Dalcroze Eurhythmics is an approach to teaching musicianship which was developed by Émile Jaques-Dalcroze in the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. Students learn together in a class setting, through a combination of individual tasks, pair and group work. It is an approach which can be used in the teaching of very small children, and also has much to offer music professionals.
Participants will experience the three main branches of:
Rhythmics Experiencing music through movement. Musical phrase and rhythm become something physical, dynamic, and memorable.
Aural Training Exploring what music feels like, linking listening with perception involving the whole body.
Solfa Giving singing names (do – re – mi …) to notes within the scale, in order to develop a sense of their relationship to one another, and build foundations upon which to teach harmony.
Improvisation Exploring communication through music. Playing and singing with the aim of encouraging a response in movement
We will also explore some ways in which Dalcroze Eurhythmics can be applied in the teaching of young instrumentalists and singers.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics is taught at a number of junior conservatoires and specialist youth music schemes in the UK, including Yorkshire Young Musicians (YYM) in the Yorkshire region. Dalcroze has the capacity to promote freedom of movement, expression and imagination in children’s singing and instrumental playing. Classes aim to develop children’s confidence in their own ideas, their musical memory, their ability to listen attentively and perceptively, and their ability to work with others. Today’s tutors all teach Dalcroze on the YYM programme in Leeds and Hull.
Your Teachers
Alison Wise MA (Hons), MA, PGCE, Dalcroze Professional Certificate
Alison grew up in West Yorkshire, and studied music at St John’s College, Cambridge and Durham University. Whilst working as a peripatetic instrumental teacher, Alison took part in a couple of Dalcroze workshops, where she was struck by the creativity and intuitive nature of the Dalcroze approach to music teaching. This led her to study for the Dalcroze Professional Certificate through evening classes at the Royal Northern College of Music. Alison enjoys making music with young people of all ages. She teaches Dalcroze Eurhythmics at Yorkshire Young Musicians’ Hull centre, and is music teacher for Coram House, the Junior school at Ackworth School, Pontefract. Alison also continues to enjoy teaching cello and piano, and is currently studying for an advanced qualification in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, the Dalcroze Licence.
Sophie Thiruchelvam BA (Hons), Dalcroze Professional Certificate
Sophie has been working in Leeds as a peripatetic singing teacher and workshop facilitator since 2004.In her working week she teaches people from the ages of 6 months to 60+ and loves seeing the positive effect music has for her students. She teaches Dalcroze at Yorkshire young musicians, sharing the role with Aileen and collaborating with Alison for project days for the students. Her Dalcroze journey began in 2006 and it was an instant connection for her. She has seen the benefits of the approach in her teaching and for herself as a musician, she gained her certificate in 2016 and hopes the day will be the start of someone else’s exciting Dalcroze journey.
Aileen Williams BMus (Hons), PGCE with specialist strings training, Dalcroze Professional Certificate
Aileen is a strings teacher and has worked with Bolton Music Service since 2001, delivering group and individual strings lessons, wider opportunities lessons, and leading and tutoring youth strings groups and orchestras of all levels and ages. She studied music at the University of Manchester and went on to complete a PGCE with specialist strings training at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Manchester Metropolitan University. This was where she first encountered Dalcroze Eurythmics and found that it had a huge impact on how she taught, played and experienced music. In 2016 she was fortunate to complete her Certificate in Dalcroze and since then has used it more actively within her strings teaching. She is delighted to be currently teaching full Dalcroze Eurythmics classes at Yorkshire Young Musicians in Leeds alongside Sophie Thiruchelvam.
Timetable
09:30 Arrival & Registration
10:00 – Rhythmics.
11:45 – What is Dalcroze
12:15- Lunch
13:00 – Improvisation
14:10 – Aural Training
15:25 – Workshop: Incorporating Dalcroze
Eurhythmics into teaching young
instrumentalists and singers
16:25 – Question and Answer session.
16:45 – Close