First We Sing! Kodály-Inspired Teaching and its companion volumes and materials offer guidance and direction for teachers who are new to the Kodály approach. Experienced teachers will find fresh ideas to supplement their materials, along with another perspective on Kodály’s philosophy and its implications for teaching today. Finally, the books and teaching materials include a sample Kodály-inspired curriculum guide, which can be adapted for a variety of school settings.
Teaching strategies for rhythmic and melodic elements taught in primary grades (K-2) are printed on 3-hole punched loose-leaf paper so teachers can easily customize the teaching sequence in order to make the most of each lesson. Each teaching strategy contains a list of requisite readiness elements and skills (what the students need to know and be able to do) before learning the new element. It includes a list of activities to prepare for the new element, a scripted, step-by-step procedure for presenting it, and ways to practice using the new element in each skill area. The strategies in this volume are geared towards the primary grades. New and experienced teachers alike will find FIRST WE SING to be a practical, flexible and creative resource for bringing Kodály’s approach into American music classrooms.
The First, We Sing! books reflect a commitment to discovering, documenting and sharing accurate, interesting and useful information about song material used throughout the series. As teachers, we must understand the critical importance of adjusting and reworking curriculum materials as times and the needs of our students change. Ongoing research also provides an opportunity to examine and reconsider widely used “standard” repertoire and to suggest more culturally sensitive and relevant options. Consequently, several books in the First, We Sing! series have undergone significant revisions, including the Teaching Guide and Teaching Strategies for both Primary and Intermediate grades. New editions contain updated song lists and revised lessons for teaching various elements. Purchasers of the original materials can download the updated pages here.
