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Kodaly Class Reflections

If you are looking for song lyrics and tunes, go here.

  • Whītau School – 2025 update
    by Nikki Berry
    Our 2024 year four classes who only started with us last year are now year fives, and these year five classes include another influx of new students. Therefore, we have been reviewing and have only just re-introduced ta and ti-ti (one and two sounds on a beat) after really making sure that the children can… Read more: Whītau School – 2025 update
  • Whītau School – Year Fours
    by Nikki Berry
    It wasn’t our intention to begin with this group of older beginners, but because these classes had a small number of year threes who had started the programme with us in year two, we agreed to take on these classes. It can be challenging to start when children are older because they can be reluctant… Read more: Whītau School – Year Fours
  • Whītau School – Year Threes
    by Nikki Berry
    Many of the students who started with us as year twos are displaying exceptional musical skills. They are confidently reading, writing and creating simple rhythms and melodies. Most are singing without assistance, accurately and joyfully. Ninety percent of the class demonstrate a clear understanding of the concepts of beat, rhythm and tempo. The children can… Read more: Whītau School – Year Threes
  • Whītau School – year twos
    by Nikki Berry
    Most students started with us in mid 2023, and they are flourishing in their learning. Having built a repertoire of simple songs and games in year one, we can revisit them, but with a new lens and more challenging activities. Because they have experienced five terms of a fun dynamic programme, they come primed to… Read more: Whītau School – year twos
  • Whītau School – new entrants
    by Nikki Berry
    As we approach the end of 2024, we reflect on the progress the children have made. The youngest children are developing an understanding of beat keeping, recognising high and low, exploring tempo and dynamics. They are developing an understanding of using their voice above the speaking range, and learning to pitch accurately within a one… Read more: Whītau School – new entrants
  • Kea Class week 5 – 8
    by Nikki Berry
    I’m covering a few weeks as we reach our second to last class for the term. In week 7 I was delighted to notice two of my students have transitioned to singing accurately, unsupported. These two joined the class before we moved venues, so have had some extra lessons. It’s so exciting when this transition… Read more: Kea Class week 5 – 8
  • Kea Class Week 4
    by Nikki Berry
    We are starting to explore the ‘pattern of the words’ and I was delighted that the children were able to tap out the rhythm for ‘Old Mr. Woodpecker’ and then copy different four beat patterns using the first two elements we will introduce. (crotchet and paired quavers) which we will introduce as ‘ta’ and ‘ti-ti’.… Read more: Kea Class Week 4
  • Kea Class week 3
    by Nikki Berry
    A big part of our work as we establish this new class is to build safety and resilience for learning. The Kodaly approach becomes increasingly demanding, (in a good way), but always in an environment that is non competitive, where we absolutely believe everyone will get ‘there’ eventually. All musicians are always on a continuum… Read more: Kea Class week 3
  • Kea Class Week 2
    by Nikki Berry
    Some additions to the programme this week included exploring ‘low’ and ‘high’ voices through animal puppets. This is helpful as children learn to use their higher voices for singing Feet Feet is a fun rhyme that helps with beat keeping. Most of the children are not yet keeping the beat in their feet, and we… Read more: Kea Class Week 2
  • Kea Music Class week 1
    by Nikki Berry
    An overview of what we are doing with the five and six year olds. We started a new class last week, and thought it would be good to share with parents what learning is going on, along with all the joyful fun and laughter. For our introductions we sang the children’s name with the first… Read more: Kea Music Class week 1

If you are looking for resources for children’s songs and rhymes, I recommend the books by Lucinda Geoghegan, produced by the National Youth Choir of Scotland.