Although born in Vienna, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, (1865-1950) is considered a Swiss musician since the family moved to Geneva when he was ten years old.  Whilst still a young man, he gained a reputation as a pianist, a conductor and a composer, and studied composition with Delibes, Fauré and Bruckner.

In 1892, he was appointed professor of harmony and advanced solfège at the Conservatory of Geneva. It was his concern for his students’ deficiencies in hearing notated sounds, in singing accurately and in sensing rhythmic flow which led him to devise exercises to address these issues and so enhance their artistic development.

Dalcroze’s method is based on giving the whole body a musical knowledge. He placed such an importance on the training of the body since he had observed that an innate, natural, physical response exists in humans on hearing music – be it foot-tapping or swaying. Dalcroze wanted to harness and train this response. Dalcroze identified it is not enough to have a purely intellectual and aural understanding of musical concepts – the body has to know what they feel like: therefore, channels of communication between body parts and the brain need to be open and alert, and muscles need to be trained to work efficiently and effectively.

The method teaches the basic concepts and theory of music as physical experiences whilst also addressing issues such as balance, co-ordination, use of space, control over one’s own body, an ability to adapt quickly, awareness of others, and the development of imagination and creativity.  

A Dalcroze lesson would involve activities such as stepping and clapping note values and rhythms; travelling with an object across the room to express the line of a phrase; mapping out in space the form of a piece; showing the quality of a sound with a physical gesture; illustrating texture by interacting with others. The method was designed to develop musicianship through the use of movement at the same time as using music to develop self-mastery and ensemble skills through a disciplined freedom.  

There will be two Dalcroze workshops at musiclearninglive!2010. Internationally renowned Dalcroze specialist, Karin Greenhead, will lead a session on musicianship – relevant for all music teachers and performers. Nicola Hadley, a Dalcroze specialist and experienced classroom teacher will deliver a workshop on Dalcroze in the primary school classroom.

Karin Greenhead explains: 'Dalcroze is the only music education that applies from babyhood through to professional training and the third age (there have been important studies in Geneva about Eurhythmics for the elderly, improvements in functions and quality of life) and the only one specifically designed to be multi-disciplinary, cross arts; the only one that works in a therapeutic setting as well as in the training of top level performers.’