Central Illinois Kodaly Educators - CILKE

We are so excited to announce our MKMEA 2026 Conference, "Different Streams, One Song". See you in Wichita!

Such fun at the OAKE National Conference! Highly recommend! Save the Date: March 4-6, 2027!

Area music teachers! Please come to a FREE workshop with the AMAZING Kathy Kuddes on Tuesday, March 3 at Millikin University!

A new analysis shows that moving to music with others can be a powerful way to ease symptoms of depression. Unlike walking or yoga, dance engages the brain in a unique “neurochemical symphony,” blending physical activity with joy, connection, and self-expression. Here's why it helps and how to harness it, according to experts: https://on.natgeo.com/4cgaQxw

Babies who regularly experience music show up to 90% stronger brain responses to speech sounds compared to those without musical exposure. This difference appears early, long before language is fully formed. Music activates timing, pitch, rhythm, and attention networks that the brain later reuses for speech and communication.

When infants hear melodies and lullabies, their brains practice decoding patterns. These patterns closely resemble the structure of spoken language. As a result, neural circuits responsible for listening, focus, and sound discrimination become stronger and more efficient during a critical window of brain development.

Music also engages emotion and connection. A familiar song sung by a caregiver combines sound with safety, touch, and attention. This pairing strengthens neural pathways linking auditory processing with emotional regulation, helping babies feel secure while their brains grow more organized and responsive.

This is why music is more than entertainment. It is architecture. Every song, rhyme, and lullaby lays down neural scaffolding that supports future learning, language, and social connection. Long before babies speak, music teaches their brains how to listen, anticipate, and understand. Development does not begin with words. It begins with sound.

In case you were at IMEC today and couldn’t get the handout, here is a link:

2026 Come and Play the Kodaly Way Come and Play the Kodály Way Presented by Christine Smith President of Central Illinois Kodály Educators [email protected]

And Happy New Year from CILKE, too!

Happy New Year from OAKE! 🥳

Naomi Cohen and Joan Litman will present "Common Songs, Common Lives." Find a complete list of Conference events and sessions at oake.org/conferences.

"In this session, participants will explore engaging music from various Middle Eastern cultures. The focus will be on commonalities between the cultures, including language, faith and celebrations. By sharing and comparing repertoire we will demonstrate navigating cultural dissonance and facilitate creating openness and harmony amongst cultures. The repertoire presented in this session is accessible and has been successfully enjoyed in diverse American music classrooms."

OAKE wishes you a very happy holiday season!

Holiday Hours: We will be closed December 24, 25, and 26 and on New Years Day, January 1st, 2026.

Donna Menhart will present "Music and Movement in the Kodály Classroom." Find a complete list of Conference events and sessions at oake.org/conferences.

"Many elementary music classrooms are structured to promote movement, with chairs or desks at the perimeter. Middle and high school music spaces are often designed as rehearsal rooms, with risers or desks filling the area. The Kodály Method encourages singing and moving with others as a way to enrich the learning environment, develop transitions between musical concepts, and create a community and safe space for students and instructors. This active-learning session will demonstrate how movement pieces may be adapted for all types of classroom environments, and differentiated for all levels of learners."