Virtual Dalcroze Meet-Up, in partnership with Integral Steps and Carnegie Mellon Dalcroze Training Center, welcomes you to our registration page.
Here you can search for masterclasses by topics and find detailed descriptions of the content. To learn more about the Virtual Dalcroze Meet-Up, including for our current schedule of free meet-up discussion meetings and to join the VDM Mailing List, please visit virtualdalcroze.org |
Upcoming Events
Dalcroze Essentials: Creating Sequences of Lessons with Joan Pope (Australia) [beginning Sept. 13, 2024]
Dalcroze Essentials: For the Private Lesson with Emma Shubin (Luxembourg/USA) [beginning Oct. 6/7, 2024]
Scholarships are available!
We want to make sure these classes are accessible to everyone. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please apply using the button below and wait to hear from us before registering. |
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Past Masterclasses and Short Courses
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Dalcroze Essentials: Creating Sequences of Lessons with Joan Pope (Australia) [beginning Sept. 13, 2024]
"Dalcroze Essentials: Creating Sequences of Lessons"
A three-session short course with Joan Pope
[three 80-minute sessions]
Upcoming VDM Events
Fridays September 13, 20, 27 (Everyone)
- 5:00am PDT
- 6:00am MDT / CDMX
- 7:00am CDT
- 8:00am EDT
- 12:00pm(noon) GMT
- 1:00pm BST / London
- 8:00pm Western Australia / Singapore
- 9:00pm Tokyo
- 10:00pm Sydney
Joan looks back on some seventy years of inventing sessions for a wide range of people and situations. She extracts the essential ingredients that make them ‘Dalcroze Experiences’. She will focus one session on children, another on teens and student-teachers, and the third on adults in local choirs, drama groups, and seniors in retirement settings.
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West Australian Joan Pope attended the Dalcroze Centre in London in 1953, completed Dalcroze Licentiate, Sydney 1957, and finally (!) gained Diplôme Supérieure (Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva) 1999. She was Dalcroze Australia President for many years and conducted workshops, training sessions and DEIEB exams especially in South East Asia and Pacific regions.
Joan lectured in a number of Universities in her home State and volunteered her interests in Children; Youth Theatre and Dance, Festivals, Community Arts, Adventure Playgrounds and Seniors Recreation, serving on numerous Boards, nationally and internationally. She holds BA, Dip. Ed (UWA) B. Ed , M. Ed (ECU) majoring in Early Childhood and Arts Education. Her PhD Thesis (Monash) was an historical research of 1920-1930s Dalcroze teaching in Australia and New Zealand.
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Jacqueline Vann (England) Masterclass # 37 [Sept. 28/29, 2024]
A VDM Masterclass with Jacqueline Vann (England)
Upcoming VDM Events
In this class we will explore groups of two and three, duplets and triplets. They can go together very simply to make unequal beats, and they can be superimposed to make polyrhythms. My hope is that you will take away a musical experience for yourself, and also something you can apply to your own teaching.
Saturday September 28 (Americas, Europe, Africa)
- 11:00am PDT
- 12:00pm(noon) MDT / CDMX
- 1:00pm CDT
- 2:00pm EDT
- 6:00pm GMT
- 7:00pm BST / London
Sunday September 29 (Asia, Australia)
- 2:00am Western Australia / Singapore
- 3:00am Tokyo
- 4:00am Sydney
Jacqueline Vann graduated from the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in 1997, since then she has been involved with a full range of UK training, courses and examining as well as world-wide courses and summer schools (Japan, Canada, Denmark, Norway & Australia). Her eclectic background includes training in Creative Musicianship, Estil Voice Training, Harpsichord studies, Advanced Kodaly and Performance Arts. She has presented papers at the International Conference in Dalcroze Studies (2013 & 2019) and gave a keynote presentation in 2019. She has taught at a number of universities, music colleges and schools including Canterbury Christchurch College, Birmingham Conservatoire, Goldsmiths College and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. During the Covid pandemic Jacqueline completed a master’s in Neuroscience & Education at the University of Bristol. As Director of Projects for Dalcroze UK her work involves exploring applications of Dalcroze by making links with other organisations and educational establishments. She is also responsible for the Dalcroze graded exams for children and young adults in the UK. She lives in the South West of England with her dog, cat, chickens, horses and husband.
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Dalcroze Essentials: For the Private Lesson with Emma Shubin (Luxembourg/USA) [beginning Oct. 6/7, 2024]
"Dalcroze Essentials: For the Private Lesson"
A three-session short course with Emma Shubin
[three 80-minute sessions]
Upcoming VDM Events
Sundays October 6, 13, 20 (Americas, Europe, Africa)
- 12:00pm(noon) PDT
- 1:00pm MDT / CDMX
- 2:00pm CDT
- 3:00pm EDT
- 7:00pm GMT
- 8:00pm BST / London
- 9:00pm CEST / Luxembourg
Mondays October 7, 14, 21 (Asia, Australia)
- 3:00am Western Australia / Singapore
- 4:00am Tokyo
- 6:00am Sydney
Gain new tools for incorporating movement, discovery, and improvisation into your private lesson studio. Some topics we’ll explore include:
- Fostering creative practice: How many ways can we practice that? a hundred ways towards mastery: Does listening to it, moving it, singing count? What other ways can we empower our students to become co-creators in their learning journey outside of the lesson.
- Rhythm is Character! Besides clapping, what other techniques can help students internalize rhythm? We’ll discuss activities requiring no extra materials or simple tools like a small ball, beanbag, or chopsticks.
- Developing Internal Phrase and Pulse: How do we learn to communicate what we cannot see or touch like “phrasing” or “musicality”? How do we nurture an internal pulse in students while making the process creative, fun, and expressive? We’ll explore ways to enhance meter and phrasing awareness, as well as to boost musical literacy.
- Multiple pathways to music literacy: A triangle between Ears, Eyes, & Fingers! How do these parts interact while we are learning? How can we support new pathways to learning through auditory, verbal, tactile, and visual cues?
You'll leave the course with ready-to-use activities tailored to your current students, and we’ll try them out together so you’ll be ready to implement them in your next lesson!
No previous experience with Dalcroze is required!
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Passionate about music, holistic & integrative education, Emma Shubin has been joyfully making music all of her life. Both conservatory and life-trained, she has performed and taught internationally as a flutist, a Suzuki educator and Dalcroze Eurhythmics instructor, an approach of teaching music through movement.
Her love of ecology led her to a degree in the field and she seeks to make science not only accessible for her students, but to also deepen their awareness and connection to the world around them and the communities they reach - whether from the performance stage, at home, in schools, or in nature.
She is represented by the Wm.S. Haynes flute company, and strives to creatively combine and share her love of music, movement, improvisation, performance and ecology with students of all ages. Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Integral Steps, Emma currently is pursuing her PhD at the University of Luxembourg researching the impact of integrating movement with instrumental learning for young musicians.
