DALCROZE EURHYTHMICS INFORMATION
EMILE JAQUES DALCROZE b. VIENNA 1865, d. GENEVA 1950 Pupil of
Fauré, Délibes and Bruckner; Composer, conductor, improviser, teacher of
solfège who developed a method of teaching music building on the spontaneous
physical response to music and training this. His method was called Eurhythmics
in the UK.
The brothers Dohrn, two German industrialists, built a studio theatre for him
in Hellerau near Dresden where he was able to develop his ideas and large
numbers of people came there to observe or to study with him. These included
Ernest Bloch, Serge Diaghilev, Marie Rambert, Vaclav Nijinsky and George
Bernard Shaw.
His work had a wide influence in the worlds of dance, music, therapy and
teaching and changed the development of theatre arts and music education in the
20th century.
With the outbreak of the First World War he had to leave Hellerau and returned
to work in Geneva. During his time as a professor of Solfege he became aware
that the traditional methods of teaching music addressed the intellect at the
expense of the senses and failed to give students a proper experience of the
elements of music. In addition, instrumental teaching focussed on finger
technique at the expense of musical and personal expression. He sought to train
the natural response addressing the whole person situated in time and space and
in relation to others, through all the senses. He realised that the most potent
force in music was rhythm and devised exercises for developing the global sense
of rhythm. His aim was to "create a communications network in the body which is
quick, effective and light" and his method was described as being "pour et par
la musique" - designed to develop musicianship through the use of movement at
the same time as using music to develop self-mastery and ensemble skills in the
person through a disciplined freedom. Dalcroze's work is now coming into its
own and there is an increasing demand for it today.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics consists of THREE main branches:
RHYTHMICS A movement class in which all the elements of music are studied in and through movement. It is both an aural training in movement and a creative discipline which develops interpretation and ensemble skills.
SOLFA/SOLFEGE The pitch training element of Eurhythmics which includes harmony
IMPROVISATION Vocal, movement and instrumental improvisation class which covers various styles, group improvisation and improvisation for movement.
In addition there are attendant disiplines: harmony, composition, pedagogy,
Plastique Animée, movement technique and expression, and the study of the
Dalcroze Subjects (the Fundamental Elements of Experience and Expression (Ruth
Stewart) runs through all the aspects of the training.
THE DALCROZE SOCIETY UK : the oldest Dalcroze Society in the
world it is the accrediting body for professional Dalcroze training in the UK
and also in Italy at the Conservatorio di Latina, Rome and Vercello. It runs an
annual and intensive weekend courses throughout the year. There are discounts
for Members.
More information concerning the Society can be found at the website and from
the contact numbers below.
Website: www.Dalcroze.org.uk
Administrator: email: admin@dalcroze.org.uk;
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 20 8870 1986
Address: The Administrator, 100 Elborough Street, London SW18 5DL
In addition to information and training courses run by the Society itself there
are a number of other courses where the Dalcroze work can be studied:
Royal Northern College of Music with Manchester Metropolitan
University : PGCE with Specialist Strings.Two year course. Those
who wish to study the Dalcroze work alone may attend as associate course
participants.
Trinity College of Music : Bmus course.
Trinity College London accredits all Dalcroze Society courses
Royal Welsh College of Music
Dancers' classes take place at: Central School of Ballet; Royal Ballet
School In addition to county music services and private classes,
children's classes can be found at: Guildhall School of Music; Royal
Northern College of Music; Birmingham Conservatoire; The Purcell School
etc. for information concerning children's classes and intensive courses for
adults contact the administrator, for information concerning the Licence
contact Karin Greenhead.
