The Kodály and Dalcroze approaches to music learning

The Kodály approach

The Kodály concept is a wonderful and powerful child-centred approach to teaching and learning music.  It is based on the principle of preparation, presentation and practice.  Pupils spend time in activities (maybe for several months) which enable them to subconsciously internalise a musical concept before it is formally presented to them in terminology, written symbol, etc.  Great emphasis is placed on developing the “inner ear” through listening, singing and fun activities.  This later leads on to reading and writing music and provides a solid foundation for understanding pulse, rhythm, melody, harmony, tonality, etc. Although people think of Kodály teaching as especially suitable for children, the Kodály approach can take pupils from babies right through to postgraduate level. 

The Dalcroze method

The Hungarian composer, Kodaly, who thought up the concept of the Kodaly approach and its aims of producing a musical nation, was particularly impressed with the Dalcroze method, which predates Kodály.  The Dalcroze approach emphasises feeling the music (rhythm, pitch, structure, phrasing, etc.) before formally introducing the concepts.  It has a strong emphasis on kinaesthetic learning.  Broader than Kodály itself, in addition to building up the inner ear for pitch, rhythm, etc. it also develops in the student an understanding of tempo, dynamics, expressive phrasing etc.