ZENEZEN
Kodály-Kokas Methodology

The word ZeneZen is a pun: “Zene” means music in Hungarian period. “Zen” has a Sanskrit root and means thought, absorption or more precisely meditation at its highest level.

Anikó Novák and Katalin Körtvesi teach group lessons together. These groups will be established according to the students’ level.

For each lesson, a different piano piece taken from the classical repertoire is chosen to approach the topic, and we start working on its most significant musical characteristics and problems through different singing and body movement exercises. Sometimes, one piece of music can be used to explain different musical concepts. Proposed pieces for these lessons will be sent to the selected participants.

The aim of the lessons is to develop technical and musical skills by integrating comprehensive and in-depth general music education based on the Kodály concept, with the empathy-based expression and the collaborative creativity and sophisticated communication skills of Kokas pedagogy. It provides a unique opportunity for participants to develop their stylistic awareness and artistic expression in piano playing.

The whole idea is based on keeping the roots of Hungarian traditional music education system (circle games, dancing, singing-based musicianship, and the Hungarian piano school), but to also innovate by giving students the experience of free-movement improvisation.

What can be more natural than music and movement intertwining? Is not singing one of the most ancient utterances of human beings?