Primary Courses

About These Courses

These courses offer a unique approach to professional development, providing participants with the opportunity to enhance skills
and work actively with teaching concepts. A resource collection of age-appropriate cultural materials – songs and games – will be developed as part of the process.

Our courses are accredited by the KMEIA national body and upon passing, participants receive the appropriate credit towards the Australian Kodaly Certificate (AKC) in Music Education.

The courses are suited to primary and secondary school specialist class music teachers. It is expected that the applicants for the course will have (or be completing) a degree/diploma or equivalent in music education and/or education. Applicants should have basic musical knowledge and music literacy skills.

Note: Enrolment for each Part A and Part B are separate

Part A Subjects

Primary Level 1

Dates & Times

12 x Wednesdays, 4.30pm – 7.00pm in Semester 1.

Students must attend all contact hours, submit work by the due date and pass assessments in order to gain credit for Part A subjects.

3 Feb Lecture 1
10 Feb Lecture 2
17 Feb Lecture 3
3 Mar Lecture 4
24 Mar Lecture 5
14 Apr Lecture 6
21 Apr Lecture 7
28 Apr Lecture 8
5 May Lecture 9
12 May Lecture 10
26 May Lecture 11
2 Jun Lecture 12/Exam

 

Locations

Hawthorn Library Meeting Rooms

584 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

Susan Searle

Susan Searle has been the Coordinator of Junior Music at Trinity Grammar School since 2017 and is a lecturer in the Australian Kodály Certificate. Susan has a passion for Choir, Pedagogy and Inquiry learning. She has taught in state and independent schools, in co-ed and in single sex boys’ and girls’ schools. Exploring new ideas and approaches in the classroom is a continual theme of Susan’s teaching.

She spends much of her spare time in the forests, taking pictures of birds.

$500 Deposit due on enrolment to secure your place.
This will be taken off the total of your course fees.

To secure your place in the course, fees must be paid in advance. Payment must be received in full before the first lecture.

Total fees:

Kodály Australia Members: $1300 + texts
Non-members (includes 12-months Ordinary Membership): $1400 + texts

Please see Course Payment Policy HERE.

It is expected that all students have current membership with Kodály Australia. Students without a current membership will be charged the non-member rate which covers 12-months Ordinary Membership + an administrative fee. To avoid paying the administration fee, become a Kodály Australia member here.

Required texts:

  • Klinger, R. “A Guide to Lesson Planning in a Kodály Setting” $40.00
  • Bridges, D. & Hoermann, D. “Catch A Song” $44.00

Recommended texts:

  • Chosky, L. “The Kodály Method 1” – This book is no longer available in Australia. You might find it in a library. We also have a couple of copies available to borrow ca. $220.00

Equipment:

Text purchases:

REGISTER HERE

Part B Subjects

All Levels

Dates & Times

10 x Monday Evenings, Semester 1 and 5 x choir rehearsals.

Choir rehearsals run on Mondays, 7.30pm – 9.30pm at Armadale Baptist Church. Students must attend five (5) choir rehearsals to satisfy the choral component of this course.

Students must attend all contact hours, submit work by the due date and pass assessments in order to gain credit for Part A subjects.

Please note: lectures location is TBC.

15 Feb Lecture 1
22 Feb Lecture 2
1 Mar Lecture 3
15 Mar Lecture 4
22 Mar Lecture 5
12 Apr Choir Rehearsal 1
19 Apr Choir Rehearsal 2
26 Apr Choir Rehearsal 3
3 May Choir Rehearsal 4
10 May Choir Rehearsal 5
17 May Lecture 6
24 May Lecture 7
31 May Lecture 8
7 Jun Lecture 9
21 Jun Lecture 10

Locations

Malvern/Hawthorn Area

Exact location TBC

Armadale Baptist Church

Kooyong Rd, Armadale

Peter Guy

A recent graduate with Masters and Post-Masters qualifications at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music, Hungary, Peter has returned to Australia in 2025 to continue his career as an organist, choir director and teacher. Prior to commencing study in Hungary, he was for 15 years Organist and Master of the Choristers at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle (Australia).