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Sachiko Muranaka (Japan) Masterclass #38 [Oct. 19/20, 2024]
"Complementary Rhythm"
A VDM Masterclass with Sachiko Muranaka (Japan)
Upcoming VDM Events
Complementary Rhythm is a technique found in all variety of repertoire and can be used as an exciting strategy when working with students of all ages. Complementary Rhythm is the act of filling the spaces between the notes of a main melody with various levels of subdivisions or rhythmic patterns. In this lesson, we will explore multiple examples of Complementary Rhythm and feel its effect in music through body movement.
Saturday October 19 (Americas)
- 6:00pm PDT
- 7:00pm MDT / CDMX
- 8:00pm CDT
- 9:00pm EDT
Sunday October 20 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
- 1:00am GMT
- 2:00am BST / London
- 9:00am Western Australia / Singapore
- 10:00am JST / Tokyo
- 12:00pm(noon) Sydney
Sachiko Muranaka is an Associate Professor of the Child Psychology Program at Sapporo International University. She graduated with a B.A. from Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo. She then obtained her Dalcroze License from the Dalcroze School of Music in New York and Longy School of Music in Boston.
She is a holder of the Dalcroze Diplôme Supérieur, conferred by the Jaques-Dalcroze Institute in Geneva. Ms. Muranaka has been teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics since 1990 and has given workshops in Japan, Korea, Singapore, USA and multiple international congresses in Geneva. She is the current president of the Jaques-Dalcroze Society of Japan.
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Dalcroze Essentials: Thinking, Making, and Doing Dalcroze with Andrew Davidson (UK/Australia) [beginning Nov. 3/4, 2024]
"Dalcroze Essentials: Thinking, Making, and Doing Dalcroze"
A three-session short course with Andrew Davidson
[three 80-minute sessions]
Upcoming VDM Events
Sundays November 3, 10, 17 (Americas, Europe, Africa)
- 9:00am PST
- 10:00am MST
- 11:00am CST / CDMX
- 12:00pm(noon) EST
- 5:00pm GMT / London
- 6:00pm BST
Mondays November 4, 11, 18 (Asia, Australia)
- 1:00am Western Australia / Singapore
- 2:00am Tokyo
- 4:00am Sydney
This short course is a hands-on approach to Dalcroze principles to support educators in their teaching. You do not need any previous Dalcroze experience to participate; at the same time, those with prior Dalcroze experience are welcome and encouraged to participate as well.
In the course we will brainstorm Dalcroze subjects for classes, make sense of Dalcroze philosophy in a practical way, and work with musical repertoire in a Dalcroze way.
Depending on the interests of the participants signing up, Andrew will consider all three branches of Dalcroze education - rhythmics, solfege, and improvisation - and tailor the sessions to people's contexts.
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Andrew Davidson is an Australian theatre practitioner and musician based in London, UK. He is a Senior Lecturer at Guildford School of Acting (GSA), University of Surrey, one of the UK's leading conservatories for musical theatre. Andrew directs theatre, teaches acting, writes music, and plays piano for dance. He is a directing graduate of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and holds the Diplôme Supérieur in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from Switzerland's Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (IJD).
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Jerison Lee (Singapore) Masterclass #39 [Nov. 16/17, 2024]
A VDM Masterclass with Jerison Lee (Singapore)
Upcoming VDM Events
Saturday November 16 (Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
- 5:30am PST
- 6:30am MST
- 7:30am CST / CDMX
- 8:30am EST
- 1:30pm GMT / London
- 2:30pm BST
- 9:30pm Western Australia / Singapore
- 10:30pm Tokyo
Sunday November 17 (Australia)
- 12:30am Sydney
Jerison Lee received both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (2016) in Dalcroze pedagogy from Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva . To further develop his knowledge and skills in working with Dalcroze, he has travelled the world to study with various Dalcroze masters.
With his strong foundation in ballet and dance, he continued to study ballet and modern dance while in Geneva. The combination of mastery in both music and dance furnishes him with a unique ability to truly deliver the essence of Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Since his return from Switzerland in 2015, Jerison has been actively promoting, conducting, and teaching Dalcroze workshops and classes to musicians, dancers and arts educators in Singapore, and has been repeatedly invited to present and teach in many Asian countries. His work has brought him to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Vietnam, Europe, America and Australia.
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Arthur Simões (Brazil/Switzerland) "Exploring Brazilian Rhythms"
Eurhythmics + Solfège: Brazilian music, syncopation, bossa nova, samba, melody shape
Arthur Simões (Brazil/Switzerland) "Exploring Brazilian Rhythms"
This class will introduce you to some of the rich rhythmic language of Brazilian music. Through active listening, physical movement and kinesthetic awareness, you will embody some of the core elements of Samba, Bossa Nova, and Baião. At the same time, you will discover and experience some of the core principles and techniques of Dalcroze Eurhythmics and see in practice how they can be applied.
Brazilian pianist Arthur Simoes enjoys a diverse career as a pianist, composer, and educator. He has performed extensively in Europe, the United States, and Latin America, where he has presented lectures, workshops, and masterclasses.
Passionate about education, Arthur has taught at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze as well as the Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. In parallel, he has run a successful private studio for the last 10 years.
Arthur is a first prize winner of the 29th European Music Competition “Città di Moncalieri”, in Italy, as well as other piano competitions. His performance credits include the Victoria Hall (Geneva) as well as the Schubertiade sur la Colline (Neuchâtel).
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano and a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy – Dalcroze
Eurhythmics from the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève, as well as the Diplôme Supérieur of the Dalcroze method. During his Dalcroze studies, Arthur was awarded the Institut-Jaques Dalcroze Award “for his qualities as eurhythmician”, the Emile Jaques-Dalcroze Foundation Award “for the excellence of his improvisation exam” and the Aletheia Foundation Award “for the excellence of his Diplôme Supérieur choreography”.
His passion for improvisation as well as the desire to broaden his horizons have brought Arthur to Berklee College of Music, where he is currently pursuing a Diploma with concentrations in Jazz Composition and Performance.
Masterclass #33 was originally given on January 27/28, 2024.
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Sylvie Morgenegg (Switzerland) "What if vocal improvisation in classical music were a game?"
Solfège: ternary meter, compound meter, singing, phrasing, melody shape, singing improvisation, student-led patterns, partner work
SYLVIE MORGENEGG (Switzerland) "What if vocal improvisation in classical music were a game?"
This is a Dalcroze solfege course in which participants will experience a range of fun and varied activities designed to develop their own abilities to improvise vocal melodies.
I'm going to suggest that you follow the same path as I've taken my own students through the step-by-step instructions with me. There will also be descriptions of what else we could do if we were taking the class in person.
