Summer School Reviews
Thoughts On Attending The Kodály Summer School For The First Time
by Jon Moore
There is a method for the teaching of swimming that involves throwing the
child into the deep end of a swimming pool, and trusting to the survival
instinct. At ten o’clock on Sunday 14th August 2005, I felt just like one of
those hapless children. Drowning. But drowning in a gorgeous sea of sound.
Standing for the first time in my life in a choir, trying desperately to
figure out my note, hoping that details like remembering to breath would
sort themselves out, I was somewhere between panic and ecstasy. So this was
the Kodály Summer School. By the evening of the first day I felt like I’d
been knocked down by a train, but curiously happy about the collision.
By the middle of the week I was aware that I had genuinely acquired new
musical skills. In fact it was a very long time since I’d acquired new
skills so fast or effectively. There was now a thriving social life, and I
was struck how, even at eleven o’clock at night, the talk was of music.
Amongst those from a teaching background it was always how to make it
simpler, easier, less painful. Is any other subject taught with such
commitment and passion?
As a member of the foundation solfege group, the very beginners, the end of
the week meant that despite my new skills, I was acutely aware of just how
much I still had to learn. However, I know how I’m going to do it. The
swimming method may be discredited, but the Kodaly system is proven.
Last night I sat down at home and thought about the choir. I took out some
books and sight sang a few lines, slowly, but I know correctly. I listened
to some music and heard the role of each note in the melody. How can I thank
you for gifts like these?
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