I’m very happy to have started taking music lessons again! My teacher this fall is a young woman whom I met through my church. In addition to leading our new “Global Worship” music group, she is also trained in music education for very young children. When I suggested the possibility of lessons in music theory, she said “I know just the thing!”. And so, I have now been introduced to the ideas of Edwin Gordon.

When I was in elementary school back in the late 60s, our music teacher spent some time teaching material from Kodaly. We 10 year olds didn’t call it Kodaly, we called it “ta ta titi ta” because of the names for the syllables.

My current music theory teacher (let’s call her Ms. Muse) told me that Edwin Gordon developed a method similar to that of  Zoltan Kodaly, but instead of being based on Hungarian folk music, it uses American folk music as its source. And instead of ta ta titi ta, it’s due due due-day due.

At least, that’s how I heard it! Actually the syllables are written “du” and “de”.

Here is a video featuring an article written by Edwin Gordon. I want to be sure to give him the recognition that he is due!

I mean, du.