Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom: Developing the Creative Brain in the 21st Century (Kodaly Today Handbook Series)

Since the mid-twentieth century, Zoltán Kodály's child-developmental philosophy for teaching music has had significant positive impact on music education around the world, and is now at the core of music teaching in the United States and other English speaking countries. The Kodály Today handbook series is the first comprehensive system to update and apply the Kodály concepts to teaching music in elementary school classrooms. Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom provides teachers with a step-by-step road map for developing children's performance, creative movement, and literacy skills in an organic and thoughtful manner. Through six years of field-testing with music kindergarten teachers in the United States, Great Britain, and Hungary (the home country of Zoltán Kodály), authors Micheál Houlahan and Philip Tacka have developed a methodology specifically for 21st century classrooms. Houlahan and Tacka use the latest research findings in cognition and perception to create a system not only appropriate for the developmental stages of second grade students but also one which integrates vertically between elementary music classes. The methods outlined in this volume encourage greater musical ability and creativity in children by teaching them to sing, move, play instruments, and develop music literacy skills. In addition, Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills. Although the book uses the Kodály philosophy, its methodology has also been tested by teachers certified in Orff and Dalcroze, and has proven an essential guide for teachers no matter what their personal philosophy and specific training might be. Numerous children's songs are incorporated into Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom , as well as over 35 detailed lesson plans that demonstrate how music and literacy curriculum goals are transformed into tangible musical objectives. Scholarly yet practical and accessible, this volume is sure to be an essential guide for kindergarten and early childhood music teachers everywhere. Cover 1 Series 3 Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 1 Framing a Curriculum Based on the Kodály Concept 20 The Kodály Concept 20 Multiple Dimensions of Music 21 Grade 2 Music Curriculum 23 Prompt Questions for Constructing a Music Curriculum 28 Lesson Planning 30 Key Components of Lesson Plan Design 31 2 Developing a Music Repertoire: Students as Stewards of Their Cultural and Musical Heritage 37 Selecting Repertoire 37 Grade 2 Song Lists 38 Lesson Planning 62 3 Teaching Strategies 73 Introducing the Tonic Note of the Major Pentatonic Scale 73 Half Note 80 Trichord mi re do 86 Sixteenth Notes 92 Major Pentatonic Scale 97 Quadruple Meter 106 Developing a Lesson Plan Design Based on the Teaching Strategies 111 4 Students as Performers: Developing Musical Skills and Creative Expression 127 Tuneful Singing Skills 127 Reading Skills 130 Inner-Hearing Skills 136 Writing Skills 137 Improvisation Skills 140 Musical Memory 143 Understanding Form 144 Part-Work Skills 149 Instrumental Performance Skills 153 Creative Movement Skills 156 Listening Examples for Grade 2 Concepts and Elements 157 Lesson Planning 159 5 Unit Plans and Lesson Plans 166 Transitions in Lesson Plans 167 General Points for Planning Lessons 173 Evaluating a Lesson 174 Unit Plans 174 Unit 1: Grade 1 Review 174 Unit 2: Teaching do 185 Unit 3: Teaching Half Note 198 Unit 4: Teaching re 210 Unit 5: Teaching Four Sixteenth Notes 223 Unit 6: Teaching do Pentatonic Scale 235 Unit 7: Teaching Quadruple Meter 249 6 Assessment and Evaluation 262 Grade 2 Assessments 262 Notes 282 Index 284 Kodaly in the Second Grade Classroom provides teachers with a step-by-step road map for developing children's performance, creative movement, and literacy skills in an organic and thoughtful manner. Each chapter contains key questions, discussion points, and ongoing assignments. Scholarly yet practical and accessible, this volume is sure to be an essential guide for music teachers everywhere. Kodály in the Second Grade Classroom provides teachers with a step-by-step road map for developing children's performance, creative movement, and literacy skills in an organic and thoughtful manner. Each chapter contains key questions, discussion points, and ongoing assignments. Scholarly yet practical and accessible, this volume is sure to be an essential guide for music teachers everywhere.