Kodály Stick Notation and Solfège

The Kodály Method of music education is based on the teachings of the Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodály.

To use the Kodály template with Stick Notation and Solfège

1. From File Menu, choose New, Document from Template.  
2. If the Templates folder does not appear, navigate to the Finale folder, Templates folder, then Education Templates. Double-click on Kodály 1. The template appears with two staves - top one for stick notation, bottom one for solfège.
3. Use the Time Signature Tool and Key Signature Tool to set the Time Signature and Key Signature. Note that the key signature does not change visually.
4. Use the Clef Tool to set the clef for the solfège (bottom) staff. You can choose either a standard notation clef or a moveable “Do” clef. If you’re concerned with the document playing back correctly, make sure the “Do” clef and the Key Signature match.
5. Enter your music in the solfège staff.
6. Copy the music from the solfège staff to the stick notation staff with the Selection Tool. See Copying music. The solid noteheads will disappear, such as quarter notes or smaller. Only half notes and whole notes will still have noteheads.
7. Click on the Articulation Tool  . Move the cursor below the first stem on the stick notation staff until a small note appears on the cursor. This indicates that the cursor in the correct range to attach an articulation.
8. Hold down the letter representing the Solfège pitch matching this note (D = Do, R = Re, M = Mi, etc.) and click the mouse. The letter appears below the stem or notehead.
9. Use the Measure Tool to hide barlines, if desired. See To hide one barline.
10. Optional: Click the Staff Tool, select the solfège staff. From the Staff Menu, choose Apply Staff Styles. Choose Note Shapes. The noteheads of the solfège staff now appear as shape notes.

To use the Kodály template with Auto-Stick Notation

1. From File Menu, choose New, Document from Template.  
2. Navigate to the Finale folder, Templates folder, then Education Templates. Double-click on Kodály 2. The template appears with one staff for stick notation.
3. Use the Time Signature Tool and Key Signature Tool to set the Time Signature and Key Signature. Note that the key signature does not change visually.
4. Enter your music consisting of quarter note and smaller durations.
5. Click the Staff Tool. Select the staff. From the Staff Menu, choose Apply Staff Styles. Choose Auto-Stick Notation where Do = the key you chose above. The notation you entered is replaced by stick notation.