Kodály Institute At McNeese State University

The Kodály Institute At McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of its Kodály Summer Course June 10-June 29, 2007. Fourteen students in three levels participated. There were two students participating who completed all the requirements for graduation and received certification in Kodály teaching. Teaching this summer were Kari McCarty of Lake Charles, Jonathan Rappaport of Westborough, Massachusetts, Ann Eisen of Lake Charles, and Klara Nemes of Budapest, Hungary. Lamar Robertson was special guest lecturer and honored guest as the founder of this summer program. The Institute Director is Michele Martin, head of the Department of Performing Arts. Students attending this year came from Louisiana, Texas, California, Maryland, and Washington, DC. A Children’s Choir Camp was held the third week of the program. Conducting the choir was Sandra Knudson of Norman, Oklahoma. Sheila Manning of DeRidder, Louisiana is the camp director.

Students attending the 2007 KIM Summer Program were Corey Dearborn of Chico, CA, Lisa Irwin, Tracey Aycock and Laurie Robertson of Houston, TX, Hannah Schlage-Busch of Potomac, MD, Elaine Simmons of Jeanerette, LA, Mary Townsend of Washington, DC, Lori Young of Sulphur, LA; also William Clement of DeQuincy, LA, Christine Miller and Deanna Kolde of Lake Charles, LA, Sarah Currier of Lafayette, LA, Bonnie Jacobi of Dallas, TX, and Vicky Stark of Mesquite, TX.

Special Activities held during the three weeks included a Student Concert featuring the students of the Institute and guest artist, Mr. Gilbert DeGreeve, president of the International Kodály Society. Mr. DeGreeve was also guest speaker at a Fifteenth Anniversary Student Luncheon. Special Topics for 2007 included English Folk Dancing, presented by Kari McCarty and Bonnie Jacobi, Improvisation Techniques presented by Lamar Robertson, and Choir Preparation Ideas presented by Sandra Knudson.

The closing concert was given on Friday evening, June 29. Special awards for service given to KIM during the past fifteen years were presented to Lamar Robertson and Ann Eisen. The program included performances by the Level III student conductors, the choir of the Children’s Choir Camp, Sandra Knudson, conductor, and the Institute Choir, conducted by Klara Nemes. Graduates of KIM were Vicky Stark of Mesquite, Texas, and Tracey Aycock of Houston, Texas. Vicky Stark was the recipient of the annual Eva Vendrei Award. Mme. Vendrei taught at the McNeese Summer Program for twelve years before her untimely death in 2004.

Lamar Robertson, honored guest and well-known Kodály educator and clinician, gave the following speech as part of the fifteenth anniversary observance. We are grateful to Mr. Robertson for his support, leadership, and wisdom during the past fifteen years.

We have much to offer this old world. We have been doing so for 15 summers, now at McNeese. Still there is much work to be done. It is a proven fact that children who receive music instruction based on the Kodály philosophy are accelerated in reading and math. Yet elementary schools are turning away from music programs to concentrate more on academics. However, I read recently that the legislature is proposing to make the Arts a part of the regular school curriculum. I am certain I need not urge you to support this. If you know a legislator, or someone with decision-making responsibilities, encourage them to support the Kodály philosophy.

Radio, television, and the recording industry have little to offer our children, but they are powerful adversaries. Shall we get on our soapboxes and campaign for Kodály teaching and for daily music in the elementary classroom, or do we remain quiet and hope that maybe someone will notice our accomplishments? I suppose we must each decide for ourselves how involved to become.

At this time, however, I want to remind you what the Kodály philosophy is about. I remember a discussion with persons of differing music philosophies. One teacher, not knowing that I was a Kodály enthusiast, said, “Those Kodály people act like the Kodály method is a “Salvation Experience”! I came so close to shouting out, “It is! ”

I had tried several ways of teaching music and was not satisfied with the results I was getting from students. My wife, Joanne, said, “Why don’t you give Kodály a try.” So off I went to St. Louis, Missouri for a two-week course with Eva Rosgonyi. As part of the course, she did a daily demonstration with children. Of course, in that short time she was not able to teach any of the elements of music, but you could certainly see what musical elements she was leading to. Zoltán Kodály was a great Hungarian composer, educator, and philosopher. He wrote, and I paraphrase, “It is more important who the music teacher is in Kisvarda than the director of the opera house. If the director of the opera house is not successful, he will be fired, but the music teacher will kill the love of music for children for 30 years.” End of quote.

Watching her that first day was my “Salvation Experience.” The children were singing American folk songs and playing games- not just ANY games, but games that our forefathers had played: songs and games that had stood the test of time; games that required cooperation and community spirit, but at the same time were preparing them with a rhythmic and/or melodic element.

The Kodály philosophy is not only about developing musical elements, it is about enriching the human soul. Teaching children to sing is giving them a gift than can never be measured. They sing songs that children have sung for ages. They clap and dance and smile and giggle - all the things children are supposed to do. And they experience JOY! For a while, the world is beautiful, — a better place to live. America’s heritage, its very history can be celebrated in games and song!

The music, then, is suddenly a thing of magic. And the magic can lead our students to the mystery and allure of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart— the Masters. Some of them may continue down the musical path and become singers, or instrumentalists, or composers. Others may insist their children be schooled in song or become members of an appreciative and educated audience. Like a ripple on the water, we never know how far our touch can reach. Zoltán Kodály said, “There are regions of the human soul that can be illuminated only by music.”

The other day, when I was checking out at Wal-Mart, the clerk began to sing “Snail, Snail” and to chant, “Bee, Bee, Bumble Bee”. I'm certain I looked puzzled, because he smiled and said, “You were my music teacher in Kindergarten and First Grade.” Then, I smiled.

What we give them will stay with them for life. Former students who are adults now, still have their little music workbooks that we sang from in elementary school. One adult student told me, “You know all those songs we used to sing? Well, I’m singing them to my babies now.” To use an old commercial phrase, “We give the gift that keeps on giving.”

Also within this teaching philosophy is the important word, “JOY”. I would like to quote from the book, BUBBLES, A SELF PORTRAIT, by the famous American singer, Beverly Sills. As you may know, she had two children, each with different handicaps: And I quote, “As a result of my children’s problems I had found a kind of serenity, a new maturity. I didn’t feel better or stronger than anyone else but it seemed no longer important whether everyone loves me or not—more important now was for me to love them. Feeling that way turns your whole life around: living becomes the act of giving. When I do a performance now, I still need and like the adulation of an audience, of course, but my real satisfaction comes from what I have given of myself, from the joyful act of singing itself.” End quote.

Here is an ode written by Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy.

“We are the Music Makers”

“We are the music makers,
We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers
On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.”

So no matter what the obstacles, the disappointments, the fatigue, let us continue our Kodály teaching, and like the lady with rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, a child shall have music, and joy and love, where ever he goes.

Author: Ann Eisen