NATIONAL KODÁLY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

July 14-July 25, 2025
In-Person

The West Chester University Kodály Certification Program is endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE). Coursework provides high quality, intensive studies in:

  • musicianship, conducting, and ensemble to enable personal growth in musicianship;
  • materials, analysis, classification, and retrieval systems to assist students in gathering and systematizing repertoire for their personal teaching situations; and
  • curriculum, pedagogy, and instructional techniques to further students' understanding of and practical experience in designing spiral curricula for literacy-based music education programs using inquiry-based teaching techniques.

Studies in the Kodály approach introduce students to music education emphasizing musical knowledge and understanding through sequential skill development. The development of musical and pedagogical skills occurs in an atmosphere of joyful and systematic exploration of a Kodály-inspired approach to music education.

WORKSHOP
DETAILS

Daily Schedule

Monday-Friday

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

  • Levels I-III – Chorus

9:15 - 10:45 a.m.

  • Level I –  Musicianship
  • Level II – Music Materials and Analysis
  • Level III – Musicianship
  • Level IV – Pedagogy

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • Level I – Pedagogy
  • Level II – Pedagogy
  • Level III – Music Materials and Analysis
  • Level IV– Musicianship & Conducting

12:30-1:30 - Lunch

1:30-2:30

  • Levels I-III – Conducting
  • Level IV – Retrieval Systems

2:45- 4:15           

  • Level I – Music Materials and Analysis
  • Level II – Musicianship
  • Level III – Pedagogy
  • Level IV – Independent Study

4:25-4:55

  • Levels I – IV - Special Topics

Levels

Level I

Begin your joyful Kodály journey here! Kodály studies are an excellent next step if you have completed student teaching, need help creating a deep and engaging philosophy leading to a well-organized, thoughtful, and fun music classroom; are looking for ways to inject new life into your teaching, or want to organize and develop your curriculum using time-honored techniques to achieve amazing results with your students!

  • MUE 560: Kodály Level I Musicianship (including Conducting and Ensemble)
    • 2 credits
    • Systematic sight-reading and dictation skill development through moveable-do tonic solfa using pentatony from world and art music traditions; rhythm syllable systems;
    • Basic conducting skill development.
  • MUE 561:  Kodaly Level I Methodology and Materials (including Analysis and Retrieval)
    • 2 credits
    • Historical foundations and philosophical principles of the Kodály approach to music education; scope and sequence for a spiral curriculum in Kindergarten and Grade 1; methods and techniques for teaching Grades K-1 music content and skills;
    • Examination of music of oral tradition, including stylistically appropriate performance; beginning level of techniques for research, collection, analysis, classification, and retrieval of music material from aural and notated sources.  Emphasis on materials for Grades K-1; beginning transcription.             

Level II

Prerequisite: Completion of Kodály Level I at an OAKE-endorsed Kodály Certificate Program.

  • MUE 562:  Kodály Level II Musicianship (including Conducting and Ensemble)
    • 2 credits
    • Developing and connecting analytical knowledge of music theory to aural comprehension through moveable-do solmization; sight singing and ear-training using pentatonic and diatonic repertoire from folk heritages; Western art music, and world music;
    • Exploration of conducting skills and rehearsal techniques for the elementary choral classroom.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 560 and MUE 561; Co-requisite: MUE 563.
  • MUE 563: Kodály Level II Methodology and Materials (including Analysis and Retrieval)
    • 2 credits
    • Teaching musical skills sequentially; lesson-planning strategies for teaching Kodály-based methodology in Grades 2-3; sequential activities for preparation, presentation, practice, and assessment of skills; peer teaching and video-recorded teaching by students.
    • Classifying music or oral tradition by textual images and messages; Sacred Harp; Child Ballads.  Song analysis of musical parameters for Grades 1-3; Indexing musical parameters for Grades 1-3. Level II transcription techniques.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 560 and MUE 561; Co-requisite: MUE 562.

Level III

Prerequisite: Completion of Kodály Level II at an OAKE-endorsed Kodály Certificate Program.

  • MUE 564: Kodály Level III Musicianship (including Conducting and Ensemble)
    • 2 credits
    • Developing and connecting analytical knowledge of music theory to aural comprehension through moveable-do solmization; sight singing and ear-training using diatonic and modal repertoire from folk heritages; Western art music, and world music;
    • Exploration of conducting skills and rehearsal techniques for the elementary choral classroom, with emphasis on the conductor as artist and pedagogue.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 562 and MUE 563; Co-requisite: MUE 565.
  • MUE 565: Kodály Level III Methodology and Materials (including Analysis and Retrieval)
    • 2 credits
    • Teaching musical skills sequentially; lesson-planning strategies for teaching Kodály-based methodology in Grades 4-5; sequential activities for preparation, presentation,    practice, and assessment of skills; peer teaching and video-recorded teaching by students; strategies and materials for designing art music listening lessons; students submit 30-50 minute teaching videotape demonstrating coordination of teaching skills.
    • Continued study and stylistic performance of classroom repertoire; G. Malcolm Laws classification system of American Ballads; Prescriptive and Descriptive transcription; Song analysis and indexing of classroom repertoire for Grades 4-5.

