Every Child Sings (ECS)
Kodály-Inspired Music Programme
A Kodály-inspired pathway from musical experience to music literacy and instrumental readiness
Every Child Sings (ECS) is a Kodály-inspired, two-level pre-instrumental music programme designed to develop musicianship skills in children aged 4–6. Through singing, movement, listening, games and musical play, children develop inner hearing, rhythmic understanding, pitch awareness, coordination and early music literacy before beginning formal instrumental study.
What is ECS?
ECS uses the voice as the main instrument to introduce musical concepts in a pedagogically sound, sequential and child-friendly way. Children learn through experience using aural, kenaesthetic and visual approaches by singing, moving, listening and playing before musical concepts are explained or notated.
The programme is designed to make quality music education accessible, engaging and developmentally appropriate for young learners, while providing teachers with a clear and structured teaching pathway.
What does “Kodály-inspired” mean?
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist and music educator who believed that every child should have access to joyful, high-quality music education.
In a Kodály-inspired approach, the singing voice is the child’s first instrument. Children learn through carefully sequenced musical experiences – singing, moving, listening and playing – before concepts are introduced, read or written. Learning progresses from sound to symbol, known to unknown, and simple to complex, helping children develop inner hearing, musicianship and music literacy.
ECS Around the World
ECS Teacher Training Schedule
Every Child Sings 1 & 2
ECS Level 1 & 2
ECS Level 1 & Level 2
ECS Level 1 introduces the steady beat, rhythm patterns using ta and ti-ti, same and different, high and low, and the solfa pitches so and mi with hand signs.
ECS Level 2 introduces the five-line stave, rhythm patterns using ta, ti-ti and za, strong and weak beats, duple metre, contrasts such as fast and slow and loud and soft, and the solfa pitches la, so and mi with hand signs.
ECS Teacher and Children’s Materials
To support teachers in adapting the Kodály concept for young learners, ECS provides detailed lesson plans and a range of supporting materials for introducing fundamental musical concepts and developing essential musicianship skills.
ECS Authors and Expert Support
“Every Child Sings series is the right instructional pathway appearing at just the right moment for small-group preparatory music instruction with young children.”
— Dr Jerry L. Jaccard
ECS Teacher Training
ECS Teacher Training equips music educators with the knowledge, skills and practical strategies needed to teach the Every Child Sings programme confidently and effectively. Teachers learn how to guide young children through a Kodály-inspired, sequential learning process using singing, movement, listening, games and musical play.
The training explores the ECS teaching sequence, lesson structure, songs, activities and supporting materials, with particular emphasis on experience before explanation, sound before symbol, and preparation, presentation and practice. Through practical demonstrations, active participation, classroom case studies and teaching practice, teachers learn how to develop children’s sense of steady beat, rhythmic understanding, pitch awareness, inner hearing, coordination, early music literacy, musical independence and a broad range of musicianship skills.
The programme is suitable for early-childhood music educators, classroom music teachers, instrumental teachers, schools and kindergartens seeking a structured and developmentally appropriate approach to developing young children’s musicianship.
The main goal of this series is to help music teachers, through “age-appropriate,” “tool-assisted” teaching, provide children with a solid musical foundation that can guarantee them successful and enjoyable vocal or instrumental studies later.
We are honoured to have Borbála Szirányi, a Master Teacher from Kodály Institute continue and lead the project this time. Her leadership in the team adds invaluable experience and knowledge to the project, making significant advancements with her team including Alethia Ngo, her student and a graduate of Kodály Institute.
Another heavyweight, Dr. Jerry L. Jaccard, President of International Kodály Society, has lend his support to write the Foreword for the series. In his words, “Every Child Sings series is the right instructional pathway appearing at just the right moment for small-group preparatory music instruction with young children.”
In ECS 2, Piano will be introduced as an optional lesson. The singing part is required for all children, whereas the instrument part is only for the children who choose to learn ECS Piano, which component was led by Ying Ying Ng, the co-author of the popular POCO Piano series published by Poco Studio. In accordance with the principles of the Kodály method, all concepts are introduced through singing before playing on the piano so that musicality can be developed rather than only mechanical skills.
ECS Enquiries
Malaysia & International
Enquiries about ECS Music Programme in Malaysia and other countries
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