Certificate Courses

Take the next step in your music education with our certified courses in Kodály methodology! This year, we are offering Level 2 certification for Early Years, Primary, and Secondary education as part of the prestigious British Kodály Certificate.

You can choose to take these courses:

• For certification (assessed)
• For general interest (non-assessed)

Certification Requirements

To earn certification, you must:

✔ Attend online classes before Summer School – dates are listed on this page
✔ Complete both pedagogy and musical skills modules at each level

Course Structure

Each pedagogy module includes:

1. Methodology – Foundations of Kodály-inspired teaching
2. Practical Teaching Techniques – Hands-on strategies for educators
3. Core Materials – Essential repertoire and teaching resources

For full certification, both the Pedagogy Module and the Musical Skills Module must be completed.

Find out more about each certificate course below.

Early Years Level 2 Certificate with Helen Blackmore

Suitable for those who work with children ages 3 – 4.

The early years levels may be done in any order. This course will be appropriate for anyone working with this age group.

Topics include:

• Basic building blocks of music education (e.g. beat, rhythm, pitching skills, dynamics, tempo).
• How to choose appropriate repertoire for this age group.
• How music aids holistic development.
• Using picture books in a music session.
• Listening and movement activities
• Song analysis
• Lesson planning

Pathway
Those who wish to complete this course should sign up for the following options:

Session 1: Choir
Session 2: Musicianship (at whatever level is appropriate based on prior knowledge)
Session 3: Methodology Primary Level 2
Session 4: Methodology Primary Level 2
Session 5: Vocal Technique OR Conducing
Session 6: Choir

Primary Level 2 Certificate with Lucinda Geoghegan

Suitable for those who work with children ages 7 – 9.

Please note: only those who have successfully completed Primary Level One are eligible to do Primary Level Two for certification. Anyone is free to do the course as a non- assessed course, but it would be advisable to have some prior knowledge of Kodály pedagogy.

Topics include:

• Revision of known rhythm names ta, ti-ti, ta rest and tika tika
• Introduction of new rhythm names too, too rest, tika-ti, ti-tika
• Revision of known solfa mi, so and la
• Introduction of new rhythm names do, re, high do and practice of the full do pentatonic scale.
• Listening activities: Story songs, Art music, music from different genres and cultures
• Older beginner in a Kodály inspired curriculum
• Song analysis
• Introduction of letter names, fixed pitch and treble clef
• Triple and quadruple metre
• Further work on part work
• Further work on planning, strategy outlines and focus writing

Pathway
Those who wish to complete this course should sign up for the following options:

Session 1: Choir
Session 2: Musicianship (at whatever level is appropriate based on prior knowledge)
Session 3: Methodology Primary Level 2
Session 4: Methodology Primary Level 2
Session 5: Vocal Technique OR Conducing
Session 6: Choir

Secondary Level 2 Certificate with James Cuskelly

Please note: only those who have successfully completed Primary Level One are eligible to do Primary Level Two for certification.

Anyone is free to do the course as a non-assessed course, but it would be advisable to have some prior knowledge of Kodály pedagogy.

Topics include:

• Repertoire, strategies and teaching process for the application of an aural–vocal approach in the Middle High school with advancing students.
• Strategy for compound time rhythms
• Use of triplet in simple time and duplet in compound time
• Tie in both simple and compound time contexts
• Strategy outlines for fa and ti
• Diatonic scales
• Extended pentatony and diatony
• Partwork – canons, ostinato, sing and play
• Harmonic work – chords l, lV and V
• Selection of appropriate repertoire
• Planning for teaching and learning

Pathway
Those who wish to complete this course should sign up for the following options:

Session 1: Choir
Session 2: Musicianship (at whatever level is appropriate based on prior knowledge)
Session 3: Methodology Secondary 2
Session 4: Methodology Secondary 2
Session 5: Conducting
Session 6: Choir