Pauline Wong
Pauline is a certified Kodály music educator, choral conductor, and pianist with teaching experience spanning three continents. Currently a piano teacher at St. Paul’s College and St. Columba College in South Australia, she holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Choral Conducting from the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy in Hungary, a Master of Music Education with Kodály emphasis from Holy Names University in California USA, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of the Philippines, where she also graduated Cum Laude. She is also an Orff-certified educator and a former board member of the Kodály Society of the Philippines.
Pauline has taught students across local private schools, international schools, and indigenous communities in the Philippines for over a decade and also briefly taught in several institutions in California, USA. She has led musicianship sessions both for adults and children, including the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, Suzuki National Camps, and various church-based children’s choirs in Manila. She has given workshops on applications of the Kodály approach to music educators and music education students in the Philippines and in Singapore. She is currently a performing member, resident pianist, and musicianship instructor for the Adelaide Choral Ambassadors.
– Wednesday, 30 September
Exploring Asian Folk Songs and Games in the Kodály Classroom
- Wednesday, 30 September
- 12:00 pm
This practical, hands-on workshop explores culturally authentic Asian folk songs and games through the Kodály teaching process, with a primary focus on Filipino repertoire and selected examples from Japan, China, and Indonesia. Designed for classroom and studio teachers, the session demonstrates how Kodály principles of preparation, presentation, and practice can be meaningfully applied to musical traditions beyond the Western music while maintaining pedagogical integrity and cultural respect.
The workshop begins with an exploration of the kulintang sound world, offering participants an accessible entry point into unfamiliar musical cultures. From this foundation, participants will experience a carefully sequenced selection of folk songs and singing games, each supported by clear song and concept analysis. Activities are designed to develop core musicianship skills, singing, movement, listening, inner hearing, ensemble awareness, while fostering joyful engagement and cultural understanding.
A key feature of the session is a concluding angklung ensemble experience, where participants engage in cooperative music-making that highlights listening, coordination, and community building. This activity models how traditional instruments can be used effectively in classroom settings using simple, readily available resources.