, detailed study of diatony and church modes, simple functional harmony, and intermediate classroom and choral conducting. Prerequisite: Kodály Level I.

LEVEL III: Pedagogy includes the continued intensive study of materials, techniques, pedagogy, lesson and curriculum development with emphasis on upper-level concepts and elements, dictation and sight-reading skills. The study of folk music materials will expand to the study of performance practices in world music genres and begin the development of song retrieval and an indexing system. Musicianship study will include advanced aural skill development, advanced solfège proficiency, functional harmony, and advanced classroom and choral conducting. Prerequisite: Kodály Level II.

CHORAL TRACK, LEVEL I: Pedagogy includes intensive study of Kodály philosophy, principles, pedagogy and techniques with particular emphasis on repertoire, skills and strategies for the teaching of musical literacy skills in a choral context. The study of choral materials will focus on selection of quality repertoire for beginning choirs. Musicianship study will include development of aural skills, solfège proficiency, detailed study of pentatony and basic classroom conducting. A degree in music, music education or a strong theoretical music background is required for success.

CHORAL TRACK, LEVEL II: Pedagogy includes the continued intensive study of Kodály philosophy, principles, pedagogy and techniques with particular emphasis on repertoire, skills and strategies for the teaching of musical literacy skills in the choral context. The study of choral materials will focus on selection of quality repertoire for intermediate level choirs. Musicianship study will continue the development of aural skills, intermediate solfège proficiency, detailed study of diatony and church modes, functional harmony, and intermediate conducting skills. A degree in music, music education or a strong theoretical music background is required for success. Prerequisite: Kodály Choral Track Level I.

CHORAL TRACK, LEVEL III: Pedagogy includes the advanced study of Kodály philosophy, principles, pedagogy and techniques with particular emphasis on repertoire, skills and strategies for the teaching of musical literacy skills in an advanced choral context. The study of choral materials will focus on selection, stylistic analysis and preparation of quality repertoire for advanced level choirs. Musicianship study will continue the development of aural skills, advanced solfège proficiency, detailed study of functional harmony and advanced choral conducting skills. A degree in music, music education or a strong theoretical music background is required for success. Prerequisite: Kodály Choral Track Level II.

Kodály Faculty 

Corey Fisher is the Elementary Music Specialist and Co-Elementary Team Lead at Windsong Ranch Elementary in Prosper ISD and has taught music for 13 years in both Plano and Prosper. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in music education and a minor in Italian. She completed her first level of Kodály Certification with Joy Nelson at the University of Oklahoma before completing her levels at the Plano/SMU Kodály Program. In addition to teaching, Fisher is a freelance pianist for churches, choirs, schools, improv groups and soloists. She has presented sessions with Kodály Educators of Texas and TMEA. Fisher has previously served as a TMEA Elementary Region Chair and is currently on the OAKE National Board. She has two beautiful kids and is getting married soon. In her free time, she can always be found reading!

Dusty Francis – Conductor, composer and bass-baritone Dusty Francis enjoys an active career as a performer, clinician and educator across both the United States and the United Kingdom. He currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor and Artistic Director of Out Loud Chorus. Past roles have included musical leadership of the New York City Master Chorale, London's The Fourth Choir, and the Brooklyn-based Park Slope Singers, as well as teaching positions with the American School in London and Collegiate School. Recent seasons have included performances at esteemed venues including Shakespeare’s Globe, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

When not on the conducting podium, Francis has often been heard singing with some of America’s finest professional choral ensembles, including True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Skylark Vocal Ensemble and the Manhattan Chorale. Recent solo engagements have spanned styles and periods ranging from Bach to Puccini and Schubert to Sondheim.

Francis holds a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Maryland, a bachelor’s degree in music education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and Kodály Certification from Indiana University. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the International Conductors Guild and the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries.

Bethany Houff has been the choral director at Harrisonburg High School, located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, since 2003. In addition to conducting choral ensembles, she teaches an introductory music course for English language learners and beginning piano classes. She served on the design team of the innovative Harrisonburg High School Fine Arts Academy where colleagues in dance, drama, music, visual art and creative writing teach collaboratively in a sequential and integrated arts curriculum. Houff received a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from James Madison University. She is published in Colla Voce’s Ruth Dwyer Choral Series, and she teaches in the Summer Kodály Programs at Indiana University and SMU/Plano ISD.

