WEEK 1 (YEAR 1 Semester 2) -- What is Musicianship?

This week's exploration of Kodály's philosophy deeply resonated with me. His holistic approach to developing musicianship -- a well-trained ear, intelligence, heart, and hand -- challenges the narrow view that music education is only for the elite.

Instead, Kodály believed every individual has the right to be a musician. His quote about single experiences opening young souls to music reminded me of my own early childhood encounter with the song "Day-O" at a music performance after school assembly. Though I ended up in trouble for staying in the school hall with the wrong year group, that moment felt like home. It reinforced my belief that music has the power to transport us, connecting us to ourselves and to others in profound ways.

The question that lingers: how do I facilitate positive singing experiences in my classroom, especially for self-conscious students? Kodály's reminder that "you have an instrument in your throat, with a more beautiful tone than any violin" emphasises the voice as our most direct path to music education. Yet many programs under-utilise this built-in instrument. As I prepare for placement, I'm challenged to create classroom environments where all students feel safe and empowered to use their voices authentically.