We will immerse ourselves in the color of 4 voice chords by actively listening to a short composition, and close our musical moment by improvising on it.
All musical material from the lesson will be passed on to participants at the end of the lesson.
Sylvie Morgenegg has practiced the Jaques-Dalcroze method since she was a child in Geneva. She holds the superior diploma from the Jaques-Dalcroze Institute in Geneva. She has taught children and teenagers for 25 years. In 1994 she began teaching rhythmics, solfège and improvisation to the professional students at the institute. In addition to teaching to Bachelor's, Master's and Certificate students, she was head of the music and movement department from 2001 to 2022. She regularly participates in congresses and courses in different parts of the world.
Masterclass #34 was originally given on March 2/3, 2024.
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Dalcroze Entrepreneurship: Building a Community Program A six-session short course with Emma Shubin (Luxembourg/USA) & Weronika Balewski (USA)
Connecting with communities, building an audience, budgeting, curriculum planning, marketing, partnerships and collaborations, when to hire administrative help, teacher compensation and insurance
Dalcroze Entrepreneurship: Building a Community Program
A six-session short course with Emma Shubin (Luxembourg/USA) & Weronika Balewski (USA)
Join "Dalcroze Entrepreneurship" to transform your passion for Dalcroze education into a thriving community program! We are so excited to share with you what we have learned and empower you to succeed. 🎶✨
Course Overview:
Embark on a transformative 6-session journey to become a Dalcroze Entrepreneur and pave the way to establish your own vibrant community music program. This comprehensive course will empower you to build, create, and sustain engaging Dalcroze-based programs for children and the communities that surround them.
Weronika Balewski and Emma Shubin, with a combined 20 years of experience in the Dalcroze community, are passionate about creating opportunities for teachers and increasing accessibility to this approach across diverse communities. Through their work at Integral Steps in Colorado and Massachusetts, they have successfully implemented various approaches to partnerships, registration, scheduling, and funding, serving thousands of students and families over the past 12 years. Integral Steps currently offers year-round programming for ages 0-18 with over 25 weekly classes and 3-6 weeks of summer camps; community events and partnerships with local schools and organizations; as well as educational opportunities for teachers.
During Sessions 1-4, participants will dig into the nuts and bolts of creating a vibrant and sustainable program and will engage in reflection and brainstorming assignments. In Sessions 5 and 6, participants present their ideas, receiving valuable feedback from both the group and instructors.
Then, after viewing all sessions of the short course, you will have the opportunity to discuss your own project with Weronika and/or Emma during a 15 minute live video conference. You will receive individualized support and timely feedback. This personalized approach ensures that participants who are viewing the recorded course can still receive feedback on their unique questions and circumstances.
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Weronika Balewski believes the Arts have the power to build connection, relationships, and community. This idea is central to her work as a flutist and music educator. A co-founder of Marvento Duo, Weronika performs on modern and Baroque flutes and loves inviting audiences into the magic of music. She is passionate about building a joyful learning environment for her students based on the principles of Dalcroze and Integrative Education. In addition to teaching with Integral Steps in Massachusetts, she teaches private flute and piano lessons in her studio in the Boston area and is on the Faculty at the Concord Conservatory of Music. She is a graduate of the Integrative Education Fellowship program at Integral Steps.
Passionate about music, holistic & integrative education, Emma Shubin has been joyfully making music all of her life. Both conservatory and life-trained, she has performed and taught internationally as a flutist, a Suzuki educator and Dalcroze Eurhythmics instructor, an approach of teaching music through movement. Her love of ecology led her to a degree in the field and she seeks to make science not only accessible for her students, but to also deepen their awareness and connection to the world around them and the communities they reach - whether from the performance stage, at home, in schools, or in nature. She is represented by the Wm.S. Haynes flute company, and strives to creatively combine and share her love of music, movement, improvisation, performance and ecology with students of all ages. Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Integral Steps, Emma currently is pursuing her PhD at the University of Luxembourg researching the impact of integrating movement with instrumental learning for young musicians.
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Course Highlights:
Session 1: Breaking into New Communities
Uncover the secrets of community outreach. Define your audience, location, and course duration. Design your dream program, explore enrollment strategies, and decide whether to establish your own school or collaborate with existing institutions.
Session 2: Curriculum & Development
Master the art of curriculum planning, including short and long-term strategies. Explore the Integral Steps model for creating dynamic learning experiences, incorporating activity sheets, certificates, and tools that emphasize both product and process. Learn about advocacy and sustainability for long-term student engagement.
Session 3: Preparing to Launch and Ongoing Marketing
Discover effective strategies for community events, library meet-and-greets, and demo classes. Gain insights into successful program launches and sustained marketing efforts, balancing educational content and community engagement.
Session 4: Retention, Mental Health, & Budget
Explore techniques for student and teacher retention, addressing mental health considerations of both students and teachers. Discuss boundaries and explore sustainable practices for yourself and future teachers. Delve into the financial aspects of entrepreneurship, covering teacher compensation models, budgeting, and the psychology of money and pricing.
Sessions 5 & 6: Project Pitch and Wrap-Up
See participants pitch their projects and receive feedback from Weronika, Emma, and other participants. Further explore previous topics based on participant needs and requests.
This course was originally given March 2-April 7, 2024.
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Tamaé Gennai Deveaud (Switzerland) "Let's try reggae!"
Eurhythmics: Offbeat, measure shape, reggae music, heavy and light movement/feeling
Tamaé Gennai Deveaud (Switzerland) "Let's try reggae!"
Everyone knows the reggae classics, Bob Marley in particular.
But have you ever experienced this music in depth? Is it as simple as some people say? Do you know why it grooves so much and appeals to so many different people? Aren't all good reggae musicians unknowingly practicing eurhythmics?
We'll explore what makes up this music through the body and the voice, with a variety of eurythmics exercises based on our body sensation, our relationship to the ground and to space. Do you like polyrhythms? Do you like to sing? Are you curious? Then this class is for you! And for even more fun, if you have the chance, don't hesitate to share this moment with one or more friends.
Tamaé Gennai Deveaud teaches music and movement to a wide variety of audiences (parents-children, teenagers, senior citizens, HUG psychiatric ward, etc.). With a Diplôme Supérieur in the Jaques-Dalcroze’s method, she has also been awarded the Aletheia Foundation prize for group choreography. She has instructed in rhythmics, solfeggio, pedagogy, improvisation and performance coaching at the High school of Arts in Berne (HKB) and at the High school of music in Geneva (HEM). Since 2021, she has been teaching regularly in Bucharest as well as at the Jaques Dalcroze’s Institute.
