Dalcroze Activities for Older Adults

I have a basic outline for lesson plans for groups of older adults. However, this outline is adapted according to the needs and possibilities of each group and venue.

Activities for Every Lesson

Activity 1: Introduction and warm-up, seated 

1. Conscious, slow, regular breathing with eyes closed
2. Series of movements in groups of 2, 3, and 4 beats, touching or moving body parts on each beat (head, chest, wrists, legs, etc.)
   1. The practitioner demonstrates each sequence of movements first.
   2. The practitioner improvises music in specified meters at the piano while the participants move.
   3. One of the participants becomes the leader and proposes a sequence of movements and the group imitates.
      • The tempo can vary according to the capabilities of the group.

Activity 2: Walking and clapping

This activity has many possibilities and combinations, which may or may not increase in level of difficulty. The following are a few examples. 

1. The participants start walking freely, exploring the space
2. After observing an approximate common tempo, the practitioner improvises music at the piano at that pace while participants continue walking with the music.
   • The participants stop when the music stops and resume walking when the music starts again.
   • The music combines different types of articulation and dynamics and the participants adapt their walk to it
     • staccato = tiptoe
     • legato = regular walking
     • fortissimo = stomping
3. The participants respond to the beat of the music
   1. Clap with high sounds, walk with low sounds, and stop on rests.
   2. The response is inverted: clap with low sounds and walk with high sounds

Activity 3: Ear Discrimination and Immediate Memory (Seated) 

Similar to activity 2, this one has many possibilities and combinations which may or may not increase in level of difficulty.

1. The practitioner plays at the piano or sings a one or two-measure rhythmic pattern, and the participants imitate the rhythm
   1. With sticks
   2. With vocal sounds
   3. With body movements
2. The group forms teams of three people, numbered 1, 2, and 3.
   1. The practitioner signals which number responds and imitates the pattern (the team members must remember which number they are and respond, imitating the rhythm whenever they hear their number called; the others remain silent, waiting for their turn)
3. The practitioner plays music using a repeated rhythmic pattern until the group learns it and is able to clap (and if possible, walk) to it.
   • When the rhythmic pattern changes, the participants freeze and only start moving when they hear it again.

Activities that Alternate Every One or Two Sessions

Activity 1: Pass a ball or scarf (seated) 

1. Pass the object on every beat, every measure, every phrase, etc. 
2. At “hop,” the direction or tempo changes 

Activity 2: Free movement improvisation (either standing or seated) 

• With improvised or recorded music
  • Individually, in pairs or small teams

Activity 3: Sing along (seated)

• Remembering a popular song or learning a new one
  • Showing pulse and phrases with movements

Activity 4: Clapping games in pairs or small teams

• The practitioner creates a game that includes sound recognition with hand responses.

Activity 5: Group dancing

1. The entire group makes a big circle or a few smaller circles
2. With a folk song or an already learned song, the practitioner proposes a series of movements to do the dance
   • Walking sideways
   • Walking forward and backward
   • Turning around
   • Dancing in pairs