Irregular Measures and Unequal Beats in the Work of Dalcroze and Martin
I. Irregular Measures The rhythmic concept of irregular measures appears in Frank Martin’s 8 Préludes pour le piano. It is also a commonly used subject in Dalcroze education. The term “irregular measures” may be used interchangeably with the term “mixed meter,” and is defined here as metrical changes with a constant, unchanging beat. “Unequal beats”…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of the Dalcroze Lab
Jeanette Wong in Conversation with Bill Bauer The first Dalcroze Lab was launched in January of 2021, led by Silvia Del Bianco, director of the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva. The idea behind the Dalcroze Lab is to revisit workshop sessions taped at past DSA National Conferences, such as the one held in Miami in January…
Read MoreGeneva Notebook
In the fall semesters of both 2018 and 2019, I lived in Geneva to work toward the diplôme supérieur, which I earned in June of 2020. In this article, I’ll share my experiences and reflect upon a memorable period of my life. The IJD Geneva holds mythic status in the minds of many in the…
Read MoreA Note from the Board Chair
What appeals to me most about the Dalcroze practice is our long history and the degree to which we’ve maintained our connection to the origins of the method for over a century. These traditions have survived world wars, economic catastrophes, the Industrial Revolution, and political upheaval. I can see how our current challenges are fueling…
Read MoreVideo: Theme and Variations with Cynthia Lilley
This class, recorded live at the 2020 DSA National Conference in Miami, FL, was led by Cynthia Lilley, Dalcroze License. The full lesson on how the Theme and Variations form can be especially useful in the Dalcroze classroom. Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony, Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” and Stravinsky’s Suite from “Pulcinella” illustrate the possibilities. Variation on a…
Read MoreThe 2020-2021 Professional Development Committee
Formed in 2012, the Dalcroze Society of America’s Professional Development Committee (PDC) has focused on developing written standards of excellence for the future Dalcrozians of the United States. The T2 Manual (“Teacher Training” Manual) outlines the standards for the Dalcroze Professional Certificate and Dalcroze License. These minimum standards outline what all DSA Accredited Dalcroze training…
Read MoreUndoing Racism, March 2021
The monthly conversations on “Undoing Racism in Music Education” have continued. We’ve had three conversations since the last blogpost: one in December, one in January and one in February. I wish I could have posted something each month, but time has been speeding by faster than I expected. Our conversations have consistently been fruitful. We’ve…
Read MoreVideo: Organic Rhythm with Dawn Pratson
This class, recorded live at the 2020 DSA National Conference in Miami, FL, was led by Dawn Pratson, Dalcroze License, and explores natural rhythms that accompany movement. These rhythms can be inspired by the breath, the heartbeat, or other sources of bodily motion; by spatial pathways and other spatial elements; or by moving in relation to…
Read MoreThe DSA Marketing Team
Dalcroze is a rich and multidimensional practice that holds infinite potential for exploration and discovery. Maybe this aspect is what attracted you to Dalcroze in the first place? As you may have noticed, an experience so rooted in the aural and physical sensation of music can be hard to explain to someone who has never…
Read MoreSupporting Future Dalcroze Educators: The DSA Scholarships Task Force
Since the DSA was formed over forty years ago, the Memorial Scholarship program has enabled many who seek Dalcroze training to fulfill their dream. A key purpose of this program is to encourage more teachers to pursue training at accredited Dalcroze teacher training programs in the hope that many will attain certification and licensure. But…
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