Kodaly Music Activities for Elementary Music Class

Elementary music teachers and the Kodaly method go together! I’m sharing some Kodaly music activities for Elementary Music Class.

KODALY MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN ELEMENTARY MUSIC CLASS

Here’s a short description of the Kodaly Method and why Kodaly music activities are an essential part of the elementary music curriculum.

KODALY METHODOLOGY

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) developed the Kodály method in Hungary in the first half of the twentieth century.

Zoltán Kodály believed music education could engage students on a spiritual, cultural, and emotional level.

During his childhood he was taught musicianship in one on one instruction that focused on the classical composers.

Later in his studies in Budapest, Hungary he discovered Hungarian folk songs.

As he studied, he began to develop his own teaching methods that focused on students learning ear training through sight-singing, solfege, and songs.  He also embraced group learning and a kinesthetic approach to music.

This was the beginning of the Kodaly method for teaching music to children.

Here are the five principles of the Kodaly Method:

• LEARNING BY SINGING
• USE HAND SIGNS
• RHYTHMIC PROFICIENCY
• CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION

WHY THE KODALY METHOD WORKS

The Kodaly method works because it involves the whole child. Kodaly teachers use visuals, manipulatives, games, dances, songs, movement and reading and writing as well as instrument playing to help students achieve the goals of the Kodaly method.

I respond to the Kodaly method and so I like integrating the Kodaly methodology with other methods of music teaching. It gives me a lot of flexibility in creating lessons and helps me meet the needs of all students.

That’s why I’ve invested in creating Kodaly music activities for my students.

I use simple songs like “TEDDY BEAR” to teach my students pitch, melody, rhythm and solfege. And I use movement with all of my activities.

I know you can use these types of activities in your elementary music classes too.

If you SUBSCRIBE to the Sing Play Create Newsletter, you’ll find all of these kinds of resources you can use with the Kodaly method of teaching.

FREEBIE STEADY BEAT CHARTS

FREEBIE MUSIC LESSON “ENGINE, ENGINE”

KODALY MUSIC ACTIVITIES

I created this Kodaly sight sing and note reading practice for Kodaly music teachers to use with their students all year long.

You can get it when you subscribe to the SING PLAY CREATE RESOURCE LIBRARY.

Or you can get it from the Sing Play Create TpT store.

FREE TPT KODALY SIGHT SING AND NOTE READING PRACTICE

The bright visuals in the presentation, the posters and flash cards will catch student attention.

The challenges of sight singing will keep them engaged and singing and help to develop note reading.

Here are the activities you can do with your students by using this FREE RESOURCE!

• STUDENTS CAN SIGHT SING WITH SOLFEGE
• SING AND SIGN
• PLAY INSTRUMENTS READING SOLFEGE
• PLAY INSTRUMENTS READING NOTE NAMES.

The pages are sequential and build on skills.

The slides in each section are copies with the different instructions for each skill.

You can print the posters and use them in your classroom to help students remember the hand signs.

If you need a Kodaly mi so la review activity? Choir warmup? Assessment? Then you’ll love this sing and play teaching presentation for mi so la and notes e g a!

A Free Resource with tons of materials including a teaching presentation, flashcards and posters you can use in so many different ways in your elementary music classroom.

There’s sight singing, Curwen hand signs, notes on the staff and practice patterns for a complete set of materials.

RESOURCE INCLUDES:

• Teaching pages for mi so la
• Practice pages for sight singing and playing mi so la
• I can statements
• Curwen hand signs
• Note names e, g, a
• Practice patterns of solfege and notes

CONCEPTS:

• mi so la

USE THIS RESOURCE

• Use this Sight Singing Practice for:
• Choir Rehearsals
• Back to School Review
• Teach mi-so-la
• Assessments

*Includes sight singing page and a Curwen hand sign page to review hand signs for the first few pages.

*The patterns are not necessarily a comprehensive selection, but rather familiar patterns.

*The pages are sequential. You can begin with the so-mi and then add in the la later after you teach/learn it.

Finally, if you teach Kodaly method, you may want to look at all the Sing Play Create Kodaly music activities.

Many of the music lessons have Orff and a Kodaly based activities.

These resources are in the Sing Play Create TpT Store.

• Music Lesson: “Rain, Rain, Go Away” Song and ActivitiesKINDERGARTEN TRAIN BEAT AND RHYTHM ACTIVITIES
• Apple Tree Game Song
• Kodaly Posters and Game
• Music Lesson: “Apple Tree” So-Mi, Activities, Worksheets, VIDEO, Mp3 Tracks
• Music Lesson Unit “Snail, Snail” Kodaly Game Song, Activities, Flash Cards K-2
• ALL KODALY RESOURCES CATEGORY
• Classroom Instrument Game
• Voice Choice: Vocal Timbre
• High and  Low Train Music Lessons
• Fast and Slow Train Music Lessons
• Steady Beat and Rhythm Train Music Lessons
• Loud and Soft Train Music Lessons
• Body Percussion: Pat Clap Snap Activities
• Vocal Explorations Year Long Bundle of Activities
• Music Class Essentials Songs, Games, Chants

Each of the Monthly music lesson bundles has songs and activities with Kodaly teaching pages.

Be sure to check them out in our BUNDLES CATEGORY of the Sing Play Create Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

Here at Sing Play Create we’re working to bring you interactive resources you can easily use in your classroom.

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter where you receive weekly tips and deals and access to the FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY.

Please check out the Sing Play Create YouTube Channel with over 100 videos of activities.

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Let’s Move and Learn with Music!