Music in the Choir School
At our school, music and song are front and centre. Music is a main subject, and that is how we intend to revive music education in Utrecht. The way we do that is by working according to the Kodály method, which we consider a way of teaching. We will tell you all about it, as well as the expected entry level, the stage performances, and our cooperation with the Conservatoire The Hague.
Music Education in Utrecht
During the past decades, there barely was any real music education in Utrecht or in the Netherlands anymore. Too bad, because music is good for our brains. It serves to practice abstract and analytic thinking. And by making music together, children learn to tune in better to each other. That’s good for the social skills.
And it is why we cooperate with the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague to give music education in Utrecht a big boost. And we do that the Kodály way. Look at the movie downhere.
Music for Every Child
Learning to sing, read, write, understand and especially enjoy music, is possible for every child. At Koorschool Utrecht, we all share this belief with Zoltán Kodály.
Singing, and particularly singing music to do-re-mi, is part of every lesson, every day. We combine singing with playful activities that train the musical coordination. What we want is just the best music. It must match the level, the potential and the experiences of children.
Do you want to know more about the Kodály method? Daniël shows all the fun in the music lessons.
Music Class in Our Primary School
That your child enjoys to sing is what matters most, because we do a lot of singing. Our students get music class several times per week. They are educated by two music teachers: Daniël Salbert, teacher at the Royal Conservatoire, and Margareth Iping.
Next to that, on three mornings each week, before the lessons begin, there are rehearsals of the Cathedral Choir, which the children in groups 7 and 8 are part of. Once per week this group also has a one hour long evening rehearsal with the full Cathedral Choir. That latter one is for children as well as for adults.
Free of Charge for Music Teachers
Music teachers who give instrument lessons to students at our school may use the school and our instruments for free. So you, dear parent, don’t have to ride up and down to school to take your child to their instrument lesson separately.
The Choir and Performances
Our students regulary give concerts on all sorts of stages and they participate in several productions, such as those by the National Opera, the orchestra of Ton Koopman and performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
We traditionally work with the Cathedral Choir Utrecht. Once every month, the students from groups 7 and 8 perform with this choir during the mass of the St Catharine’s Cathedral. In this beautiful old church, they sing old and new music from the Christian tradition.
Musical acquaintance
Do not worry. Your child does not have to be a prodigy in order to get lessons at our school. More or less all children who like music and singing are welcome. We do have a musical acquaintance. We mostly want to see whether children enjoy to sing, have a healthy singing voice and can follow directions. We also consider how well they did at their previous school. Our most important motto is: making music is not only for talented musicians, because anyone can learn.
Would you like to know more about our unique primary school in Utrecht City Centre?
Of course, you can also apply at once.