The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) will, in partnership with the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS), deliver a series of module-based courses on Kodály Musicianship – the first of its kind in Scotland.
The classes will be delivered by Kodály educator and NYCoS Education Consultant, Lucinda Geoghegan and will provide tuition on the philosophies of Zoltán Kodály, in both personal musicianship and educational pedagogy.
Flexible attendance options are available, allowing students to participate via day-time, twilight or weekend study. Joan Gibson, Chief Executive of NYCoS, said:
“NYCoS is delighted to be working in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on delivering the first Kodály accredited course in Scotland. NYCoS training courses have always been highly regarded but in this ever-growing age of accountability it seemed a logical progression to have our courses validated.
“The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is the only accrediting conservatoire in the UK and, as we are such close neighbours, it seemed the most obvious choice to enter into talks with them. RCS has, throughout the discussions, been totally supportive of NYCoS and we are now looking forward to a long and beneficial partnership.”
Professor John Wallace CBE, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, added:
“I am delighted that we are working with NYCoS on such an important area of learning and teaching. This partnership demonstrates that both the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and NYCoS are at the heart of the cultural wellbeing of the country. It is working in partnership like this that enables us to train a new generation of artists for Scotland and beyond.”
The courses will run from 9 October 2011 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s main Renfrew Street Campus. To register interest and to receive further information, contact Carole Allen on 0141 287 2880 or email carole.allen@nycos.co.uk
Zoltán Kodály
NYCoS’ education principles are based on the teachings of Hungarian Composer and Educator Zoltán Kodály. He advocated that music education should start nine months before the child is born, should be organised in a systematic and structured way throughout school years, and should start with the most natural instrument in the world – the voice. Research has shown that good music education will not only help develop musical skills, but will also enhance numerical, social and linguistic skills. The name of Zoltán Kodály is being increasingly recognised across Scotland, and his teaching philosophy becoming more commonplace in the classroom. He believes:
“There will be good music education in the schools only when we educate good teachers”.
Certainly, the advent of the Youth Music Initiative has helped to provide these necessary training opportunities, a trend that will hopefully continue. NYCoS has for some years now been delivering Kodály based programmes for schools. This year NYCoS developed and piloted a new music project in West Lothian linking Kodály based material with Curriculum for Excellence Active Learning. Its success has allowed NYCoS to feel confident that this will roll out to more schools, providing non-specialist staff with the necessary skills, resources and confidence to deliver a quality music programme, which is at the core of the curriculum.
NYCoS
The National Youth Choir of Scotland is dedicated to providing high-level singing opportunities for Scotland’s young singers. Formed in 1996 as a flagship youth choir, its activities have dramatically expanded since then.
NYCoS Education
A range of published and commissioned resource material for use in schools:
Singing Games and Rhymes for Tiny Tots, Early Years and Middle Years, Go for Bronze, Silver and Gold, My Voice is Changing.
And music suitable for young singers:
Saga of the Seven Days, Seven Planets and a Cosmic Rock, I Landed with Seven Men, NYCoS Songbooks.
Provider of educational and training opportunities for teachers and choir leaders:
Partnerships with local authorities to help to deliver Youth Music Initiative activities, singing days for primary/secondary pupils and workshops and customised courses for all levels.
4 National Choirs
Annual residential courses, concerts and tours:
National Youth Choir of Scotland for singers aged 16 – 24 years
NYCoS Training Choir for singers aged 15 – 19 years
NYCoS National Boys Choir for singers aged 10 – 16 years (including Changed Voices and Junior Corps)
NYCoS National Girls Choir for singers aged 12 – 16 years (including NGC Training Choir)
15 NYCoS Area Choirs (including two boys choirs)
Weekly rehearsals and regular concerts for Primary and Secondary pupils across Scotland in:
Aberdeen, Angus, Dumfries, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire (boys choir), Edinburgh, Falkirk, Galloway, Inverness, Isle of Lewis, Midlothian, Perth (boys choir), Stirling, Renfrewshire and West Lothian
Mini Music Makers
Musical sessions for babies, toddlers, nursery age children and their parents/carers in:
Ayr, Bathgate, Dalkeith, Edinburgh – Central, Edinburgh – Leith, Falkirk, Glasgow – Busby, Glasgow – City Halls, Glasgow – East End, Glasgow – Giffnock, Glasgow – Kelvinbridge, Glasgow – Pollokshields, Glasgow – Tramway, Grangemouth, Killearn, Linlithgow, Livingston, Paisley and Stirling.
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