Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) was a Hungarian composer and musician who sought to improve music education in the Hungarian schools in the mid-twentieth century. Kodaly's associates studied music education around the world and borrowed the best concepts and ideas to fit Kodaly's philosophies which included the following:

• Music is for everyone. Anyone capable of reading language is capable of reading music. There is no such thing as an unmusical child.
• Every human being has a right to learn music. Everyone has a right to learn to sing, read, and write music.
• Music is compulsory for the development of man's personality.
• Singing is the foundation for fine musicianship and is free and accessible to every child.
• Music education should begin with the very young, ages three to seven, because they are the most receptive to developing aesthetic sensitivity.
• Folk music should be the basis for music education since it is one's "musical mother tongue."
• Only the finest music should be used for children, whether it be folk or newly-composed pieces.
• Music education should be a core subject in the schools.
• Music education should be child-centered with the sequence arranged into patterns based on the child's abilities at various developmental stages.

(Compiled by Susan Gerling)