ABOUT
Welcome to the website of the Kodály Society of Ontario!
Making music is an essential component of a child's life. One has only to reflect on past music classes, concerts, assemblies and impromptu singing sessions to be reminded of the delight, emotional satisfaction and the pure pleasure children derive from joyous music making. As teachers of music, it is our mission to provide our students with many opportunities for engagement in quality music experiences.
We invite you into the joyful music making community that is the Kodály Society of Ontario.
Core Beliefs
Founded in 1985, the Kodaly Society of Ontario is a group of music educators dedicated to assisting teachers to teach music in the classroom. Our philosophy of music education comes from the Hungarian ethnomusicologist Zoltan Kodaly who believed that:
True musical literacy (the ability to read, write and think music) is the right of every person.
To be internalized musical learning must begin with the child's own natural instrument- the voice.
An early start is essential, begin training at the earliest possible moment.
The folk music of a child's cultural heritage (the musical mother tongue) is the best material to teach the skills and concepts necessary for musical literacy
Only music of the highest artistic quality is to be used in the education of children.
Music education is necessary for the development of the total person (music should be at the core of the curriculum (affective, cognitive, psychomotor).
Music education of children rests in the hand of their instructors, therefore they must be the best possible musician-educators.
Honorary Members
John Barron (D)
Don Landry (D)
Edith Lantos (D)
Heather Morris
Jeanette Panagapka
Carolyn VanderBurgh
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for one of our Back-to-School Workshops with the Kodály Society of Ontario in BURLINGTON on August 20th or LONDON on August 21st! Our guest clinician, Dr. Hélène Boucher, will be leading the FRENCH workshop and sharing her expertise. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best!
BURLINGTON-Intermediate ideas and Choral suggestions
LONDON-Composition, Ukulele, & 5-minute activities
Check out the flyers for more details and register now to secure your place. (space is limited at the Burlington location)
Join today!
Membership has its advantages!
Memberships for the KSC are purchased through provincial branches. If your province does not have a branch, please choose the closest province.
Provincial branch members automatically become members of the Kodály Society of Canada, joining together with musician-educator colleagues from across Canada to serve as a voice for music education in Canada.
Membership benefits include:
KSC journal, Alla Breve
KSC e-Blast and Blog
A network of teachers of music from across the country
Member’s only content, including access to past workshops and Kodály resources
Voting rights in your provincial branch and the KSC
Membership fees recur yearly, and may be cancelled anytime via your member’s account
Become a member of the KSC through the Kodály Society of Ontario. Students use code KSOSTUDENT for a $20 membership. Retired teachers use code KSORETIRED for a $30 membership.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Kim Eyre, past-president/Treasurer
Dr. Kim Eyre is a mostly retired music educator approaching her 4th decade in the profession. She has taught music in elementary schools in London, ON, the Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University and the Faculty of Education, Western University. She is the coordinator of the Kodály Certification Program at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University. Her degrees include Doctor of Philosophy (University of Toronto), Diploma (Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskémet, Hungary), Master of Music (Holy Names University, Oakland, California), Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Music (University of Western Ontario). Kim is currently the Past President of the Kodály Society of Canada and the current President of the Kodály Society of Ontario. She has presented at local, provincial national and international music conferences and has instructed at summer courses at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Alberta. Kim’s primary research interests include identity formation and reformation of pre-service and in-service elementary specialist and generalist music teacher and a reimagining of Kodály music education in Canada. She continues to be a passionate advocate of music education.
Kim is currently the Past President of the Kodály Society of Ontario. She is now the treasurer on the KSO
Gena Norbury, president
Hailing from Newfoundland, Gena is an Education Champion award winner from the Peel District School Board where she taught K-8 music for 32 years. Gena received her formal training at Memorial University in Newfoundland graduating with a B. Mus. and B. Mus. Ed. She also holds an Associate Degree from the Trinity College, London in piano performance. For a decade, Gena volunteered on the Ontario Music Educators' Association board and served as President from 2014-2016. At the same time, she spent six years as the membership coordinator on the Canadian Music Educators’ Association board and is President of the Kodály Society of Ontario. She has recently obtained her Kodály certification from the British Kodály Academy and NYCOS. Gena is the proud recipient of the Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with Con Brio Singers, a nationally recognized youth choir she founded with her husband, Kevin, while living in Mississauga. Now retired, Gena devotes her time to the community of Port Rowan as a volunteer at Long Point Bird Observatory, librarian for Birds Canada, teaching piano, voice, and theory to a diverse range of students, and conducting the choir at Trinity Anglican, Simcoe as well as Norfolk County’s, Spiritoso Singers.
CARLY AGUIAR, vice-president
Carly is an Elementary Music Teacher with the London District Catholic School Board. She studied Music Education and Orchestral Performance on harp under Sarah Davidson, Lori Gemmell, and Sharlene Wallace at Wilfrid Laurier University. She obtained her Bachelor of Education at York University. Carly is passionate about providing a quality music education where every student can build relationships, collaborate, be creative, and see themselves reflected in what they are learning.
Chantel Vallier, secretary
Chantel Vallier received her Bachelor's and Master of Music Education from Western University. She completed all three of her Kodály levels at Western University. Presently, Chantel works for Thames Valley District School Board as a teacher-librarian and teaches grade 4-8 music at a school in London. This includes teaching vocal music, ukulele, recorder and band. Chantel’s current interests include social-emotional learning in the music classroom, the application of Kodály in instrumental teaching, and supporting students' voices and learning through literature.
Laurel Forshaw, Director
Laurel Forshaw (PhD) is a choral conductor, music educator, and researcher. Her research in decolonization and Indigenization seeks to draw attention to the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participation in higher music education within Canada and to encourage and engage in meaningful decolonization and Indigenization within music education and higher music education. Laurel holds a Master of Arts in Music Education (Choral Conducting) and Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk certification from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, and serves on faculty for the Kodály certification program at Western University and as treasurer for the Kodály Society of Canada. Laurel has served as a course instructor at the University of Toronto (elementary music education) and Lakehead University (conducting) and has recently returned to teaching at Lakehead University. An active choral conductor, Laurel was most recently conductor of the Strata Vocal Ensemble in Hamilton, ON, and before that, she was Artistic Director of the Dulcisono Women’s Choir, and founder and Artistic Director of the Rafiki Youth Choir, both in Thunder Bay, ON.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions for the KSO board members, please complete the form below.
Please complete the form below
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Kodály Society of Ontario is pleased to offer scholarships for study in the Kodály Certification Program at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University.
For 2024, the following scholarships are available:
One scholarship of $300 for a student enrolled in Level I at Western University
One scholarship of $300 for a student enrolled in Level II at Western University
*Proof of successful completion of Kodály study at Western must be provided before scholarship funds are released.
*Acceptance of a KSO scholarship commits the recipient to writing a reflection on their experience in the course for the Fall 2024 KSO newsletter. Deadline: October 6, 2024 (Please submit a bio and headshot along with the article)
*Students taking the courses for graduate credit at Western are not eligible to apply for a scholarship.
If you have questions concerning the scholarship process or any other information, please contact the course coordinator Kim Eyre by emailing kim@kodalysocietyofcanada.ca