Alongside her teaching career, Tamaé co-writes and directs a number of multidisciplinary shows (music, dance, theater) with Compagnie TaMiErO. In 2019, she won the Swiss Authors Society (SSA) writing grant for her young audience show L'enfant do. Committed to combining her scenic and pedagogical skills to serve audiences with no easy access to the arts, she has created several performance projects in India, in the slums of Calcutta and Bombay, in Geneva's Villas Yoyo, and as part of the Jaques-Dalcroze’s creativity workshops.
Masterclass #36 was originally given on June 15/16, 2024.
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Bethan Habron-James (Wales) "Re-sourcing Ourselves Through our Practice"
Eurhythmics + Solfege + Improvisation: creativity, plainchant, simplicity, limitations, artist-researcher-teacher, being present, healing, deep listening
Bethan Habron-James (Wales) "Re-sourcing Ourselves Through our Practice"
As we move towards the experience of wintering, we will explore how our practice of Dalcroze Eurhythmics - a meeting place of sound and movement - can be a re-source somatically, creatively, and pedagogically. For companions on our journey together, we will consider the concept of a/r/tography and be guided by a ninth century plainchant.
Bethan Habron-James (Diplôme Superieur, Institut Jaques-Dalcroze) is a Welsh Dalcroze practitioner and scholar of international repute. She has taught musicianship through Dalcroze Eurhythmics at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK for 24 years.
Prior to her encounter with Dalcroze she was a professional violinist. Bethan is currently a doctoral candidate at Bangor University, Wales, UK. Using creative, artistic media, her autoethnographic study explores her understanding of her Dalcroze practice, its connections with wellbeing, and its implication for the future training of teachers. She enjoys being out in nature, sea swimming and the arts.
Masterclass #32 was originally given on November 18/19, 2023.
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Yi-Ru McAllister (Taiwan) "Creativity Inspired by the Chinese Language"
Eurhythmics + Improvisation: Chinese characters, Chinese language, direction, gestures, music+language connection, sound+writing connection
Yi-Ru McAllister (Taiwan) "Creativity Inspired by the Chinese Language"
Chinese is different from western languages in a number of ways. For example, each Chinese word is combined by different strokes with a specific order in a precise direction, which is comparable to a music score. The goal of this workshop is to use the different strokes and characters of the Chinese language as the starting point to inspire our imagination, in order to create the link between the language and the musical subject.
Yi-Ru McAllister completed her Diplôme Supérieur at Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (IJD) in June 2019. In addition, she holds a Masters in Composition from Taiwan’s NTNU and a Masters of Music Pedagogy in the method of Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics from HEM in Geneva.
During her six years of training in Geneva (2013-2019), she worked at IJD as a Eurhythmics teacher for all ages. She returned to Taiwan in 2019, exploring various collaborations with the National concert hall, art centres and schools for projects between Dalcroze and the arts. She is also invited regularly to different conservatories and music schools to hold Dalcroze workshops for music teachers.
Masterclass #31 was originally given on October 21/22, 2023.
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Aaron Butler (USA) "Metric Transformation with Brahms"
Eurhythmics: metric transformation, meters of 6/8 and 3/4, Brahms folk song, physical sensations and cuing of different meters
Aaron Butler (USA) "Metric Transformation with Brahms"
Combining 3/4 and 6/8 is endlessly fun! In this class, we'll focus on how we prompt the shift between these two meters – how we physically signal it to each other – as well as how to recognize it quickly in the score. We'll also see how Brahms cleverly layers them beneath a deceptively simple folk song.
Aaron Butler is an active musical director, accompanist, and teacher in New York City. He is a specialist in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, is the musical director for Mind The Art Entertainment, and is a founding member of Sound Narcissist. He is comfortable in a variety of musical styles—from baroque through contemporary classical, opera, Broadway, and improvisation. Faculty: Lucy Moses School, Bloomingdale School of Music, The School at Columbia. M.M. (piano), Longy School of Music; Dalcroze Certificate & License, Longy School of Music; Artist’s Diploma, Brandeis University; B.A., Amherst College. More information at aaronplayspiano.com.
Masterclass #30 was originally given on September 23/24, 2023.
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Kai Liu (China) "Learning odd meter in contemporary jazz through Dalcroze eurhythmics"
Eurhythmics + Improvisation: jazz, analysis, improvisation, chord sequences, mixed meter, 7/8 time signature
Kai Liu (China) "Learning odd meter in contemporary jazz through Dalcroze eurhythmics"
Brad Mehldau is undoubtedly the most influential jazz pianist of the past three decades. Building upon the heritage of traditional jazz, he has also integrated elements from classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, as well as rock musicians like the Beatles into his solo piano and trio performances, leading the trend of contemporary jazz. In my opinion, the various elements that Brad Mehldau uses for improvisation and composition can correspond to the various eurythmic themes in Dalcroze's approach.
One of the important elements Brad has brought to contemporary jazz is his exploration of playing odd meters, such as 7 or 5 meters, with a particular emphasis on 7 meters. He not only uses these odd meters to rearrange American classic jazz standards, such as "All the Things You Are," but also incorporates them into many of his original compositions.
In this course, I will guide everyone to experience and learn about the odd meters and harmony found in Brad Mehldau's most important original composition, "Resignation," through Dalcroze eurhythmics.
Masterclass #29 was originally given on June 17/18, 2023.
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Cynthia Lilley (USA) "A Journey through Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn"
Eurhythmics: Interpretation, score study, analysis, form, theme and variations, Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Cynthia Lilley (USA) "A Journey through Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn"
In my workshop we will be working with the theme and variation form, zeroing in on Brahms’ wonderful work. Through movement we will examine the theme, particularly for its structure, which will be constant throughout the variations. Then we will move through the entire piece, experiencing the myriad ways the theme is treated.
Masterclass #28 was originally given on April 22/23, 2023.
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Toru Sakai (Japan) "Subdivision and Rhythm"
Eurhythmics: Divisions of the beat into 2, 3, 4, independence of hands and feet, rhythm patterns in 4/4, metric accent, agogic accent, canon at one beat
Toru Sakai (Japan) "Subdivision and Rhythm"
“Rhythm”. We hear this word often, but rarely have the opportunity to consider what it really means. Rhythm is a combination of long and short notes. People usually focus on timing only, but it is also very important to consider different weights and how energy flows. Where the mathematical values of specific rhythm is set and does not require a performer/composer/listener to be “correct”, the actual music of rhythm is found in the motion of that music, as experienced in the feeling participant. There is only one way to feel and understand rhythm. That is to move to the music. In this masterclass, we will explore this through Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
Masterclass #27 was originally given on February 11/12, 2023.
