Talking Rhythm: The Kodly Method

by Sabrina Pea Young | Nov 10, 2015 | Rhythm, Music Theory, Sight Reading |

Are you struggling with counting out basic rhythm? Do you wish that you could
understand a rhythm on sight? Does sheet music confuse you? Fortunately there is a
way to translate playing by ear into understanding written rhythms that is easy to use
whether you are five or fifty-five!

In the Talking Rhythm series so far we have discussed how to use a simple count chant
method to understand rhythms, from basic quarter and eighth note patterns to more
complex rhythms involving 16th notes, triplets and compound meter. If you have not
had a chance to explore the previous articles in the series its not too late! Click here to
get started from the beginning.

In this article we are exploring the Kodly Method, a way to develop key musicianship
skills developed by Hungarian composer Zoltn Kodly in the early 20th Century. The
Kodly Method is both educational and fun, using a combination of singing, folk music,
solfge, and practical sequencing to teach key skills like reading notation and
developing ear training. When learning rhythm in the Kodly Method, the musician
uses simple syllables to represent key rhythms. These exercises have been proven to
work for half a century and now you too can use these simple principles to learn
rhythm.

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Background: Who was Zoltn Kodly?

The world-renowned composer Zoltn Kodly (1882-1967) believed strongly in

developing musicianship at an early age. A multi-talented composer whose work
stretched into regional ethnomusicology, music education, and full scale orchestral
composition, he developed the Kodly Method to liberate the mind through teaching
young children music, primarily through singing. His method delved into many aspects
of music theory, singing, and rhythm, and Kodly wrote countless pedagogical works
for young children.

The characteristics of a well-trained musician are a well-trained ear, a well-trained

mind, a well-trained heart, and a well-trained hand. All four parts must develop
together in contact equilibrium.

Zoltn Kodly

His strong musical principles, rooted deep in classical Greek education, touched every
area of his life, and compelled Kodly to spend a great part of his time teaching children
the value of music from a very early age.

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Learning with the Kodly Method
Below you will see a chart detailing how to speak rhythms using simple name
syllables. For example, when counting a quarter note, you will say ta or when
speaking a series of 16th notes you will read tika-tika.

Li
sten to the example below. In this example, the musician speaks a very simple rhythm
using the Kodly Method. One clear benefit of the Kodly Method over the traditional
count chant method is that the syllables actually sound like the rhythm they represent
and hold out the same amount of time. This means theres less need for tapping out the
beat with your foot while you speak the rhythms to know where to place each note:
speak the right syllables and the notes should automatically occur with the right timing.

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Much more complex notation can also be read using the Kodly symbols, as youll
discover below.

Exercise 1: Counting Quarter Notes and 8th Notes

In this first example you will count out quarter note and 8th note rhythms. Notice that
you do not count out the quarter rests in this example. You only count the actual notes.

1. Play the audio sample several times

2. Practice counting with the audio sample

3. Count out the rhythm without the audio sample

4. If you can, practice tapping your foot in time as you count the rhythm

Exercise 2: Counting 16th Notes

In this example you will practice counting 16th notes. Take your time reviewing the
Kodly Rhythm Symbol chart before practicing this example. It may take a little bit of
time to familiarize yourself with the different syllables for quarter notes, 8th notes, and
16th notes. Be sure that you count these rhythms out loud. Hearing yourself count these
rhythms will help you train your ears to connect your listening skills with written
notation.

1. After reviewing the rhythm symbol chart, play the audio sample

2. Practice counting with the audio sample

3. Count out the rhythm without the audio sample

4. If you can, practice tapping your foot in time as you count the rhythm

Exercise 3: More Advanced Practice

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In this final example, you will practice counting the rhythm using the Kodly Method
for a longer period of time. Be sure that you are familiar with the rhythm names before
reading out the samples.

1. Play the audio sample several times

2. Practice counting with the audio sample

3. Count out the rhythm without the audio sample

4. Tap your foot in time as you count the rhythm again

Everyday Practice

You can apply the Kodly Method to your everyday music practice. Look over rhythms
that you encounter on popular sheet music. Write out the Kodly rhythm names under
the rhythms and practice saying them out loud.

As you listen to music on the radio, sing a favorite song, or jam out on your instrument,
take the time to identify the rhythms that you are playing. Did you just play a quarter
note or a string of 16ths? Using the Kodly Method, count out the syllables out loud,
then try to notate the rhythms. Continue applying these skills every day!