The British Kodály Academy's website

Summer School Reviews

Summer School 2002
The BKA celebrates its 21st International Summer School. Review by Michael Stocks, Director (1995 – 2003).

In the middle of August this year (2002), the British Kodály Academy held its annual Summer School in Cheltenham, England. Now well-established, the Summer School originated in 1982, one year after the formation of the British Kodály Society by Cecilia Vajda. It has been held every year since then with considerable success, supported by a core of supportive students who return year-on-year and, encouragingly, by a large annual proportion of new students. Our first Summer Schools were held at Ascot near London, but were later moved to Carmarthen in South Wales. Since 1988, the Summer School has been fortunate to arrange its annual residence at The Ladies College in Cheltenham. We are very grateful to the College for making their accommodation and excellent facilities available to us for so many years. We are moving on to new pastures, however - and in August 2003, I shall be welcoming our students to The University of Leicester, 105 miles north-west of London.

The international nature of the Summer School has always been important to us. Over the years, we have been delighted to welcome students from all parts of the world, including the following countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Wales. A feature of our twenty-one Summer Schools has been a large teaching faculty which has permanently included several notable tutors from Hungary. Their experience and expertise has been a constant source of inspiration, guidance and friendship. We look forward to maintaining this valuable contact at future Summer Schools.

This year, our teaching faculty included Gillian Earl, Cyrilla Rowsell, Magda Graf-Forrai, Judit Hartyányi, Sarolta Platthy, Lenke Igo, Eva Vendrei, Eva Andor, Paula Somorjai, Alice Horne, Jeanette Massocchi, Judy Hildesley, Lucinda Geoghegan, Penny Middleton, Lynn Clarke, Nicky Woods, Sian Davies, Celia Cviic, Alexander Schmaltz and Olivia Travers.

During their time at the Summer School (which is held for a full week, normally from Sunday to Sunday), all students attend two Musicianship sessions per day (choice of seven levels) and a daily choir rehearsal under the direction of experienced choral trainers – one Hungarian, one British. Other activities include vocal lessons throughout each day and Methodology for teachers. Optional activities include choral conducting (choice of four levels), Dalcroze classes, opera workshops, ensemble singing with solfa, and English folk dancing.

Running parallel to the Summer School, but within its structure, was ‘Sound Beginnings’ led by Helga Dietriech - a course designed for teachers of early years. Evening sessions include a variety of activities such as lectures, recitals, workshops, and a singing masterclass.

The week ends with a formal concert on the last evening, performed by the students, followed by a farewell party. An ongoing and delightful feature of the Summer School has always been its congenial atmosphere, due entirely to the considerate and co-operative way in which students, tutors and administrators work together.

The Summer School is fortunate indeed in its Secretary, Mary Place. Mary’s preparations and dedication to the success of the Summer School are remarkable; nothing is overlooked. Her administrative team (notably, Celia Cviic, Glenis Jones and Judy Hildesley) works like a smoothly-operating machine. Each year Mary’s contribution is nothing less than a ‘tour de force’ of organisation, taking place constantly throughout the year (despite the fact that she is the Headteacher of a busy school). The British Kodály Academy Committee admires Mary’s achievement and is grateful for her outstanding work in this regard.

It was with a sense of pride and achievement that we celebrated our 21st Anniversary by formally cutting a beautiful cake just before the start of our final concert at this year’s International Summer School at Cheltenham (subsequently sharing it among more than 100 students and their tutors at the Farewell Party). We feel our 21 years to be an important indicator of the part we have played – internationally, as well as in the United Kingdom – in helping to promote the good practice initiated by Kodály and developed and sustained by so many outstanding teachers in his native Hungary and abroad. We are proud to be a part of this world-wide movement and congratulate the International Kodály Society on its current initiatives to bring the lessons of the Hungarian experience to all parts of the world in the 21st century. It is with pleasure and anticipation that we look forward to a continuing close relationship.