Do you enjoy learning about the Kodaly method?
Are you curious about how the man who inspired a Hungarian music movement passed?
As a teacher for over a decade, it shouldn’t surprise me how often students ask about how a famous figure died.
Whether it’s Beethoven or Clara Schumann, the first question they ask almost every time is: Are they dead?
Followed shortly by: How did they die?
Imagine my surprise when lecturing about Kodaly when I heard some adult music students ask:
How did Zoltán Kodály die?
Zoltán Kodály died from a heart attack on March 6th, 1967, at the age of 84. He was internationally known as a composer and creator of an elementary music method focusing on singing and folk songs.
If you want to learn more about his life, check out the rest of the article.
Table of Contents
About Zoltán Kodály
Kodaly was known for two things:
- His compositions and working relationship with Béla Bartók
- The creation of a music curriculum for children with an emphasis on the use of Hungarian folk music
He was born December 6th, 1882, in Kecskemét and died March 6th, 1967, in Budapest.
He received international recognition for his work in support of the music of Hungarian culture.
Kodály spent most of his time in Hungary, where he grew up and played the violin, cello, piano, and sang.
In the rest of this section, we’ll cover the most important accomplishments of his life.
Keep in mind. This is a brief bio and not a comprehensive biography.
The Life of Zoltán Kodály
As a child, Kodály performed music and took lessons.
At 10 years old, he began composing works, which were well-received.
In 1900, he studied composition at the Liszt Music Academy and began to compose more seriously.
He met Béla Bartók in 1905. Their mutual love of folk music led Kodály to go on his first expedition to collect Hungarian folk songs.
Keep in mind, at the time; most music taught in school wasn’t even in Hungarian.
The music was completely disconnected from the culture of Hungary.
His dissertation at the Liszt Academy was an analysis of the folk material.
In 1906, he started to study in Berlin and then in Paris. During this time, his success as a composer was beginning to grow.
For the rest of the 1900s, his compositions gained attention, but it was work with elementary music he’s most known for today.
How Did Kodály Die?
Throughout his life, Kodály stayed healthy and took many walks.
Still, at the age of 84 (a great accomplishment for the time he grew up in), he had a heart attack and passed in Budapest.
Just four years prior, on his 80th birthday, the country of Hungary had a massive celebration for the man because of his work to support the heritage and Hungarian folk music.
The Creation of the Kodály Method
In 1935, Kodály noticed the poor level of music education in the general public of his native country.
For this reason, he decided to work with Jeno Adam in setting out some principles and ideals a music classroom should include, especially in the elementary.
At this point, he was a professor at the academy where he was once a student.
Collaborating with Adam and using his graduate students to help him, Kodaly built on the work he’d done with Bartók with folk songs and set down principles by which to teach.
These principles grew into the music method known around the world today.
The Central Principles of Kodály
This is a brief list of the principles of the method.
For more details, read What Is The Kodaly Method.
- Singing before reading notes.
- Use authentic folk music of the students’ culture.
- Teachers should receive specific musical training to be better musicians.
- Everyone should receive music education.
- Music should be enjoyable.
- Different teaching techniques should be used to reach all learners.
- Folk music, classical music, and other styles of music, all of high quality, need to be a part of the classroom.
- Learning music should be modeled off of how we learn a language.
It is important to note that the man himself didn’t put out every single aspect of the method used today.
It was a collaborative effort with fellow colleagues and students at the academy where he worked.
However, he did support the principles that guide the method into the modern-day.
Kodály Resources To Check Out
Here are a few resources you must check out if you’re interested in learning more about the method or the man.
Disclaimer: Links may be affiliate in nature, which means we earn a small commission if you buy from the link at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
The Selected Writings Of Kodaly – This is a collection of writings by Kodaly.
If you love his stuff, this is a beautiful and thoughtful insight into the mind that created beautiful music and learning for children.
Zoltan Kodaly: A Hungarian Musician – If you wish to learn more about him as a musician and composer, this biography is fascinating.
I love the detail it goes into on his performances and the pieces he wrote.
The Kodaly Method I – For an excellent overview of the method itself, I recommend this book by Lois Choksy.
It balances pedagogical discussion with practical lessons and activities for teaching all students to better understand and appreciate music.
The Kodaly Concept of Music Education in Practice – This DVD may seem outdated, but it shows actual examples of the method in use.
I love watching this to see what joy and intentional learning can happen in a Kodaly-inspired classroom.
Final Thoughts
Now you know more about his life and how Zoltan Kodaly died.
From composing to revolutionizing music education, Kodaly’s impact on the world won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Learn more about him in any of our numerous articles under the menu item above.