Chapter 2

2.1 Dalcroze Credentials, Dalcroze Certification, and Dalcroze Licensure Offered in the United States under the Professional Development Committee Teacher Training Program (T2 Program)

The Introductory Credential in Dalcroze Education: Level 1

• This credential identifies that its holder has passed all of the examinations pertaining to the introductory level (Level 1) in Dalcroze Education.
• The Level 1 Introductory Credential in Dalcroze Education is the first stage in working toward The Dalcroze Professional Certificate. The DSA recognizes that the recipient has established the groundwork on which to build and obtain greater mastery of Dalcroze Education.
• Students who pass all of their Level 1 examinations may represent their accomplishment by stating that they “have achieved the Introductory Credential in Dalcroze Education,” and/or “have the Level 1 Credential towards The Dalcroze Professional Certificate.”
• Students who have achieved Level 1 may not yet call themselves Dalcroze teachers or offer Dalcroze coursework until they have achieved the Professional Dalcroze Certificate.

The Applied Credential in Dalcroze Education: Level 2

• This credential identifies that its holder has reached a deeper level of proficiency in Dalcroze Education and has passed all of the examinations pertaining to both the introductory and applied levels (Levels 1 and 2) in Dalcroze Education.
• The DSA acknowledges the recipient’s ability to make applications of Dalcroze Education to one’s own discipline.
• Students who pass all of their Level 2 examinations may represent their accomplishment by stating that they “have achieved the Applied Credential in Dalcroze Education,” and/or “have the Level 2 Credential towards The Dalcroze Professional Certificate.”
• Students who have achieved Level 1 may not yet call themselves Dalcroze teachers or offer Dalcroze coursework until they have achieved the Professional Dalcroze Certificate.

The Dalcroze Professional Certificate: Level 3

• The holder of The Certificate in Dalcroze Education has passed all of the examinations pertaining to the introductory, applied, and certificate levels (Levels 1, 2, and 3) in Dalcroze Education.
• This internationally recognized credential affirms that the holder is a Dalcroze teacher and grants the authority to offer introductory coursework in Dalcroze Education.
  • The Professional Certificate in Dalcroze Education prepares a teacher to teach students of any age up to an early-intermediate level.
  • The Professional Certificate in Dalcroze Education prepares the teacher to incorporate Solfège and Improvisation into a Dalcroze-Eurhythmics class, but the teacher is not certified to offer independent Dalcroze-Solfège or DalcrozeImprovisation lessons/courses.
• Students who pass all of their Level 3 examinations may represent their accomplishment by stating that they “have earned The Dalcroze Professional Certificate,” and/or are “a Certified Dalcroze Teacher.”

Notes on the above Program

These levels comprise the PDC T2 program. Students do not need to pass all levels at the same time, though in order to achieve a specific credential, they must pass all branches at that level. For example, a student may have passed exams in Eurhythmics Levels 1 and 2, Solfège Levels 1 and 2, but will not receive the Introductory Level in Dalcroze Education until at least the Level 1 Improvisation exam has been passed.

Students must complete Level 3 studies with a Diplômé in order to gain authorization to use the name “Dalcroze Eurhythmics” in describing their teaching or classes. Students should keep copies of their examinations and all credentials received, as most Diplômés will want to see these documents before admitting transfer students to study at Level 3.

Level 4

Level 4 confers no additional authority. It is an intermediary training point en route to level 5. Not all training programs will offer examinations at this level; see your program director for more information.

The Dalcroze License: Level 5

The Dalcroze License is the highest credential offered in the United States. The internationally recognized Dalcroze License grants the holder the following authority:

• to use the name Jaques-Dalcroze and Dalcroze-Eurhythmics in all advertisements, promotional materials, and course descriptions and
• to offer Dalcroze coursework (Eurhythmics, Solfège, Improvisation, Plastique Animée, and Pedagogy) to students of all ages and levels, although they may not offer teacher-training courses on their own.

Only those who hold the Diplôme Supérieur are authorized to offer the Dalcroze Professional Certificate or the Dalcroze License. However, Dalcroze Licentiates may work under the direct supervision of Diplômés in Dalcroze teacher training and participate as jury members for examinations. Dalcroze Education is life-long learning. Graduates are encouraged to continue their study with a variety of different teachers to learn new approaches and styles to this rich work.

2.2 Transfer Students

We are proud to say that the structure of the DSA T2 program allows for accredited schools to more readily accept transfer students and create more continuity between accredited programs. This affords everyone enhanced communication and a closer Dalcroze community. Each training program handles transfer students differently, so transfer students should inquire directly with the director of that program for guidance.

Every DSA-accredited training program might have their own requirements in addition to the bare minimum requirements listed in the T2 manual. Therefore, transfer students should expect to take a placement exam at the school where they plan to attend. After the assessment, the student will receive specific feedback as to what additional coursework (if any) may be required.

These additional requirements may take extra time to achieve. It is up to the student to inquire with the training program director to discuss the specific procedure for addressing this supplementary coursework.

While it might be possible for a student to study at three different, consecutive training programs in a given summer, it is unlikely that someone could complete all of the requirements for Dalcroze certification in one calendar year. The philosophy of La Méthode Jaques-Dalcroze (Dalcroze Education) takes time to absorb and develop, and there is a lot of information to incorporate into one’s own teaching style. Students should expect that it will take a minimum of three summers, or equivalent course content for year-long programs, to finish their Certification and a minimum of 2-3 years to finish their License; it may take longer for transfer students. The individualized approach of Dalcroze Education could allow for a student to take less time, but it is not typical.

All DSA Accredited training programs will recognize the Dalcroze Professional Certificate from any Diplômé. Training centers may require entrance or placement exams for new License students. For nonprofessional certificates (those credentials that are not authorized to use the name Dalcroze/JaquesDalcroze), students will be evaluated by training centers on a case by case basis. Contact the training program director for more information.

Finally, though the DSA T2 program is supported by the larger international community of Dalcroze practitioners, programs outside of the United States will have different requirements. Consequently, one should not assume that any given credential in the United States is the same as any given credential offered in another part of the world. Transfer students must contact training program directors to find out the specific procedures regarding equivalence.