Editor’s Letter
I recently sat down at the piano to noodle. I was having trouble coming up with a topic for an article I was writing, and I hoped that improvising would help the brainstorming process.
As the music set in, I found myself revisiting summer Dalcroze memories. The national conference at the scenic and historic Oberlin College, where I had aesthetic experiences in beautiful spaces, was a major highlight of my summer. Meeting up with Dalcroze colleagues from around the country and beyond while getting to experience the association of movement and music was a very joyful and invigorating way to open the summer (for more on the joy that Dalcroze work can inspire, go to page 6). In addition to many wonderful sessions, I had the chance to experience group piano improvisation games led by Leslie Purcell Upchurch. Leslie recently published a book with many of her improvisation games and ideas, a review of which can be found on page 28.
Later, my thoughts drifted toward the summer teacher-training academy at the Dalcroze School of Music and Movement in Dallas. Spending a full two weeks (or more!) eating, breathing, and living Dalcroze without any other distractions has become one of the highlights of my calendar year. Getting to really dive deep into this work and apply the different Dalcroze principles to the subjects of eurhythmics, solfège, improvisation, and plastique animée while also guiding students toward assessments is one of the most challenging endeavors. For more on Dalcroze principles, see page 12; for more on Dalcroze solfège, visit page 24.
I eventually realized that I was improvising a “follow” for my own train of thoughts. Sometimes the music guided my memories, while other times the memories drove the music. This fluidity made me appreciate yet again just how impactful this work can be. Through Dalcroze training, not only have I had profound aesthetic experiences and met some of the most interesting and creative people of my life, but I’ve also developed the skill of using my instrument to realize my thoughts and feelings through the freedom of creative musical expression. What a profound thing!
I hope those of you reading this also had a memorable summer enriched by Dalcroze experiences and colleagues. For many Dalcrozians, summer is the time for intense study of the work, whether it’s teaching children in summer music camps, working with adults in teacher-training intensives, or simply attending the national conference with friends and colleagues. Here’s to another academic year!
This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Dalcroze Connections, Vol. 9 No. 1.
