Introduction

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Please find a few updates on what we are currently working on in Dalcroze UK. Thank you all for your continued support. We are continuing to expand and develop our training programmes and courses as we aim to grow and develop as a charity.

AGM 2024

The Dalcroze UK AGM 2024 will be held on 26th March via Zoom. We have found that holding these meetings through Zoom makes them more accessible and we have a much better attendance. Official notice will be sent out to members shortly.

Intensive Training Courses 2023-24

This year, we welcomed a new cohort of Foundation students at our Croydon centre along with a second track of students who are studying weekly in West London. The Croydon students are meeting for one weekend every month, whereas the London-based students have classes every Monday evening. The students will complete their exams in May & June next year.

Many of the Foundation Award alumni from the previous academic year have been joined by several returning students and are now working towards their Intermediate award. We are pleased to welcome Kaye Barker as the Interim Course Leader for the Intermediate and Foundation course this year.

The third year of the Licence course has also begun at Croydon and will continue into its final year during 2023-24. The students on this course are starting to complete their written work and personal practical exams this year.

We are thrilled to welcome Eugenia Arus, Andrew Davidson, Monica Wilkinson and Mary Price-O’Connor as guest teachers to Croydon this year, and we look forward to benefiting from their insights and experience.

Please contact Sandi at admin@dalcroze.org.uk  if you are interested in joining the training next year.

Spring and Summer Course 2024

The dates for the Spring and Summer Courses are confirmed for this year and we will be opening registration very soon! We were disappointed to have to cancel the Summer School in 2023 and would like to reassure you that the 2024 course, taking place in Cardiff, will be going ahead with no risk of cancellation.

CPD and Discover Dalcroze Days

In 2020, we moved our CPD sessions online to Zoom through necessity. These have proved so popular, we are continuing to offer them as a regular member benefit. This means that, instead of two CPD sessions per year, members receive 9 sessions which are recorded for later reference. We know that many of our members are really enjoying this benefit!

We have also been running some Discover Dalcroze days around the country for organisations such as Music Masters and Wolverhampton Music Hub and plan to run more during 2024, including days open to members of the public which will be free for members to attend. We have a day planned in February in Croydon so, if you have friends or colleagues who want to know more, let them know!

Partnerships

We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Music Masters in 2023/24 and have welcomed one of their 22/23 alumni into our Foundation Course this year!

We are working behind the scenes on finding a new permanent home and base for our organisation and training and are working to develop partnerships to this end. DO watch out for more news and information coming soon on this!

Thank you for your continued Membership and support. I would like to take this opportunity to invite all members to write to me on chair@dalcroze.org.uk  or our Development Manager, Christine Wardle on development@dalcroze.org.uk with any suggestions of how we can improve our offerings and services for members or how we could attract new members of the Society.

Many thanks

Kathryn Templeman

Chair of Trustees