Abstract

This investigation evaluates the success of a curriculum developed for Thai elementary students based on Ministry of Education objectives, the Thai socioeconomic context, and a combination of the musical pedagogies of Karl Orff and Zoltan Kodály. The qualitative research incorporated documentary review and field investigation during the implementation of a newly designed music curriculum. Field data were gathered from observations, formative assessments made by class teachers, and a post-course participant survey. The findings reveal that the curriculum was successful in engaging elementary students and led to positive assessment results, in terms of both music and personal student development. Teacher observations revealed that the hybridization of Orff’s and Kodály’s methods was suitable for the Thai music classroom. The authors conclude that a hybrid curriculum of Kod-Orffian methodology is suitable for the present Thai educational context given the socioeconomic emphasis on traditional culture and the prevalence of rote learning in the domestic education system. This article offers insight into the educational philosophies adopted in the Thai music classroom.