Sound Beginnings

Sound Beginnings is a Certificate Course in Early Childhood Music Education.

It is built upon the principles advocated by Zoltan Kodály and is related to the National Curriculum Programmes of Study for the Foundation Stage of Education. It is run by the British Kodály Academy and accredited by Roehampton University. Successful candidates will be awarded a Certificate of Professional Development in Early Childhood Music Education.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

Module 1
Intensive full-time tuition for seven days at the BKA summer school will include the development of knowledge, understanding and experience in the following areas:

• musicianship and practical methodology
• teaching skills
• appropriate materials and activities
• song analysis
• Kodály philosophy
• working with children with Special Educational Needs

A reading list and course booklet is sent to students before the Summer School.

Module 2
Self-study with the support of an assigned tutor plus two one day seminars in the autumn and spring terms to further develop the following areas:

• preparing, delivering and assessing music lessons
• reflecting on and evaluating own teaching skills
• observing and monitoring children’s musical development
• relating own practice and children’s musical development to Kodály principles and to National Curriculum Programmes of Study
• researching and selecting a song repertoire

Assessment
Progress will be monitored throughout the course. The final assessment day will be in the early part of the summer term.

Students will be expected to complete four tasks from both modules, submit a full song collection and include evidence of planning and evaluation of lessons. Students will produce a video recording of about 20-25 minutes of their work with children demonstrating personal skills, musical and pedagogical, and the ability to plan and deliver well-paced, well-structured and engaging activities that foster children’s musical development. The presentation will be accompanied by a written plan and self assessment of the session.