The Kodály Institute of Houston
About the Institute
The Moores School of Music Kodály Certification program is an intensive, four-summer course of study. Each summer includes Personal Musicianship, Kodály Pedagogy and Practicum, Music Literature (collection and analysis of songs and materials), Conducting and Choral Ensemble. The course of study per summer is as follows: Level I: Pre-K & K, Level II: Grades 1 & 2, Level III: Grades 3 & 4, and Level IV: Grades 5 & 6. Students who successfully complete all four levels of study will receive their Kodály Certification.
The UH Kodály faculty members are committed to training participants to bring children joyfully to music and musical literacy through this sequential, experience-based approach. Incorporating all of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the National Standards for Arts Education, the Kodály music concept has proven universally successful.
Summer 2010 Offerings
Kodály Level I, II, and III Teacher Training
Registration Deadline for CPE Credit: Date-TBA
Deadline for Graduate Credit: Date-TBA
Please see registration section below for further information.
Dates: July 19-23, July 26-27, August 2-6, 2010
Course Components Levels I-IV
Personal Musicianship and Conducting
The development of advanced sight-singing and aural skills using moveable-do solfege, Curwen hand signs, and rhythmic duration syllables This study will include dictation, analysis, transposition and improvisation. Students will demonstrate and practice conducting patterns, gestures and choral rehearsal techniques using folk songs and canons, and quality children's literature.
Kodály Pedagogy and Practicum
The teaching of music utilizing the Kodály philosophy and its application to the American music classroom Teachers will learn and practice techniques to create and use developmentally appropriate musical tools, activities, and teaching strategies that reinforce and assess new music learning and insure success in the classroom.
Folk Music and Materials
The collection and examination of song materials This study will emphasize traditional children's songs, games, rhymes, and authentic folk song literature from our American heritage.
Choral Ensemble
The study, rehearsal and performance of quality choral literature from a variety of style and historical periods in Western art music Ensemble participants will focus on personal vocal and choral development as well as the child voice and children's choirs.
Registration
Students may register for noncredit and receive continuing education credits, or register for graduate credit that will lead toward a Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis. Enrolled graduate students may earn four credits each summer. Twelve graduate credits may apply to the Master of Music degree. Students accepted into the graduate program register for credit through the University of Houston registrar. UH tuition and fees will apply. Students needing assistance with graduate registration should contact Doug Goldberg at 713.743.3314 as soon as possible. The deadline for graduate admission is April 1. All other students register through the Preparatory & Continuing Studies Department online or by calling 713.743.3398.
Instructors
Janet Scarcella, program director, has taught music in Texas public and private schools for 30 years. Her teaching has spanned pre-K to collegiate work. She is Faculty Emeritus at St. John’s School in Houston, Texas, where she taught for 22 years, developing a Kodály-inspired K-5 music curriculum, teaching elementary music classes, conducting elementary and high school choirs and serving as the K-12 Director of Fine Arts. Under her direction, St. John’s choirs have performed at OAKE and ACDA National Conferences, TMEA Conventions, and in concert tours of Europe, Mexico, Scandinavia, Italy, and the British Isles. She was awarded the 2005 TCDA Choral Excellence Award. Mrs. Scarcella was the assistant conductor/accompanist of the 1993 OAKE National Children’s Choir with Mary Goetze and the conductor of the 2002 OAKE National Children’s Choir. Active as a festival conductor, choral accompanist and workshop clinician, she has taught teacher training classes at Colorado State and Duquesne Universities. She holds B.M.E. and M.M. degrees from Sam Houston State University, where she also earned her Kodály certification, studying with American and Hungarian pedagogues.
Rhona Brink recently retired from public school music education with 26 years of experience, serving 23 of those years in the elementary music classroom. She has provided many staff development workshops in various Texas school districts and regional Education Service Centers, and has been chosen to serve in the cadre of Teacher Trainers appointed by the Texas Education Agency. She has taught graduate level music education courses at Sam Houston State University and has been a clinician for the TMEA state convention as well as for regional workshops in various parts of the state. Ms. Brink has presented at the national convention for OAKE and at workshops sponsored by the Kodály Educators of Texas (KET). She is currently an instructor for the Greater Houston Area Kodály Training Program in Aldine, Texas. A contributing writer for the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill series, Spotlight on Music, Ms. Brink holds a B.M. degree from the University of Houston, Kodály certification from the Round Top program through the
University of Texas at Austin, and a M.M. with Kodály emphasis from Sam Houston State University.
Cecile Johnson is a Kodály Specialist at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Denton, TX. She has 37 years teaching experience in elementary, junior high and college. Her education includes a Bachelor of Music degree from Lowell State College and a Master of Music degree from University of Northern Iowa. Ms. Johnson has an OAKE-endorsed Kodály Certification from University of North Texas, and has served as an OAKE Board member, past KET President, current Southern Division President and current OAKE 2010 National Conference Program Chair. Ms. Johnson is a frequent clinician at OAKE, TMEA, local, state and national in-services and serves as Kodály teacher trainer in several Texas Kodály programs.
Mary Neeley Stevens has been an Elementary Music Specialist in Aldine ISD for 29 years. She is currently a Music Specialist at Carter Academy for the Performing Arts in Aldine ISD. Ms. Stevens received her Bachelor of Music Education from Morningside College, and her Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University.
The Kodály Philosophy
The Kodály philosophy is an internationally recognized, highly sequential, and experiential method for teaching music developed by Hungarian composer, musicologist, and educator, Zoltán Kodály. At the heart of the philosophy is the belief that music education is a core subject that is the birthright of every child. It is a complete and comprehensive approach to music education that begins in early childhood. Through singing folk songs and music of master composers, children experience the joy of music in a spirit of play. At the same time, they master skills such as musical reading and writing, singing, part-singing, improvisation, and composition. Students trained in this method exceed the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements and the National Standards for Arts Education.
Kodály Institute 2007 Level I class with trainers Rhona Brink & Janet Scarcella
