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Over the years Melbourne Youth Chorale staff have gradually developed our own unique musical literacy curriculum, which is used by all students as they progress through the choir.
The first level, known as Bronze Badge, was formally published as The Bronze Book in 2023. Students are expected to purchase a copy of the Student edition of The Bronze Book when joining MYC. We expect to publish The Silver Book in 2025.
This curriculum is also now available for purchase in Teacher and Student editions for other choirs using the Kodály method. Contact us to find out more.
During choir rehearsals you are always learning and developing your knowledge of musical literacy and theory (even if you don’t realise it!). Your teachers introduce and work on concepts in a systematic way, and rehearsals are the time in which you will do most of your learning, whether whilst working on repertoire or doing a focused session on a specific musical literacy skill.
Your teachers will keep track of your musical literacy progress. As you demonstrate an understanding of each particular musical skill and concept in The Bronze Book, your teachers will mark them as achieved. When you have them all marked off, you will have achieved your ‘Bronze Badge’ — an actual physical badge showing your level of attainment!
The Bronze Book book will help you work on these Bronze Badge requirements. It describes and explains the things you need to learn and demonstrate, and includes ideas and activities for practicing them.
Most of the skills involved will need far more practice than just the activities in the book, and your teachers will provide you with opportunities to do this during rehearsals and in your own time. Many of the skills will take time and can’t be learnt in just one go – so keep at it! Developing a real understanding of the music you are singing, and the ability to read it, makes you a strong and well-rounded musician.
As well as using The Bronze Book during rehearsals, you can also use it at home to revise information and work on things you have learnt at choir. Some skills are more difficult to practice at home than others, so make sure you use your time at choir as effectively as you can.
Based on the work of Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály (pronounced: “zohl-tahn koh-dahy” /ˈzɔl.tan ˈkɔ.daɪ/) and his followers, the Kodaly concept is sequential approach to the teaching of musicianship, based in singing. Elements of pitch and rhythm are introduced gradually and sequentially, using carefully chosen songs and games. Tonic solfa, handsigns, and rhythm names are integral teaching tools.
