Executive Director’s Letter
Welcome to an exciting new year with Dalcroze USA!
Earlier this year, we joined together at our 2024 National Conference in Oberlin, OH, and are embracing the momentum it generated. This fall, as we welcome new members and newly inspired volunteers, I look forward to fresh ideas that will expand the reach and impact of the Dalcroze practice.
We’re excited to introduce two new members to the Board of Trustees: Meagan Dissinger, joining us from Potsdam, NY, and Fumi Nakayama from Racine, WI. Thank you both for your dedication, energy, and expertise—you are invaluable to our growing community.
Looking ahead, we are proud to announce the launch of our Professional Teacher Outreach Support (PTOS) grant program, a two-year pilot initiative designed to ease the financial burden of conference presentations for DSA members. This program aims not only to support our members but also to increase awareness and interest in the Dalcroze Society of America at key conferences. For more details and to apply for grant funding, please visit this page on our website.
We are also thrilled to introduce the Dalcroze History and Research Committee, which will work to preserve and share the rich history of our practice. Chaired by Bill Bauer, with support from Ruth Alperson, Aaron Butler, Terry Boyarsky, and Lori Forden, this committee will source, digitize, and categorize a wide array of materials. This includes the complete archives of the American Dalcroze Journal and audio recordings from twentieth-century Dalcroze teachers, making them accessible as a digital resource.
Later this year, this committee’s efforts will merge into a redesigned resource library. Once launched, Dalcroze USA members will have one-stop access to an extensive collection of articles, lesson plans, videos, repertoire lists, and more.
Whether you are a music educator, performer, dancer, or simply curious about the Dalcroze approach, we wish you a fulfilling and successful year ahead. We’re excited to see what we can achieve together!
This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Dalcroze Connections, Vol. 9 No. 1.
