The Fun and Learning Never Stops
Steve Peter, Repertoire and Standards Chair of Multicultural Music

How wonderful it is to be involved in an art form that affords us so many varied directions in which to grow. For myself, I have a renewed appreciation for basic musicianship, its integral connection to movement of the whole body, and to the wonderful study of Eurhythmics. I rediscovered Dalcroze this past summer.

Having spent three challenging and exciting weeks at the, “Marta Sanchez Dalcroze Training Center,” one of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)’s School of Music summer offerings, I doubt I will teach the same again. My Pittsburgh, PA experience was satisfying on many different levels. Through the process of living, working, interacting and creating with other worldwide participants, we all seemed to achieve a deeper connection through our individual and collective art.

I was one of forty-plus music educators representing many different disciplines within music education. We had come to receive training in the movement-based Dalcroze method of experiencing and teaching music. We were strings teachers, piano teachers, university/college theory professors and choral conductors, student and seasoned teachers, fellow high school and middle school choral conductors, dance teachers, elementary music teachers, and others, too.

While there, we experienced the effective principles of the Dalcroze Training Center—concepts that work well for musicians, singers and instrumentalists alike. The overall result was a dream come true: all participants achieved new and higher levels of musical engagement thanks to daily classes in Movement, Eurhythmics, Solfege, Improvisation and Pedagogy.

The CMU Dalcroze Training Center offers opportunities for its participants to earn the first level of teaching proficiency in the model, The Dalcroze Certificate. Within the CMU program, applicants take Exams toward this Certificate after they have completed two 3-week summer sessions (180 hours – 6 credits or 18 units). The Exams are in the following five areas:

1. Rhythmic Movement
2. Keyboard Improvisation
3. Teaching (Rhythm and Solfege Lessons)
4. Choreography/Plastique
5. Written Paper, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the Dalcroze principles

Individuals interested in advanced levels in Dalcroze training may continue on to earn their Dalcroze License, or the Dalcroze Diplome, but each of these levels involves an even lengthier study commitment.

So there we were, adhering to the tenets of this celebrated Swiss music educator and composer, Émile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865-1950), continuing to collectively discover and internalize his fifteen “Rules of Phrasing,” thirteen “Rules of Nuance,” and the seven, “Rules of Accentuation.”

Meanwhile we were moving to music extensively, conducting in three while walking barefoot in two, and using the “fixed do” system that is standard operating procedure for much of the world. On top of that, we were doing our best to improvise simple piano melodies, as well as a few jazz standards, in every conceivable key, and transposing them into neighboring and non-neighboring keys on the spot!

What does this have to do with Multicultural music? How about the list of participants Dalcroze hosted in Pittsburgh? We hailed from Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the US (seventeen different states), and Venezuela. Obviously, this man’s teaching is respected and studied on an international level. Incidentally, the International Dalcroze Institute is based in Geneva, Switzerland and was begun in 1915.

Now, back to my opening thoughts about the beauty of our art form and the many directions we have available to us for experiencing further growth. I am thrilled to be a lifelong learner and to realize that there is always more out there to learn. It is humbling to venture out of our comfort zones and be gently reminded that there is more to learn…a lot more. Have I mentioned yet that I am tentatively planning to return again next summer? Hey, I’m only 57½…why not?

Curious about Dalcroze? Check these websites out: guaranteed lessons in humility!
www.dalcroze.usa.org
www.cmu.edu/cfa/dalcroze
www.dalcrozenwc.org