Australian Kodály Certificate

Teach music and singing at school in such a way that it is not a torture but a joy for the pupil; instil a thirst for finer music in him, a thirst which will last for a lifetime.

Zoltán Kodály, 1929

The Australian Kodály Certificate (AKC) is the only Australian fully accredited and nationally recognised program of teacher training in the Kodály concept. This course provides pre-service, current classroom and studio music teachers with the skills and knowledge to deliver a sequential, cumulative, developmental and aural-based music curriculum.

The certificate is normally completed over three years of part time study with an accredited Course Provider and candidates choose to complete a three year sequence in one area of specialisation: Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary or Colourstrings. The curriculum for this award has been modelled on outstanding international Kodály programs and adapted to suit the needs of Australian educators. It is comprehensive, rigorous and involves a mixture of both hands-on (practical) and lecture style tuition. Peer education is an important part of the training and the course is delivered by experienced and accredited lecturers who are working teachers and expert in their specific field of Kodály study.

As the course is designed to be sequential and developmental in nature, candidates of the Primary, Secondary and Colourstrings streams are expected to complete the levels in order (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3). In the case of the Early Childhood stream, while the preferred pathway is to complete the levels in numerical order, the possibility exists to complete the pathway in any order, eg. Level 3, 2 and 1, with the Early Childhood lecturer ultimately responsible for the marking of the Song Collection and Retrieval Index.

Australian Kodály Award (AKA)

Candidates who complete Early Childhood Level 1 and Early Childhood Level 2 courses are eligible to apply for the Australian Kodály Award (AKA).

Online delivery

From 2023, all courses can be offered fully in-person or by hybrid mode, but not fully online, with a minimum in-person component of half of the required level hours (i.e., 30 of 60 hours).  

For participants who have completed levels of their award fully online, they must complete the final course (i.e., Primary Level 3, Secondary Level 3, either Early Childhood 1/2/3 depending on progression and award) with a minimum in-person component of half of the required level hours (i.e., 30 of 60 hours). The final course could be offered fully in-person or by hybrid mode, but not fully online.  

Modules of a level should all be completed at the same course provider.  

How to qualify and apply

Candidates qualify by completing the required levels from the national curriculum with an approved course provider and may then apply for their official certificate.

Accredited course providers

The following are accredited course providers for accreditated courses:

The Cuskelly College of Music
Clayfield School of Music
Kodály NSW Branch
Kodály SA Branch
Kodály VIC Branch
Kodály WA Branch

Courses are advertised on the Kodály Australia website in the event listing.