Northern California Association of Kodály Educators
The NCAKE mission is inspired by Kodály’s vision of quality music education for all.
We nurture a vibrant community of educators, students and musicians,
by providing learning opportunities and resources that promote musical excellence
and celebrate the diverse cultures of Northern California and beyond.
Announcements
FROM FIELDWORK TO CLASSROOM:
A JOURNEY THROUGH PHILIPPINE SONGS, RHYMES, GAMES, AND DANCE
(SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026)
NCAKE is thrilled to announce our final workshop of the season featuring the groundbreaking work of Dr. Miriam B Factora. This immersive session invites educators to explore a vibrant collection of materials gathered from various regions of the Philippines, highlighting Dr. Factora’s lifelong journey in developing rich cultural and educational resources.
Event Details Join us on Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for this special celebration of Philippine songs, rhymes, games, and dances. We are pleased to offer free attendance for students and retirees.
What to Expect: This is an active musical journey. Participants will engage in hands-on activities designed for immediate classroom application. This includes:
Interactive Performance: Sing, play, and dance through sample songs and games.
Primary Sources: Listen to select field recordings and explore key musical examples.
Curriculum Integration: Discover innovative ideas for integrating Filipino traditions from early childhood to advanced levels.
Special Offers and Resources: The first 25 registrants will receive a free book by Dr. Miriam Factora. We will also have several of her publications available for purchase at the event. These resources stem from Dr. Factora’s extensive fieldwork and are designed to promote meaningful and culturally grounded music education.
Lunch and Community: We are excited to offer lunchboxes from the Filipino restaurant Jollibee so that we can eat lunch together. These will be available for purchase on our website soon for $12 and will include a soda, seltzer, or water.
Don't miss the conclusion of our 2025–2026 season!
2026 OAKE National conference Building harmony in community (March 5-8)
Join NCAKE at the OAKE National Conference
Experience Kodály-inspired professional development at the OAKE National Conference in Chicago. For more than 50 years, OAKE has brought music educators together from across the country to share best practices and practical strategies for the classroom. This conference is a premier opportunity to deepen your practice and find fresh inspiration within the Kodály approach alongside colleagues from every level of experience.
Registration Update: Online registration for the conference has now closed. However, for those still planning to attend, on-site registration will open in Chicago starting March 5, 2026. This is a fantastic way to experience new Kodály perspectives from around the world and to explore sessions that bridge the Kodály philosophy with diverse educational approaches.
March with NCAKE in the Banner Parade: If you are attending the conference, we want to see you there. Please join your NCAKE colleagues in the banner parade during the kickoff on Thursday night. It is a wonderful tradition that celebrates our local community on the national stage. We look forward to representing our chapter together.
Don’t let the inspiration blow away. We hope to see many of our members in the Windy City for this incredible week of music and learning.
NCAKE Children’s Choral Festival 2026
Mark your calendars for an incredible day of singing on Saturday, April 25. This year, we are honored to welcome our esteemed guest conductor, Dr. Ben Johns, a former member of Chanticleer, to lead our festival. The event will be held at First Covenant Church of Oakland, conveniently located down the street from the former HNU campus.
Festival Structure This year’s festival is divided into two focused sessions to best serve our young singers:
Elementary Session: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Middle and High School Session: 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Continuing our beloved festival tradition, the schedule features a rotation of performances, mass choir rehearsals, clinics, listening sessions, and Kodály games. Each participating choir is asked to present two songs of their own, including one folk song and, if possible, one a cappella selection.
Applications and Invitations: For full details on how to participate, please navigate to the Children’s Choral Festival (CCF) tab located in the menu at the top of this page. There you will find the formal invitation and the application form to secure your choir’s spot.
For any specific questions regarding the event, please reach out to childrenschoralfestival@gmail.com and ncakekodaly@gmail.com.
Summer 2026: Kodály Institute at University of Redlands
Plan your summer professional development with the Kodály Institute at the University of Redlands from June 15 to July 3, 2026. This intensive program offers a transformative experience for music educators looking to deepen their pedagogy and musicianship.
Learn with Local Faculty: NCAKE is especially proud to share that our very own Gemma Arguelles will be an instructor for this summer session. This is a wonderful opportunity to study with a beloved member of our local community in a world-class institute setting.
Scholarships and Applications: Financial support is available through the Kodály Foundation for Music Educators (KFME). Please stay tuned for the scholarship application, which will be available soon on their website.
You can learn more about the program requirements and start your registration process by clicking the link below.
Become a member of NCAKE today!
Visit www.oake.org/become-a-member
Renew your membership using the same link.
Don’t forget to select NCAKE as your local chapter!
Full-time students join for FREE!
Enjoy discounted rates for workshops and chapter events!
NCAKE is an affiliate chapter of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. Click here to learn about the Kodály Concept.
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Questions? Email us at info-at-NCAKE.org!
BRIGHT MORNING STARS ARE RISING
50th Anniversary Anthology, Kodály Center at Holy Names University
Anne Laskey & Gail Needleman, Editors
This 50th Anniversary Anthology of the Kodály Center reflects the significant role the Kodály Center has played in implementing Zoltán Kodály's vision for music education in the United States and around the world.
This collection of 26 articles explores the basic tenets of Kodály's vision:
That music is for everybody
That music literacy is a universal right and not a secret language for a select few
That singing is the most human and universal of instruments
That folk music and art music are the most beautiful and lasting of musical forms
In realizing and implementing Kodály’s vision, these articles reflect on bringing Kodály’s ideas to American classrooms, along with articles that investigate Kodály's life and thought, and what these mean for us today. The articles are complimented by writings of some of the many Hungarian master teachers who have worked with Holy Names faculty to develop higher levels of musicianship, excellent materials and clear pedagogical goals in music teacher education.
Email info@kodalyfoundation.org with any questions
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