Colourstrings
CLÁR
Cur Chuige
An sprioc atá le Maoin Cheoil na Gaillimhe ná gliondar a chur chun cinn agus sár-oideachas ceoil á lorg. Treoraíonn na prionsabail a bhí ag an gcumadóir cumasach agus oide ceoil ón Ungáir, Zoltan Kodaly (1882 – 1967) fealsúnacht mhúinteoireachta agus éiteas na scoile.
Baineann muid leas as an modh Colourstrings chun cur chuige atá dírithe ar an bpáiste i dtaca le hoideachas ceoil a chothú agus a roinnt, modh atá forbartha ag an múinteoir téada Geza Szilvay a bhfuil cáili idirnáisiúnta air agus ag a deartháir Czaba. Tuilleadh forbartha agus mionleasuithe atá anseo ar phrionsabail Kodaly cruthaithe go sonrach chun dúshláin agus spreagadh a thabhairt dóibh i dtaca le grá don cheol.
Faoi Kodaly
Ba chumadóir agus oide ceoil ón Ungáir a bhí in Zoltan Kodaly. Chreid sé gur cheart breithe a bhí in oideachas cuimsitheach ceoil do gach páiste mar “go gcuireann an ceol solas ar na píosaí sin den anam nach féidir teacht orthu ar aon bhealach eile.” Chuige sin rinne sé staidéar agus athrú ar na modh-eolaíochtaí múinteoireachta idirnáisiúnta is fearr agus thug sé le chéile iad le cur chuige cuimsitheamh amháin d’fhoghlaim cheoil a bhfuil tionchar aige ar an oideachas ar fud an domhain.
Na príomh-phrionsabail a bhaineann le cur chuige Kodaly i dtaca le hoideachas ceoil:
- Lárnach san fhealsúnacht agus sna prionsabail a bhaineann le hoideachas ceoil tá an creideamh “go bhfuil an ceol ann do chách.” Chreid Kodaly gur féidir le gach páiste, má tá na deiseanna cearta acu (an traenáil cheart ag an am ceart), foghlaim conas canadh go maith, an chluas inmheánach a thraenáil, a bheith liteartha ó thaobh an cheoil de (foghlaim conas nótaí ceoil a léamh agus a scríobh), agus, más mian leo, foghlaim conas uirlis cheoil a sheinm.
- Ba cheart go mbeadh taithí ag páistí ar cheol agus iad óg agus ba cheart go dtosódh an traenáil ar bhealach spraoiúil agus nádúrtha.
- Tugann amhráin do pháistí agus ábhar tíre ar ard-chaighdeán pointe tosaigh do gach imeacht ceoil.
- Foghlaimíonn páistí réimse leathan d’fhoinn shimplí agus dá bharr tógann siad isteach blocanna tógála an cheoil i nganfhios dóibh féin: tuinairde, rithim, luas, dinimicí srl.
- Fuaim roimh an siombal. Faigheann páistí “taithí” ar na gnéithe ceoil trí chanadh agus bogadh sula mbíonn a fhios acu faoi, sula mbíonn ainm orthu agus iad curtha in iúl trí nótaí ceoil.
- Sula dtosaítear ar staidéar a dhéanamh ar uirlis ba cheart go mbeadh ullmhúchán ag páistí i dtaca le tuinairde agus le rithim, go ndéanfaí forbairt ar an gcluas inmheánach agus go mbeadh eolas bunúsach fiú acu ar nótaí ceoil.
- Ba cheart go leanfaí le traenáil i dtaca le cumas ceoil taobh le taobh le traenáil uirlise chun forbairt cumais éisteachta a choinneáil.
“Is é an amhraíocht, neamhspleách ó uirlis, an fhíor-scolaíocht d’ábaltachtaí ceoil.”
Zoltán Kodály
What is Colourstrings?
An innovative, multi-sensory, child-centred approach to music education capable of taking children from music kindergarten to conservatoire level.
Colourstrings was developed in Finland in the 1970’s by violinist Geza Szilvay as a way of introducing young children to the joys of music making in a playful, child friendly manner. It is a two part approach though the integration of both part is rather seamless. There is a Kindergarten program and a later instrumental program. Based firmly on Kodaly principles, Colourstrings music education begins in the music kindergarten where children go on an exciting adventure to Musicland where they develop their sense of pitch, beat and rhythm and in the more advanced classes are introduced to reading and writing music through a simplified colour- coded system of notation.
One of the strengths of this approach is the use of repertoire from the Singing Rascals series. It begins in kindergarten, and is developed and embellished through early instrumental, musicianship and orchestral ensembles. The growing familiarity of the material leaves the child free to focus of aspects of interpretation and technique on their chosen instruments later on. This repertoire provides continuity and a sense of security for the children and enables a seamless transition from kindergarten to instrumental training.
We believe that a Colourstrings music education provides the best opportunity for young children to learn to love their music, in a method where the elements of musicianship and technical skill are uniquely integrated. The instruments presently taught through this approach are: Violin, Viola, and Piano.
Why is Colourstrings unique?
- Colourstrings training caters for all levels of musical ability and not just the more naturally talented children. This approach, which has been tried and tested for over thirty years, enables each child to progress at their own rate and develop their innate musicality.
- Colourstrings training lays the foundations for the development of music literacy from the earliest stages. Songs, pictures, fairytale characters and puppets are used to introduce basic notation in a fun, age appropriate setting. Children develop a solid musical foundation and learn to read basic music notation BEFORE starting an instrument.
- Colourstrings Instrumental lessons build upon early musicianship skills acquired in the Music Kindergarten classes. The first little pieces which the young instrumentalist plays are familiar songs from the Music kindergarten classes. This provides a seamless progression from music kindergarten to instrumental classes.
- Colourstrings uses a unique colour-coded system of notation in the early stages of instrumental training which greatly simplifies the process of learning to read music for the very young child. Children quickly progress to reading standard music notation.
- Colourstrings training can take a child from the earliest stages of instrumental training to advanced levels of proficiency.
Our Kindergarten Material
Singing Rascals and Rhythm Rascals Songbooks
The core song material of the Music Kindergarten programme is presented in a series of books and CDs called the Singing Rascals and Rhythm Rascals.
The pictures, melodies, and words in these books have been carefully chosen and arranged with young children in mind.
The tunes have been selected from those, which over the years have proved appealing and easy to learn.
The illustrations are closely associated with the words of the songs and are designed to capture the young child’s interest and imagination. The printed notation is for the benefit of parents.
Singing Rascals and Rhythm Rascals CDs
The songbooks are supported by a parallel series of CDs on which young children sing and perform the melodies. The songs reappear in a series of workbooks and instrumental tutor books, creating an integrated system of learning which has been tried and tested for over thirty years with outstanding results.
The primary purpose of the Singing Rascals CDs is to encourage the child to sing, and sing well. Each song is therefore presented in different ways – with words, in solfa, sung alone or in groups. Sound effects between the songs make the repeated presentation easier and more fun.
Children will love listening and singing along to the songs they learn in class! At the end of each sequence, the song is heard as a high artistic quality string orchestra performance, leading the child naturally from singing to active listening and helping to nurture a lifelong love of music.
Contact Us
Address:
Maoin Cheoil na Gaillimhe
Presentation National School
Newcastle Road, Galway
H91FV48
Phone:
+353 (0) 91 528 96