Kodály Musical Training Institute (KMTI)

KMTI 1969-77 is included in KCA's history and archives for three reasons: the first is that KCA is an extension and continuation of the same goals and programs originally established by Denise Bacon and Peter Erdei; the second is that at the time Denise Bacon left KMTI and established KCA, she informed all KMTI students of the first eight years that she would always consider them as belonging to the KCA family as well as that of KMTI, that she would always be interested in their careers and available for help. A third reason is that the linkage of these two institutions brings continuity to the historical development of the Kodály movement in the United States.

KMTI was established in 1969 in Wellesley, MA by a Ford Foundation grant, applied for by Denise Bacon through the Council for Public Schools (a private Harvard-based agency). Following Denise Bacon's 1967-68 year of study in Hungary, she invited Peter Erdei, a young graduate of Budapest's Liszt Academy, to conduct experiments in adapting Kodály's ideas to the United States. He constructed and implemented a program for KMTI's first students, and conducted research into American folk music, which is why he has been called the co-founder of KMTI. Denise Bacon frankly states that she could not have done it alone.

KMTI's goals were as follows:

1. establish model schools
2. train master teachers in the Kodály concept
3. develop curriculum and produce materials suitable for American use
4. conduct educational research
5. disseminate information

KMTI went on to develop connections with the Liszt Academy and the Kodály School in Kecskemét, to produce the earliest publications in authentic Kodály practice, to conduct the earliest research, and to establish affiliations with seven well known institutions for master's degrees with Kodály Emphasis. They were: American University, The Catholic University of America, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Hartt College of Music, Ithaca College, New England Conservatory of Music and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. To accomplish these things, KMTI brought 16 different Hungarian master teachers to KMTI over an eight year period for academic and summer course programs.

Denise Bacon left KMTI in 1977 over disagreements with the KMTI Board on how best to further develop the Institute.

In 1980, KMTI later affiliated with the Hartt College of Music of the University of Hartford, where it remained until it merged with Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1993

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