Harvest Music Academy

Unique classical music school trains with the goal of attaining highest achievement.

Uncover the mysteries of melody, harmony and rhythm, write a piece of music or learn to improvise.

Our teaching is based on a Kodaly method - name associated with a system of music education developed in Hungary under the guidance of Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, and educator Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). At the heart of the Kodály Method is Kodály’s belief that music literacy is the right of every human being. Kodály stressed that anyone who is capable of reading language is also capable of reading music He urged that music education be accessible to everyone, not just to the musically gifted .He felt that no education could be complete without music, and that it was therefore the schools’ obligation to offer quality music instruction. Kodály stressed that music be taught daily as a part of the core curriculum and given equal importance as to language and mathematics. This great pedagog said that the human voice, instrument with which everyone is born, is the best instrument for beginning musical instruction and only through use of the voice could the musical ear be developed. Kodály recommended that instrumental instruction not begin until a student has achieved a certain level of musical literacy. In order for a child to fully realize his or her musical potential, it is necessary that he or she begin musical training at an early age.  Kodály emphasized that children must learn to read music at the same time as they learn to read language. He felt that children between ages three and seven are most sensitive to music, and therefore good musical instruction is crucial at this time. Also central to the Kodály Method is the philosophy that, as a child naturally learns his mother tongue before learning foreign languages, so should he learn his musical mother tongue, that is, the folk music of his native language, before learning foreign music. Kodály believed that the use of native folk music is most valuable in helping children develop basic music skills because of its familiarity to children through real-life musical experiences.

The Kodály Method also includes the use of rhythmic movement, a technique inspired by the work of Swiss music educator Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. Kodaly agreed that movement is an important tool for the internalization of rhythm.  To reinforce new rhythmic concepts, the Kodály Method uses a variety of rhythmic movements, such as walking, running, marching, and clapping. These may be performed while listening to music or singing. Hand signs are performed during singing exercises to provide a visual aid. This technique assigns to each scale degree a hand sign which shows its particular tonal function.

Results

Studies have shown that the Kodály Method improves intonation, rhythm skills, music literacy, and the ability to sing in increasingly complex parts .Outside of music, it has been shown to improve perceptual functioning, concept formation, motor skills, and performance in other academic areas such as reading and math

There are three sequential learning concepts that are traditionally learnt in language development:

1. Aural – students first learn to listen to sounds and tones in order to form words
2. Written – once words are understood, words and tones can be translated into written form
3.

Reading

– the student develops the ability to read written material

The same applies for the development of musical literacy, using the Kodaly method.

One key aspect of the Kodaly method is the use of the body in the expression of music. So in addition to bringing their voice in tune and clapping to the beat, the next level is to step to a beat. They will also learn how to clap the rhythm of a text, and clap the rhythm while thinking about the words while not voicing them out loud.