Susanna Király 
Tuneful Music Theory I 
teaching programme

According to Zoltán Kodály (1911) the goal is not impart concepts and knowledge, but first of all, training: ‘The only authentic aim of music theory teaching and learning is not to make known concepts and knowledge, but first of all training. We must help our pupils to learn sight-reading from notes and to be able to notate the music they hear in every way. Theory and analysis are good only in as much as they are necessary in the execution of the practical work.’ (Eősze 1977: 52.)

This Kodályian idea of music theory instruction is the model for Susanna Király’s “tuneful music theory teaching programme”. Practically speaking, this means that in the middle level music theory lesson, first we sing or play together the analysis task as a choir or orchestra. The next step is a general musical analysis of the actual masterpiece. The teacher’s verbal explanation in teaching a new issue is needed only insofar as it is required by the musical score.

عن المؤلف

Susanna Király’s aim was to develop a method for music theory and ear training learning the basic level well and efficiently according to the Kodály method. Király has developed a six-part Prima Vista textbook series and was on the doctoral dissertation at the University of Helsinki in the spring of 2012. (Computer-aided Ear-training: A Contemporary Approach to Kodály’s Music Educational Philosophy).

Kodály’s philosophy of music education includes the idea that every child has the right to learn his musical mother tongue. This learning should take place in a child-centred, natural and easy way. In the present study, I particularly focused on the opportunities for developing and testing the new, computer-aided teaching method, especially for ear-training, using Kodály’s concept.

My purpose was to create a learning tool that could be used in music schools to facilitate the teaching of music theory and solfège.