Inspired by Dalcroze: Beginning a Teacher Training Journey
One day, I found myself interested in the question of how young children can grasp complex musical concepts at such an early age. My curiosity increased when I watched my four-year-old son, Arthur, engage with music in a way that was surprising and instinctive. He was not only listening to the music; he was fully into it—bouncing a ball, then running around energetically as the tempo increased.
This magical moment occurred during a Dalcroze eurhythmics class in Belmont, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2018. What surprised me was that the instructor offered minimal verbal guidance, and the music itself led the children’s movements. I was surprised by how focused and happy the children were, and I wanted to bring that same excitement and engagement to my students in early childhood education.
Following this experience, I enrolled in the Longy Dalcroze Summer Institute in 2022, and just two weeks after the institute finished, I delivered my third child. It was here that I went deeper into the philosophy behind eurhythmics, a unique approach to music education developed by Swiss educator Émile Jaques-Dalcroze. This method emphasizes the connection between mind, body, and music through movement.
However, I quickly realized that teaching eurhythmics to children is no simple task. It is not just about introducing them to a new musical concept or understanding the Dalcroze method—it’s also about consistently engaging them in a way that excites and inspires them while adapting to their individual needs. The moment I witnessed during that class in 2018 was the result of careful and deliberate instruction, something that takes time and deep understanding to achieve.
Thanks to the Dalcroze Society of America scholarship, I was able to attend the Dalcroze Summer Institute at Tufts University in 2024. Balancing the demands of being the mother of three young children, a preschool director, and a musician can be challenging. This scholarship provided the encouragement I needed to continue my Dalcroze journey.
Each class introduced me to new insights, delivered by incredibly talented and dedicated teachers with exceptional musicality and skills. The Dalcroze Summer Institute not only offered the opportunity to learn from these high-quality instructors, but also connected me with peers from around the world. Despite our diverse backgrounds and cultures, we all shared a common goal: to become Dalcroze educators, skilled musicians, and better people.
My journey to becoming a Dalcroze teacher is ongoing and ever evolving, and I truly enjoy the process of continuous growth and learning.
I am deeply grateful to the DSA Scholarship for the opportunities it has provided, allowing me to pursue this passion and continue developing my skills in this unique and inspiring field of music education.
This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Dalcroze Connections, Vol. 9 No. 1.
