Dalcroze Eurhythmics (literally ‘good rhythm’)
Dalcroze Eurhythmics was developed by Emilie Jacques Dalcroze during his time as a teacher at the Geneva conservatoire between 1909 and 1912. He first conceived of this new form of education as a remedy to what he considered to be the inadequate rhythmic awareness and understanding of music in some of his most technically gifted pupils; ability without expression. The institute of Jacques Dalcroze was founded and Dalcroze Eurhythmics gained world recognition as a teaching method.
Through participation in simple games, exercises and improvisation the students learn to combine music and movement in order to develop rhythmic unity between ear, eye, mind and body.
All musical elements like dynamic, articulation, rhythm, duration, phrase, structure can be experienced through movement of all body parts encouraging the idea that music comes from the original instrument, the human body.
The freedom to create music on this fundamental level is of great importance to all children, whether complimenting the dedicated study of an instrument or not.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics provides a perfect foundation to become a great musician or dancer and is also great fun.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics helps students develop:
- awareness of body
- co-ordination skills
- balance
- confidence
- imagination
- creativity
- knowledge of musical elements
- sense of rhythm
- listening skills
- awareness of space
