Editor’s Letter

The fall is bittersweet yet exciting, marking the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. This fall is particularly special to the volunteers comprising the DSA’s publications committee as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dalcroze Connections!

To prepare for this letter, I searched the internet for other famous events that also occurred in 2015. Besides some upsets at the Grammys and political turmoil, this was the same year where the infamous dress debate hit the internet: Was it white and gold or black and blue? The answer, of course, depended on the viewer’s perception. The lighthearted dialogue surrounding the dress reminds me of what we experience in Dalcroze work, where participants may bring a variety of perceptions and perspectives about music or movement concepts. Art is subjective, and many times there will not always be a clear answer.

In the ten years since that photo was released, I’ve reflected on my own experience in the Dalcroze community, and especially in terms of the culture and offerings of the DSA. As a new generation assumes leadership of this small, vibrant community, we are becoming more collaborative, championing open discussion, sharing lesson plans and exam materials, and further clarifying the elements of a Dalcrozian education. Whereas before we may have been divided over whether the dress was white or blue or even hesitant to put our Dalcroze opinions and perceptions onto paper, we are now having safe and productive discussions that further our goal of sustaining this work in the United States and beyond. You might even say that our active listening skills in collaborating with others have developed (see Mary’s article).

In this issue, you’ll also find a retrospective on the past ten years of Dalcroze Connections, as well as a history of the DSA publications that preceded it: American Dalcroze Journal and the newsletter. Accompanying this publications retrospective is a transcription of Ruth Alperson’s keynote address from the 2024 national conference, where we learned more about the Dalcroze program at Oberlin Conservatory.

All these articles, as well as those that came before, are being uploaded to the new DSA website (huge thanks to Alex Marthaler). Please check it out and be sure to browse the members-only resources, where you will find countless videos, lesson plans, photos, scores, and, of course, articles.

The best of luck in your new academic year!