Hi folks! Christopher here.
The internet has been a remarkable tool for professional
development of music teachers. From Facebook
groups and blogs to M.A. programs in Music Education that operate fully online,
there are an incredible number of ways to get new ideas and repertoire for our
classrooms. For music teachers, who are
often the only music specialist in a building, it can be particularly beneficial.
But for those who are interested in Kodály-inspired
education (or Orff or Dalcroze, for that matter), there is nothing like a
Levels class. These all-day, intensive classes are most commonly offered during the summer, and last either two or three weeks. I took my Kodály Level I
right after I finished my teaching certificate, because I scored a job teaching
elementary music and I knew enough to know that I didn’t know anything. I needed more goods.
On the first day of the course, I sauntered in, critically
surveyed the class, then beelined towards the back of the room to sit next to
those students who looked like they were the most likely to talk. Fun: that’s what I was here for. To be sure, I also hoped to learn how to be a
good music teacher, but I definitely wanted to meet some awesome music
teachers, and crack jokes in the back of the class. A wrench invaded these plans, however, and
that wrench was Rita Klinger. As she
started talking the first day, it quickly became clear that what was streaming
from her mouth was not mere words and music, but gold – wisdom that, even as a
20-something, I knew that I could not afford to miss out on. Regretfully, I bid adieu to my
too-cool-for-school friends, moved to the front of the class, and never looked
back. The good news for my quest for fun
was that the laughter never ended – at its core, Kodály is about joyful
music-making for everyone, and I continued to laugh with my classmates and
teachers. To be sure, I was constantly
challenged, and I worked hard to improve my musicianship skills and my teaching
chops. But that challenge helped me
learn to hold myself to high standards as a teacher, and ensure that my
students are both learning and having fun – the holy grail of teaching.
I’m here to say: Take a Level!! And if you have already taken your Levels,
consider going back for related study (and look down at the bottom of this post
for some specific suggestions to consider).
As educators, we never stop learning.