COLOURSTRINGS SYMPOSIUM

Colourstrings / Colourkeys

21^st International Teacher Training Summer Course

For teachers of violin, viola, 'cello, piano and music kindergarten

Monday 2nd - Friday 6th August 2010

Featuring a workshop on conducting and rehearsing youth orchestras taken by the conductors of The Helsinki Strings

The Colourstrings approach to instrumental teaching introduces children to music in an enjoyable, stimulating and musical way. Colourstrings was established in Finland nearly forty years ago by Csaba and Géza Szilvay and is based on the work and philosophy of the great Hungarian composer, Zoltan Kodály. It endeavours to engage the intellect, emotions and aural abilities of young children, training the inner ear through the use of relative solfa. The result is an outstanding approach for instrumental teachers of violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass, piano, guitar and flute as well as music kindergarten, that is recognised and respected all over the world. The Helsinki Strings formed by Csaba and Géza Szilvay, is renowned as one of the best youth string orchestras in the world and their recordings are frequently broadcast. The number of teachers and other advocates of this approach to teaching young children grows annually and there are now many Colourstrings teachers throughout the world. The popularity of Colourstrings increases year by year and thousands of children are now learning music with the Singing Rascals and Rhythm Rascals in Music Kindergartens, prior to learning an instrument. Colourstrings teachers are in demand throughout the UK and Ireland and courses such as this help to keep teaching standards high. The quality of training is second to none. It is no exaggeration that Colourstrings has caused a shift in musical culture in the British Isles towards Kodály-based teaching and the recognition of the importance of basic musicianship.

Southlands College is situated near to Richmond Park in beautiful surroundings. The accommodation is in halls of residence and consists of attractively furnished single study bedrooms. Bedding is provided. Lunch is included in the fee for all participants. Dinner is also available to non-residents at extra cost. Special dietary needs can be catered for.

Courses are available for violin, viola, ‘cello, piano and music kindergarten. Participants choose one course and study the Colourstrings material in depth with the authors and members of the East Helsinki Colourstrings staff. There will also be daily solfege classes. This course can be used for the first stage of the International Colourstrings Teachers Certificate.

Participants will learn about the Colourstrings approach, which has enabled many children to achieve an extraordinary level of excellence. The beginners’ books and continuation material will be discussed and played. An overview of the Music Kindergarten will be given to instrumentalists. This will include many of the Singing Rascals songs contained in the instrumental books. Rehearsal techniques for orchestras and chamber groups, as well as repertoire, will be covered in the daily orchestral sessions. Piano teachers will receive sessions in technique and performance as well as the Colourkeys materials.

Kindergarten teachers and those wishing to establish their own Colourstrings Music Kindergartens will learn how pre-school children are introduced to music through singing and movement. As a result they are able to feel music, read rhythm notation and sing from hand-signs. Kindergarten/Primary Teachers will be given a short introduction to the instrumental methods. Those wishing to qualify as Colourstrings Kindergarten practitioners should note that post Summer Course workshops and some written assignments must also be undertaken. Everyone applying for this section of the course will receive further information about further training and the additional workshop costs.

Follow-up training for kindergarten teachers is available post course as follows:

Level 2 Certificate for Music Kindergarten teachers who have completed Level One.

There will be an optional, informal choir in the evenings. Please tick on the application form if you are interested in participating. There will be an opportunity for chamber music in the evenings. You might like to bring your own music.

A three-stage training programme providing an in-depth knowledge of the Colourstrings approach for violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass or flute.

This training programme is for instrumental teachers who wish to gain a Colourstrings qualification.

Participants will be presented with The International Colourstrings Certificate on successful completion of all three stages of the training programme.

An intensive introduction to all the basic Colourstrings books as well as to the scale, chamber music and orchestral material. In addition, the course will include classes in relative solmisation (solfege).

A three to four day workshop. Participants will be able to put the contents of the Colourstrings material into practice with students.

A week course at the East Helsinki Music Institute, the birthplace of the Colourstrings approach. This final training phase will consist of guided teacher training, as well as an in-depth study of the more advanced Colourstrings material. The participants will receive their Certificate in Helsinki after successfully completing the programme.

Monday 2nd August – Registration	9.30 to 12.00
Pre-course session for those new to Colourstrings	10.00 to 11.30
Lunch	12.00 to 13.00
Introductory session	13.15 to 14.00
Lectures	14.00 to 19.00
Subsequent days	9.00 to 19.00

Previous Courses

The 20^th International Colourstrings Symposium 2009 took place at the School Centre in St. Paul, which is a beautiful town in the Lavant Valley, Carinthia, Austria, in August 2009. The symposium provided a unique opportunity to observe the results achieved by the Colourstrings approach to music education and see the latest developments of this method and philosophy. The new International Colourstrings Teacher Training Certificate programme was launched at the course in Austria.

The 19^th International String Teacher Training Course took place in HELSINKI, FINLAND from 3^rd – 10^th August 2008. Click here to look at photographs from the symposium.