Message from the Kodály Director

Lauren McDougle“Real art is one of the most powerful forces in the rise of mankind, and he who renders it accessible to as many people as possible is a benefactor of humanity.” - Zoltán Kodály

Greetings and welcome to the American Kodály Institute! This four-summer Kodály teacher training program is designed to meet the needs of today’s music educator and provide tools that help cultivate rich, diverse, and quality music education for generations of children. Our classes are participatory and collaborative in nature, and based on current music education research, which allows faculty to model developmentally-appropriate pedagogy and practical applications for the classroom. Our faculty adhere to a mastery learning philosophy, instilling in our music educators all of the qualities of a good musician—a well-trained ear, a well-trained mind, a well-trained heart, and a well-trained hand (from Who is a Good Musician? by Zoltán Kodály). Our dedication to equity, community, and collegiality strongly reflect the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, or “care for the entire person.” At the American Kodály Institute, our music teachers are not just graduate students—they are future colleagues and educational leaders, and are treated as such.

During our three week summer sessions in July, students enjoy the warm weather on the beautiful Loyola University Maryland main campus and attend classes in state-of-the-art facilities. The first three summers of the Master of Education in Kodály Music Education program will consist of Level I, II, and III Kodály certification courses, totaling nine credits each summer. The fourth and final summer, participants will take education courses, also consisting of nine credit hours, and following the successful submission of a teaching portfolio, students will earn their Kodály certification and degree.

This website provides an in-depth look at our graduate degree, and I would be more than happy to discuss any aspect of the program or answer any questions. Please consider completing the online application and join a cohort of fabulous Kodály educators! I hope to see you this summer!

Best wishes,
Lauren McDougle
Director, The American Kodály Institute
lkmcdougle@loyola.edu

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Explore the following links or contact us at graduate@loyola.edu.

Meet Our Community

Pursuing Justice, Together

When students enroll in the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs at Loyola’s School of Education, they are welcomed into a vibrant and diverse community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who are engaged in ensuring an inclusive educational system that actualizes social justice.

Ian Chishol
Students

Ian

“Being a teacher goes hand in hand with the Jesuit ideal of being a person for others. Teachers work in a service, care-based industry that helps others grow at the most malleable point in their lives. ”
Ashley Conroy
Alumni

Ashley Conroy

“As human beings we are all very nuanced, and having an education system that only considers the mental and academic aspects of students is negligible; it isn’t profound. The fact that cura personalis is a core tenant of the Loyola School of Education really resonated with me.”
Bianca Solorzano
Alumni

Bianca Solorzano

“This program has really propelled my career in the Montessori field. I've met amazing people, and I learned a lot about myself. It was a priceless experience that I couldn’t recommend more. ”
Heiser
Alumni

William Heiser

“My Jesuit experience as a student and later as an administrator at Loyola taught me the importance of service for others. I’ve spent my entire career working in education, with the mission of giving back to students what Loyola gave me—an opportunity to become something more.”