Incorporating World Music Pedagogy in the Kodály Classroom

How might traditional teaching approaches like the Kodály method remain responsive to a an increasingly diverse and culturally rich world? How can teachers select repertoire and activities that are deeply engaging while also brimming with newfound cultural understandings? In this workshop, participants will explore connections between the Kodály approach and World Music Pedagogy (WMP). By exploring logical and sequential strategies for implementing culturally diverse music in the PK–12 classroom, the clinicians will demonstrate how both approaches embrace overlapping pedagogical goals. Starting with immersive listening and moving toward participatory musicking activities—including singing, playing, moving, and dancing—the WMP approach aligns with the Kodály philosophy while gradually developing teachers’ and students’ comfort with musical traditions beyond the Western folk canon. In this workshop, participants will discover classroom-ready strategies for incorporating singing, playing, improvisation, composition, and arranging activities in an engaging, ethical, and thought-provoking manner.