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Anetta Pasternak (Poland) "Plastique Animée workshop – Musical form and its image in motion and space"
Plastique Animee: university-level movement examples from students, interpretation, development of movement ideas
Anetta Pasternak (Poland) "Plastique Animée workshop – Musical form and its image in motion and space"
Plastique Animée in Dalcroze's method is an artistic way of embodying music expressed in movement. This idea, based on creative action, develops musical sensitivity, imagination, and musical and movement expression. As a result of this process, an image of a musical work is created based on a thorough analysis and interpreted through the author's movement. The interpretation of music in Dalcroze's concept of Plastique Animée reflects the musical form through expressive movement in space. This expressive form requires the use of spatial-movement arrangement to show the internal structure of the work and its individual elements. The essence of interpretation is the expression of movement resulting from the emotional feeling of music.
This workshop will be related to the form of variation, which is a particularly interesting material for the creative process. Participants will explore the nuances of expressive movement in space in relation to form variation.
Masterclass #26 was originally given on March 18/19, 2023.
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Ruth Alperson (USA) "Bringing the Page to Life: Moving with the Music"
Solfège: active listening, listening, harmonic theory, gesture, solfege, piano, Beethoven, singing, Interpretation, tempo
Ruth Alperson (USA) "Bringing the Page to Life: Moving with the Music"
The beautiful slow movement of a Beethoven Piano Sonata has been playing in my head for weeks. I look forward to exploring this piece, and its performance, with participants, using Dalcroze strategies. Prior to our session, I will interview Garrick Ohlsson, the pianist whose recording we will listen and move to; his comments on the work will enrich our experience.
This VDM Masterclass #25 was originally given on October 15/16, 2022.
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Lauren Hodgson (USA) "Teacher Talk: A Dalcroze Pedagogy Session"
Pedagogy: feedback strategies, teachers' language choices, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, classroom culture, growth mindset, purpose-driven language
Lauren Hodgson (USA) "Teacher Talk: A Dalcroze Pedagogy Session"
Shared musical experiences in the Dalcroze practice are inherently personal and deeply rooted in the connections between music, the mind, and the body. One of the pillars of fostering motivation and building trust among the teacher and students is the language used in creating and shaping musical experiences. In this workshop, we will investigate and practice methods for implementing focused and intentional instructions and feedback that informs, inspires, and ultimately, intrinsically motivates.
This VDM Masterclass #24 was originally given on September 17/18, 2022.
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Stephen Moore (USA) "Nuance - in 2 / in 3"
Eurhythmics: divisions of 2, 3, 4, & 5, polyrhythms, mixed meter, 3 against 2, "Hush" album (Ma/McFerrin), "Take 5" (Brubeck), "Blue Bossa" (K. Durham)
Stephen Moore (USA) "Nuance - in 2 / in 3"
Here we ask the questions:
What does it mean to be “in 2” in terms of body, mind and spirit?
What does it mean to be “in 3” in terms of body, mind and spirit?
What happens when those “worlds” collide?
This VDM Masterclass #23 was originally given on July 23/24, 2022.
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Maria Luisa D'Alessandro (Italy) "Instrumental improvisation according to Dalcroze"
Improvisation: exploration as basis of improvisation, children's development, creating a sound palette, gesture, visual art as inspiration, pedagogy of improvisation
Maria Luisa D'Alessandro (Italy) "Instrumental improvisation according to Dalcroze"
Improvising to discover music, in all its aspects, starting from the spontaneous gesture on the piano.
Improvising in a natural way to communicate and to get know ourselves
This VDM Masterclass #22 was originally given on April 23/24, 2022.
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Jack Stevenson (USA) "First and fifth Espèce"
Pedagogy + Solfège + Improvisation: harmonic theory, history of Dalcroze pedagogy regarding 7th chords, piano improvisation pedagogy
Jack Stevenson (USA) "First and fifth Espèce"
Jack will present a Jaques-Dalcroze Improvisation/Solfège lesson on the the dominant seventh and the fully diminished seventh chord in the minor mode and how they modulate.
Have your singing voice ready, and your keyboard fired up.
We will be working hard! Jack will share all workshop materials during class
and have handouts available by email afterward.
This VDM Masterclass #21 was originally given on March 19/20, 2022.
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Joan Pope (Australia) "Divisions : and the differences of degrees and details"
Pedagogy + Eurhythmics: children, pedagogy, real life inspiration, visual art, divisions of 12, lunges, clouds
Joan Pope (Australia) "Divisions : and the differences of degrees and details"
I intend to make a study for you of one of the ‘early’ exercises of Divisions of Time and therefore of the Space involved. It was known as ‘The twelve quavers’ (les douze croches) by rhythmics students well over one hundred years ago. I also reprise one of my favorite topics, that of the types of Clouds and their changing shapes. You’ll find both topics become intertwined.
Such Divisions and subdivisions may be Equal or Unequal, Symmetric or Asymmetric, Formal or Free. Some will emphasize CHANGE: Planned and Predictable, Sudden Surprises, Some ever-changing shapes.
This session will focus on several aspects of the Jaques-Dalcroze approach which have created a life-long interest for me in devising practical ‘music through movement’ and thinking experiences, whether for toddlers, student teachers or seniors.
Some will be the big abstract notions of SPACE and of TIME. Some feature THINGS we can see and touch in the world in which we live. My examples use visual resources and rich language rhythms to ensure shared understandings and create linked pathways for personal development. I acknowledge my indebtedness to the numerous EJ-D ‘first generation’ teachers I met in 1953 at the London Dalcroze Training Centre in Newton Road; to Heather Gell in Australia in 1956 and 1957 and beyond, and to Mlle Edit Naef in Geneva. Their classes and comments made indelible impressions on me, and it is with pleasure I pass some of it on to you.
This VDM Masterclass #20 was originally given on February 5/6, 2022.
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Hélène Nicolet (Switzerland) "Exploration of Phrase Structures"
Eurhythmics: phrase length and duration, improvisation on various instruments, anacrusis, anacrusic motifs, Dalcroze anacrusic scale pattern
Hélène Nicolet (Switzerland) "Exploration of Phrase Structures"
In this session open to all levels, we will benefit from the Dalcroze eurhythmics experience to make connections with aural training (solfège) and instrumental improvisation. We will also expand some of the ideas for teaching to children and seniors. Bring a tennis ball and prepare your instrument!
This VDM Masterclass #19 was originally given on November 13/14, 2021.
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Pablo Cernik (Argentina) "What Can I Do With This Song?"
Eurhythmics + Solfège: Andean indigenous songs, changing meters, syncopation, expressing pitch on body scale
Pablo Cernik (Argentina) "What Can I Do With This Song?"
In this Masterclass, we will use different pedagogical and improvisational strategies to work with some old Latin American indigenous songs.
This VDM Masterclass #18 was originally given on October 16/17, 2021.
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Ana Quílez Ibáñez (Spain) "Mini-Athletes" Music, movement and sports."
Eurhythmics + Solfège: children (waiting on Emma for the rest)
Ana Quílez Ibáñez (Spain) "Mini-Athletes" Music, movement and sports."