A university medallist in music from the University of Newcastle, Peter was a national keyboard finalist in the Symphony Australia Young Performer’s Award in 2003, where he performed Poulenc’s Organ Concerto in G minor with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Peter has subsequently undertaken international tours with the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir, performed as part of the national conferences of the Organ Historical Society in the United States, and in 2016 directed the inaugural international tour of Christ Church Cathedral Choir. Peter has recorded two solo organ compilations, directed Christ Church Cathedral Choir in recording and enjoys an active recital schedule around Australia.

Beyond performing, Peter is passionate about music education: a passion which led him to Hungary. Peter established the Newcastle Cathedral College of Music in 2019 and was a lecturer in harmony and pipe organ at the University of Newcastle. In 2017 he completed the Master of Theological Studies through the University of Divinity.

$300 Deposit due on enrolment to secure your place. This will be taken off the total of your course fees.

To secure your place in the course, fees must be paid in advance. Payment must be received in full before the first lecture.

Total fees:

Kodály Australia Members: $990 + texts
Non-members (includes 12-Months Ordinary Membership): $1090 + texts

Please see Course Payment Policy HERE.

It is expected that all students have current membership with Kodály Australia. Students without a current membership will be charged the non-member rate which covers 12-months Ordinary Membership + an administrative fee. To avoid paying the administration fee, become a Kodály Australia member here.

Required texts:

  • Bolkovac, E. & Johnson, J. “150 Rounds for Singing and Teaching” $45.95
  • Molnar, A. “Classical Canons” $26.95

Equipment:

Text purchases:

REGISTER HERE

Payment:

Please note that the course lecturer will not be handling course money or book money. Invoices and receipts are emailed from the office. There is a ‘no refund’ policy after the course commencement. Please note that books may not be given to participants until payment has been made. Please see course payment policy HERE.

Materials:

You will be given a course book at your first session.

Other materials you will need to bring are pen/pencil and notebook.

You will also need to put together a resource folder and this will be explained in more detail at your first session.

Time Commitment:

In addition to the contact hours, you will need to put time aside to practise musicianship skills, revise concepts and complete written homework tasks. The time needed to do this will vary for each person. Most people find they need to spend an additional 2 – 3 hours a week on coursework.

Assessment and Attendance:

Passing the course is not automatic, but is based on successfully completing all course requirements. These will be outlined in the first session and throughout the course. You will receive ongoing assessment and feedback from your lecturer throughout the course. In addition you will need to complete several formal pieces of assessment which includes an examination and written homework tasks. Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.

Students must attend all contact hours and pass all assessment in order to gain credit for an AKC course. In the case of illness and extraordinary circumstances, students may apply for special consideration and extension at the discretion of the course provider.

If you are unable to attend a session due to illness, being a COVID Close Contact or other COVID related reason, the lecturer will make allowances for a streamed/recorded lecture for the missed session.

Awards and Accreditation:

Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will be accredited in Primary Level 1 and be awarded a certificate from Kodály Victoria.

The Australian Kodály Certificate is made up of these areas of study: Methodology, Teaching Techniques, Cultural Materials, Musicianship, Conducting and Vocal Techniques and Extension Studies. The model to be used by the Victorian Branch in 2026 will consist of two sections:

Part A: Pedagogy, Materials and Practicum

Part B: Musicianship, Conducting and Ensemble (Choral Elective)

Requirements for Completing the Australian Kodály Certificate:

Participants who successfully complete subjects within the KMEIA Victorian course will be eligible to gain credit towards this award.

More details about the National Syllabus and the requirements to obtain the Australian Kodály Certificate can be found here: http://www.kodaly.org.au/akc/.

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