Level IV

Prerequisite: Completion of Kodály Level III at an OAKE-endorsed Kodály Certificate Program.

  • MUE 566: Kodály Level IV Conducting
    • 2 credits
    • Harmonic solmization and aural analysis; authentic performance practice of monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic works; 2-, 3-, and 4-part homophony and polyphony.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 564 or an approved Kodály Level III Musicianship course.
    • Co-requisites: MUE 567, MUE 568, MUE 569.
  • MUE 567: Kodály Level IV Folk Music
    • 2 credits
    • Final preparation and presentation of individual personal song collections, analyses, and retrieval system.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 565 or and approved Kodály Level III Materials and Analysis course. Co-requisites: MUE 566, MUE 568, MUE 569.
  • MUE 568: Kodály Level IV Games and Materials
    • 2 credits
    • Refining pedagogic practices in Grades 1-5; continued study of song repertoire and listening lessons; development of advanced teaching skills;
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 565 or an approved Kodály Level III Methodology course; Co-requisite: MUE 566, MUE 567, MUE 569.   
  • MUE 569: Kodály Final Project
    • 1 credit
    • Final preparation and presentation of an individual final project that demonstrates advanced teaching or research skills.
    • Pre-requisites: MUE 565, MUE 567, MUE 568

Required Texts and Materials

There are required texts for all Kodály courses. A link will be available to soon to see required texts for each Kodály course. Use the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet to see required and recommended texts for each Level.  Expedited ordering is provided here through West Music Co., in Coralville, IA. Please see the required materials list for further information about ordering.

There are required materials for all Kodály courses.

Level I:

  1. Black folder with pockets or choral folder for performance
  2. 1” Black binder (Conducting)
  3. 1.5 “ binder for Music Literature class
  4. 1.5-2” binder (Musicianship)
  5. Pencils and erasers
  6. Colored pencils – pack of 12
  7. Phone with video and audio recording capabilities
  8. Erasable Divider tabs
  9. Post-it tabs
  10. Tuning Fork – with neck strap if possible (West Music Co.)
  11. Metronome App
  12. App for obtaining accurate pitch, e.g. Cleartone
  13. Razor point felt tip pen
  14. White-out
  15. Manuscript paper
  16. Portable keyboard or access to piano

Level II:

  1. Same as Level I
  2. Binders for Musicianship, Folk Music Materials, Methodology
  3. Tabs

Level III:

  1. Same as Level II
  2. Binders for Musicianship, Folk Music Materials, Methodology
  3. Tabs

Level IV:

  1. Same as III

Course Enrollment and Workshop Registration

Enrollment Options In-State Out of State

Masters+

Apply Now

Enroll Now

Tuition - $316 per credit*

Fees - $139 per credit

*Reflects $200 tuition discount

Tuition - $574 per credit*

Fees - $151 per credit

*Reflects $200 tuition discount

Non-Degree Seeking

Apply Now

Enroll Now

Tuition - $516 per credit

Fees - $139 per credit

Tuition - $774 per credit

Fees - $151 per credit

Masters Students

Apply Now

Enroll Now

Tuition - $516 per credit

Fees - $139 per credit

Tuition - $774 per credit

Fees - $151 per credit

Act 48 Workshop*

Workshop Registration

*students enrolling for the workshop do not receive graduate credit

$1200 – Participant

$500 – Audit (for students that have previously completed the course)

$500 – Current WCU Undergraduate Student

Courses by Level

  • Level I - MUE 560, MUE 561
  • Level II – MUE 562, MUE 563
  • Level III – MUE 564, MUE 565
  • Level IV – MUE 566, MUE 567, MUE 568, MUE 569

WORKSHOP
INSTRUCTORS

Dr. Jill Trinka

Dr. Jill Trinka
Program Director
Music Materials and Folk Music

Amy Carter

Amy Carter
Pedagogy

Dr. Ken Carter

Dr. Ken Carter
Musicianship and Conducting

Jennifer Kimock

Jennifer Kimock
Pedagogy

Paige Mathis

Paige Mathis
Musicianship and Conducting