"Mini-Athletes" is a session of music and movement based on a single theme, Sports. From the symbolic game we will become "Mini-Athletes", developing a sporting, musical and fun session.
This session aims to provide didactic resources applicable for face-to-face and online classes, helping teachers to create a common thread for their sessions and to show the didactic process, the “step by step” where the activities are exposed from least to greatest difficulty.
The session is organized in 3 blocks:
- Warm-up: where activities are proposed for the body and vocal warm-up of Athletes.
- Sports: the central part of the session where different sports will be developed working on musical content such as pulsation, accentuation, time signature, phrasing, structure, harmony, etc.
- Relaxation: where activities are proposed to change muscle tone and consolidate what has been learned.
This VDM Masterclass #17 was originally given on September 18/19, 2021.
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Jeremy Dittus (USA) "Bringing the Page to Life: Dalcroze Applications Using Composed Literature"
Pedagogy + Eurhythmics: leaps, expressing composed music through movement, choosing activities for composed music, identifying musical subjects in composed music
Jeremy Dittus (USA) "Bringing the Page to Life: Dalcroze Applications Using Composed Literature"
Composed music offers direct application of the artistic and practical musicianship we experience in Dalcroze Education. This workshop will focus on strategies on how to find well-behaved examples from the standard repertoire while creating meaningful activities that maintain the spirit of play and cultivate the imagination. We’ll move to pieces that demonstrate a variety of Dalcroze applications and study the processes by which we can begin to create our own Dalcroze games using composed literature. Participants will leave with new ideas and fresh perspectives on how to bring Dalcroze Education into their own studios!
Participants are encouraged to bring a short piece that we might work on together (if you are able to legally share the copy electronically that’s great!). If you have simple props handy, for the class that would be wonderful: (a tennis ball, chopsticks, a flowy scarf, etc.).
This VDM Masterclass #16 was originally given on August 4/5, 2021.
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Karin Greenhead (England) "‘Follow’ exercises in Dalcroze Eurhythmics"
Pedagogy + Eurhythmics: examination of different follow exercises, following tempo changes, quick reaction to musical cue, canon, opposites; how to give directions for eurhythmics class; augmentation and diminution
Karin Greenhead (England) "‘Follow’ exercises in Dalcroze Eurhythmics"
In this class we will look at some classic “Follow” exercises: what they are and why they are at the core of Dalcroze training at all levels from beginner to advanced and from child to experienced adult. Beginning with some simple exercises we will work through a variety of examples, looking at why we do them in certain ways, what enables the exercise to work well, and the pedagogical dimensions for teachers. As these exercises rely on the teacher’s improvisation, there may be opportunities for attendees with pianos (and for certain exercises, other instruments) to try playing for the class as well.
This VDM Masterclass #15 was originally given on July 11/12, 2021.
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Manuel Zazueta (Vietnam / Mexico) “Together in the distance – Transferring energy through the screen."
Virtual Teaching + Eurhythmics: movement warmup; internalizing beat and phrases; cameras, sound, and lighting setup for virtual teaching; vocal improvisation & expressive movement; hands and feet coordination
Manuel Zazueta (Vietnam / Mexico) “Together in the distance – Transferring energy through the screen."
Crafting your online eurhythmics lesson using various platforms and tools.
This VDM Masterclass #14 was originally given on June 12/13, 2021.
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Iramar Rodrigues (Switzerland) "Dalcroze Eurhythmics (in times of pandemic)"
Eurhythmics + Solfege: complementary rhythms, singing, rhythm patterns in 4/4, triads, video of in-person eurhythmics class
Iramar Rodrigues (Switzerland) "Dalcroze Eurhythmics (in times of pandemic)"
A journey of music, the body, and movement exploring the theme of complementary rhythms and their variations.
This VDM Masterclass #13 was originally given on April 17/18, 2021.
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Greg Ristow (USA) "Suspension & Resolution"
Virtual Teaching + Solfège: movement warmup, gesture, strategies for teaching online, music theory, singing, a deep dive into the concept of the suspension with many examples from the literature and various bodied interactions.
Greg Ristow (USA) "Suspension & Resolution"
Few things are more exhilarating than the journey a consonant note makes as it becomes a dissonant suspension and resolves. Through body work, eurhythmics, plastique and improvisation we’ll dive into the world of musical suspensions. We’ll our own bodies in conversation with physical objects, prepare a plastique on Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and vocally improvise suspensions following rules drawn from Handel’s figured bass treatise.
This VDM Masterclass #12 was originally given on March 21/22, 2021.
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Fabian Bautz (Switzerland) "Structure and Proportion in Eurhythmics"
Eurhythmics: seated body percussion, coordination of simultaneous lines, teaching Eurhythmics using the clarinet, jazz music
Fabian Bautz (Switzerland) "Structure and Proportion in Eurhythmics"
The long-standing tradition of using syllables—in dance as well as in percussion—is an organic tool that facilitates both our physical and intellectual grasp of structure and proportion in Eurhythmics. In this workshop Fabian Bautz will present examples to practice multi-layered coordination and independence in our movements. The all-embracing incorporation of complex and polyrhythmic structures in music has to occur throughout our whole body. In its absence our artistic and pedagogic performance lacks full confidence and conviction; how can it be otherwise, for if we are engaging only a part of ourselves, then we are partially absent as opposed to fully present.
This VDM Masterclass #11 was originally given on February 20/21, 2021.
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Françoise Lombard (Canada) "Music and Grounding"
Eurhythmics + Solfège: listening by feeling vibrations, meter changes of 2/4, 3/4, & 4/4, 4-part Zoom canon, singing over chord progression
Françoise Lombard (Canada) "Music and Grounding"
A Dalcroze lesson focused on inner listening, sensations and integration of learning.
The class will be based on the same ideas as Françoise wrote about in the following article,THE INNER LISTENING BASE OF ALL PEDAGOGIES.
This VDM Masterclass #10 was originally given on January 24/25, 2021.
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Elda Nelly Treviño (Mexico) "Lullabies"
Eurhythmics + Solfège: swinging, movement warmup, compound meter (6/8) rhythms and improvisation, Mexican lullabies
Elda Nelly Treviño (Mexico) "Lullabies"
Even before being born, babies listen to music. The sensation of rocking in a peaceful atmosphere, gives a feeling of security and peace. Lullabies written in compound meter are present all around the world. In this session we will explore with our bodies and voices the fine musicality present in the phrasing, melodic contour, and rhythmic design of a beautiful Mexican Christmas lullaby.
This VDM Masterclass #8 was originally given on November 21/22, 2020.
