A key Kodály principle is that beat is the foundational element of music upon which all other musical concepts are built. It is an essential key element and the heart of musical understanding. The beat must be felt physically and internalised before being formally taught. We want it to be something that children can do intrinsically without thinking so that they have greater success with more complex elements such as metre and rhythm.

This interactive workshop will explore:

• How to explicitly teach the concept of beat before formally “presenting” it
• Opportunities to physically internalise the beat through a range of clapping games, passing games and body percussion
• The use of visual aids and manipulatives to support the physical internalisation of beat and how this can support students with additional learning needs
• The use of fun and interactive beat games as a “way in” when teaching older beginners who have not experienced a Kodály based lesson
• How to build beat confidence by including regular movement activities and games across the primary years