In a Sing Education lesson, children are learning in a variety of ways. For example, we might use PowerPoint, we might use a whiteboard or even point out key concepts from one of the colourful music posters we’ve dotted around the classroom. We’ll do whatever it takes to communicate and reiterate that day’s or week’s learning objective. Whether pulsing to the percussive rhythm of the voice, the glockenspiel, the drum or a pair of maracas, lessons are purposefully multisensory. We introduce rhythm flash cards, balls, bean bags, whatever supports the learning – to convey key concepts and theory.
In terms of our methodology, we draw on the Kodály Approach. Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher.. During his career, he taught at a really high level while at the Liszt Conservatoire yet found that many students lacked a deep understanding of music. He wanted to understand what was missing in their music education, so he traveled around Europe looking for the best teaching techniques.
The result? Kodály developed what’s now known as the Kodály Approach which was so groundbreaking that in 2016, the method was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. At Sing Education we draw heavily on this approach. In addition to this approach, every lesson is part of a wider Scheme of Work that we’ve written uniquely for the classroom. So the lesson might be part of a theme such as “Music Around the World” or it might be part of a theme such as “Exploring Classical Music.” But whatever the thematic underpinning, we still accomplish the delivery through singing, games and active music making.