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Andrew Davidson (England) "Moves, Modes & Motifs"
Eurhythmics + Solfege + Improvisation: "Work Song" (Adderley, jazz standard), Guillaume de Machaut (14th cent), phrases with accent, call & response, pentatonic minor jazzy improvisation, compound meter rhythms and analysis, ciphers
Andrew Davidson (England) "Moves, Modes & Motifs"
You are invited to move, speak, sing, and play as we explore a collection of rhythmic motifs and modal melodies from a range of repertoires. These musical materials will become the basis of our very own improvisations and compositions. No matter your level of musical training or teaching experience, this session offers a hands-on approach to making new music from old. Please bring your body and voice, an instrument of your choice, and a piece of manuscript paper. PowerPoint slides will be shared and a PDF handout will be available after the session.
This VDM Masterclass #9 was originally given on December 12/13, 2020.
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Louise Mathieu (Canada) "Dalcroze Eurhythmics: A way to musical expression"
Eurhythmics + Solfège + Improvisation + Plastique: Arvo Pärt, coordination and quick reaction, solfege & improvisation based on Arvo Pärt, plastique as expression
Louise Mathieu (Canada) "Dalcroze Eurhythmics: A way to musical expression"
Dalcroze Eurhythmics helps to develop capacities that are indispensable to all musicians. It enhances auditory perception, favors a better control of nervous sensitivity, stimulates musicality and sense of rhythm and develops musical expression. For Jaques-Dalcroze, the acuity of our musical perception depends on the acuity of our senses.
Music and movement lie at the heart of the Dalcroze approach which comprises interrelated areas of studies (Rhythmics–Aural training–Improvisation–Plastique Animée). In this workshop, the participants will experience these interdependent branches through exercises combining listening and physical movement and will explore how Dalcroze Eurhythmics stimulates, develops and refines all the capacities we use when we engage in music.
This VDM Masterclass #7 was originally given on October 24/25, 2020.
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VDM Donation-choose a gift amount
A gift in support of VDM programming funds masterclass teaching artist fees, marketing and communications, and administrative support for our events and scholarships. By giving today, your support will help underwrite the cost of continuing the VDM mission — providing an international forum for music educators interested in the Dalcroze work, sharing best practices for diverse classrooms of all ages and abilities, and offering scholarships to anyone in need.
To return to all VDM offerings, click here.
Sui Ming Chu (Hong Kong) "Dynamic in action, meeting the mind of Dalcroze and Laban"
Eurhythmics: movement exploration, Laban movement analysis & application, power of imagination as movement inspiration
Sui Ming Chu (Hong Kong) "Dynamic in action, meeting the mind of Dalcroze and Laban"
Both Dalcroze and Laban are interested in expressivity, one in music and the other in dance. After Laban met Dalcroze and saw his work in 1912. He said “It was an experience that will play a part in my own development” (Perrottet 93). It is fascinating to see how Dalcroze’s thought continues into Laban’s work and at the same time how Laban’s work could contribute back into the work of Dalcroze. This workshop is an attempt to integrate Laban’s movement concept of how emotions were expressed and communicated through the rhythmic use of the human body and its application into eurhythmics training, ultimately how it helps our creativity and expressivity.
This VDM Masterclass #6 was originally given on October 3/4, 2020.
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Michael Joviala (USA) "Alone Together: A Dalcroze Exploration of Relationship"
Virtual Teaching + Eurhythmics + Plastique: virtual teaching, exploring movement on camera, vocal & sound exploration, small group Zoom plastiques
Michael Joviala (USA) "Alone Together: A Dalcroze Exploration of Relationship"
Associations and dissociations, systems and follows… the names of many commonly performed Dalcroze activities parallel the language of our social, interpersonal and even political lives. Against the present dramatic backdrop of disruption, adaptation and reaction (also core aspects of Dalcroze experience), we use our bodies, minds and hearts to find the music in relationship to one another across boundaries both virtual and real. Due to some technical difficulties with the July 11/12 masterclass, the VDM asked Michael to repeat his brilliant class from July 2020.
This VDM Masterclass #5 was originally given on August 4/5, 2020.
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Monica Wilkinson (Scotland) "Solo Chamber Music"
Solfège: movement and music which is open vs closed, intervals, audiation, coordination, chamber music
Monica Wilkinson (Scotland) "Solo Chamber Music"
This aural-based lesson will be an exploration of hearing and performing two lines, with a focus on phrase.
This VDM Masterclass #2 was originally given on June 27/28, 2020.
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Ava Loiacono (Italy) "Sharing ideas for Rhythmic, Improvisation, and Pedagogy”
Eurhythmics + Improvisation: Movement exploration of opening/closing, improvisation on Mediterranean modes, improvisation on tone clusters vs single line
June 13/14, 2020 with Ava Loiacono (Italy)
“A Dalcroze Masterclass with Ava Loiacono – Sharing ideas for Rhythmic, Improvisation, and Pedagogy”
This VDM Masterclass #1 was originally given on June 13/14, 2020.
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Game-ify the Curriculum: #Winning in the Elementary Classroom - A six-session short course with Anthony Molinaro (USA)
Eurhythmics + Pedagogy: classroom teaching, general music teachers, introduction to basic Dalcroze strategies, designing activities for your classroom, Follow, Quick Reaction, System, Replacement, Augmentation/Diminution, Canon.
Game-ify the Curriculum
#Winning in the Elementary Classroom
A six-session short course with Anthony Molinaro (USA)
Each meeting is 80 minutes long.
Join us for an inspiring and transformative six-week online course led by Anthony Molinaro, a certified teacher of Dalcroze Eurhythmics with 17 years of experience in public school classrooms nationwide. Prepare to embark on a journey of exploration, innovation, and unparalleled student engagement.
Course Overview:
In this interactive course, educators will delve into the world of movement-oriented games, unlocking the hidden potential of experiential learning. By dissecting a diverse range of original games, participants will uncover the remarkable learning opportunities they offer. Anthony Molinaro will carefully guide you through the principles of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, enabling you to design and enhance your own games that captivate students' hearts and minds.
Discover the Power of Dalcroze Principles:
Drawing upon the core tenets of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, this course places joy and discovery at its very core. Anthony Molinaro has ingeniously developed a groundbreaking system for game design, enabling you to foster unparalleled student engagement, stimulate creativity, and promote flexibility—all while achieving remarkable outcomes aligned with standards-based teaching.
Course Highlights:
1. Uncover the learning potential: Analyze and explore a variety of movement-oriented games, examining their unique educational benefits and uncovering the untapped potential they offer within your classroom.
2. Dalcroze principles in action: Dive into the foundations of Dalcroze Eurhythmics and witness firsthand how these principles can revolutionize your teaching methodology, empowering you to create dynamic and transformative learning experiences.
3. Design your own engaging games: Learn the art of crafting captivating games that maximize student engagement and inspire a love for learning. Through Anthony Molinaro's expert guidance, you will unlock the keys to creating educational experiences that leave a lasting impact.
4. Foster creativity and flexibility: Embrace the boundless realm of creativity, encouraging your students to think outside the box, explore new possibilities, and adapt to different situations, all while meeting educational objectives.