Kathy Kuddes holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Millikin University and the University of North Texas respectively, and a Kodály training certificate from the Foundation for Aesthetic Music Education/University of Texas program at Festival Hill in Round Top, TX. Kuddes retired in the summer of 2022 after serving 38 years in public music education in various Texas school districts. Prior to her final position as the Director of Fine Arts in the Plano Independent School District for 20 years, she taught elementary music in Plano, College Station, and Killeen, and secondary music in Stafford. She is the Founder and Folk Music Materials Instructor of the Plano Kodály Teacher Training Program at SMU. In her retirement, Kuddes is doing deep dive folk song research and remains an active presenter doing presentations at state MEA conferences, national conferences and the International Kodály Society Symposia in Australia, Hungary and Scotland. Kuddes is a former member of the boards of the Kodály Educators of Texas (KET), the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) and the Texas Music Administrators Conference (TMAC). She was the recipient of the 2010 OAKE Outstanding Administrator Award, the 2016 Outstanding Administrator by TMAC, the 2020 KET Lifetime Achievement Award.

Georgia A. Newlin, D.M.A., is an independent Music Education Consultant. She taught in early childhood/public school music positions for 16 years and at the collegiate level for 19 years. Currently, Newlin is called upon as a conductor for choral festivals and as a clinician for choral workshops, reading sessions, and intermediate grade methodology, as well as a consultant for curriculum planning. She teaches musicianship, conducting and ensemble in Kodály programs at Indiana University, University of Hawai'i, James Madison University and at the SMU/Plano ISD Kodály course. Newlin has presented at conferences of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, International Kodály Society, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Kodály Music Educators in Australia, Kodály Society of Ontario, and Association for Music in International Schools, as well as choral and music education associations in 19 states. Newlin is a past president of the Organization of American Kodály Educators and is a member of The VoiceCare Network. She has written articles published in the Choral Journal, Orff Echo, Kodály Envoy, and Southwestern Musician, and she served for three years on the NAfME Music Educators Journal Advisory Committee. Newlin's book, One Accord: Developing Part-Singing Skills in School-Age Musicians (revised edition) is published by Music Is Elementary. In addition, she is published with the Ruth Dwyer Choral Series from Colla Voce.

Kristin Vogt has been teaching Kindergarten through fifth grade students for the past 23 years. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Theory in 2000, and master's degrees in music theory and music education from SMU in 2003. She earned her Kodály certification from the Plano ISD/UNT program and her Orff Schulwerk certification from SMU. She presents professional development sessions for school districts in Texas, Tennessee, Utah, the OAKE National Conference in 2010 and 2018, and AOSA in 2016. For the past 14 summers, Vogt has taught Pedagogy I and Folk Music Materials II at the SMU Kodály Certification Program as well as Pedagogy II, Pedagogy III and Folk Music Materials II at the Fort Bend ISD Kodály Program outside of Houston. Vogt has served on the Kodály Educators of Texas board (Secretary and President) and past President of the Southern Division for the Organization of American Kodály Educators. She has two sons who are both brass players. In her spare time, she is an avid runner, gardener, and jazz and blues connoisseur.

Melissa Roth Young graduated with her Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University in 1993 and her Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas in 2002. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, she is currently a Ph.D. music education fellow at the University of North Texas. Just before starting her doctoral degree, she served as the choir director at Haggard Middle School in Plano ISD and co-director of the Plano Children's Chorale. Choirs under her direction have consistently received Sweepstakes at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest, as well as Best in Class/Grand Champion distinctions at local choral festivals. She has served at regional, state, and national offices and is a member of NAfME, ISME, TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, TMAA and OAKE. She is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator. Her choral works are published with Alliance Music Publications, Carl Fisher and Melissa Roth Young Music. She lives in Richardson, TX, with her family and sings with the First United Methodist Church Richardson Chancel Choir, UNT A Cappella Choir and the Summer Women’s Chorus of Plano Civic Chorus. 

For further information about SMU Music Educators Workshops, or to register for one of these classes, visit: https://gradadmission.smu.edu/portal/SummerMusicEdWorkshops or contact Director Dr. Julie Scott at muedworkshops@smu.edu.