5. Powerful results and standards-based teaching: Discover how incorporating Dalcroze principles into your game design can unlock powerful results and seamlessly align with standards-based teaching practices, ensuring your students thrive academically.
This course does not require prior background or experience with Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
This course was originally given September 6 - October 11, 2023.
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Sandra Nash (Australia) "In the footsteps of Heather Gell: the formal and the free"
Pedagogy + Eurhythmics: Dalcroze history, Heather Gell's teaching, types of skipping, children's games & exercises
Sandra Nash (Australia) "In the footsteps of Heather Gell: the formal and the free"
The Masterclass will include a paper presentation about Gell and her book, “Music, Movement and the young Child,” including some games for children and how to play for them, and a historical section on formal techniques and elements of the Dalcroze work for adults including some of his 'Esquisses’.
This VDM Masterclass #4 was originally given on July 25/26, 2020.
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Latinamerican music: a rich source for Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Music Classrooms A six-session short course with Elda Nelly Treviño (Mexico)
Eurhythmics + Solfege: Latinamerican folk songs with various musical subjects, triplets, meter change from 3/4 to 6/8, meters with unequal beats (5/8), tonality (major, minor, modal, pentatonic), syncopation, dance rhythms (waltz, minuet, danzón, merengue, mambo), Cuban clave.
Latinamerican music: a rich source for Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Music Classrooms A six-session short course with Elda Nelly Treviño (Mexico)
Are you curious about finding novel repertoire to enhance your teaching practice? This short course will take you through a journey of discovery of Latinamerican traditional music rich in rhythmic patterns and beautiful melodies. We will work through Dalcroze eurhythmics exercises which can fit students of all ages and musical backgrounds. We will explore traditional music from different Latinamerican countries and short piano pieces written for didactical purposes: music in simple and compound meters both regular and irregular, pentatonic, tonal, modal melodies, and dance music.
Through a journey of discovery, we will emphasize musical aspects such as rhythmic patterns, melodic contours, phrasing, harmony, and character, which offer opportunities to work on the four areas of study of the Dalcroze pedagogy: eurhythmics, solfège, improvisation, and plastique animé. Furthermore, we will explore various excerpts of concert music based on Latinamerican dance rhythms suitable for plastique animé. A lead sheet (music notation) with the lyrics in English and Spanish will be provided along with the links for recorded versions of the music available in public platforms.
This course does not require prior background or experience with Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
More details including an detailed outline of content we will be covering in each of the six-session, can be found here: Short Course Elda Nelly Treviño Description
This course was originally given May 22 - June 9, 2023.
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The Self and the Shared Gesture - Exploring the therapeutic and wellness opportunities of music & movement A six-session short course with Stephen Neely
Eurhythmics + Wellness: therapeutic and wellness applications of eurhythmics, shared experience, bodied empathy, connection to self, connection with others and environment
The Self and the Shared Gesture - Exploring the therapeutic and wellness opportunities of music & movement A six-session short course with Stephen Neely
What happens when we sync up our motion with the motion of others? How might shared breath, shared trajectory, or shared gaits contribute to feelings of calm, stability, confidence, and community? What is the experience of bodied empathy and how might it lead to deeper connection with our friends and colleagues?
The Dalcroze Eurhythmics classroom, first recognized as a space for musicianship training, has yielded therapeutic benefits since the first explorations in 1903. We see these benefits even more clearly now after almost 120 years of practice and growth in the method.
In this six-session short course, Stephen Neely will lead us through common Dalcrozian interactions with a focus connection, community, empathy, shared gesture, awareness of self, risk, intimacy, and vulnerability – lessons critical for advanced musicianship, but also central to a healthy and rewarding participation in our extra-musical worlds.
This course was originally given June 1-22, 2022.
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Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 1 - A six-session short course with Dawn Pratson
Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 1 - A six-session short course with Dawn Pratson
This is the first series of a weekly, 75-minute long, Dalcroze-inspired dance-movement practice to develop and maintain functional, expressive and musical fitness. Principles of grounding, alignment, efficiency of movement, spatial intention, rhythm and phrasing, among other concepts, will be addressed. We will play with movement as personal and communal metaphor, and other material as it arises. Some vocal and tonal play will also be included.
“We see light etched by shadows, feel joy emerging from sorrow; the present hovers between the past and the future. Between all these opposites, there is a sense of movement that renews the clarity of each experience.” Irmgard Bartenieff, with Dori Lewis, from Body Movement: Coping with the Environment.
This course was originally given Jan 31-March 14, 2021.
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Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 3 - A six-week short course with Dawn Pratson
Movement: Dalcroze-inspired movement practice, grounding, alignment, rhythm and phrasing, somatics, creative movement, teaching applications
Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 3 - Creative Movement and Somatics Applications A six-week short course with Dawn Pratson
This is the third series of a weekly, 80-minute long, Dalcroze-inspired movement class to develop and maintain functional, expressive and musical fitness. Principles of grounding, alignment, efficiency of movement, spatial intention, rhythm and phrasing, among other concepts, will be addressed through guided activities and improvisation.
New in Series 3: We will explore the meaning and practice of somatics, with a little history. Dawn will also share an activity each week which teachers can immediately apply in their classroom.
“We see light etched by shadows, feel joy emerging from sorrow; the present hovers between the past and the future. Between all these opposites, there is a sense of movement that renews the clarity of each experience.” Irmgard Bartenieff, with Dori Lewis, from Body Movement: Coping with the Environment.
This course was originally given September 25 - November 6, 2022.
To return to all VDM offerings, click here.
Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 2 - A six-session short course with Dawn Pratson
Movement: Dalcroze-inspired movement practice, grounding, alignment, rhythm and phrasing
Virtual Dance with Dawn: Series 2 - A six-session short course with Dawn Pratson
This is the second series of a weekly, 75-minute long, Dalcroze-inspired dance-movement practice to develop and maintain functional, expressive and musical fitness. Principles of grounding, alignment, efficiency of movement, spatial intention, rhythm and phrasing, among other concepts, will be addressed. We will play with movement as personal and communal metaphor, and other material as it arises. Some vocal and tonal play will also be included.
“We see light etched by shadows, feel joy emerging from sorrow; the present hovers between the past and the future. Between all these opposites, there is a sense of movement that renews the clarity of each experience.” Irmgard Bartenieff, with Dori Lewis, from Body Movement: Coping with the Environment.
This course was originally given March 28-May 9, 2021.
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VDM Scholarship Fund Contribution - $15
All donations go directly to support the VDM scholarship fund, allowing all to participate. Your donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
To return to all VDM offerings, click here.
VDM Scholarship Fund Contribution - $30
All donations go directly to support the VDM scholarship fund, allowing all to participate. Your donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
To return to all VDM offerings, click here.