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Dalcroze Method of Music Education The Dalcroze approach to Music Education teaches an understanding
of music -- its fundamental concepts, its expressive meaning, and its deep connections to other arts and human activities
-- through a pathbreaking approach incorporating rhythmic movement, aural training, and physical, vocal, and instrumental
improvisation. A Dalcroze class divides into three
components: Eurhythmics, for which Dalcroze is best known, which teaches concepts of rhythm, structure, and musical expression
using movement; Solfege, a reinvention of traditional ear training and sight singing which develops an integrated and expressive
understanding of pitch, scale, and tonality through activities emphasizing immediate aural comprehension and vocal improvisation;
and Improvisation, expressing an understanding of musical concepts, form and meaning through spontaneous musical creation
using movement, voice, and instruments. The Dalcroze
approach views the qualities of music as fundamental forces in human life, and emphasizes music's connection to other arts
-- dance, drama, and poetry especially -- as well as fundamental human activities involving movement, language, and emotion.
As more and more scientists are discovering, the Dalcroze method sees music as a fundamental language of the human brain and
therefore deeply connected to who we are as human beings. The Dalcroze approach is most commonly seen today in early childhood and elementary school music education; many innovations
and techniques Dalcroze developed to apply his ideas on musical understanding to children have become standard practice and
are used by a wide variety of methods and approaches to children's music. However, Dalcroze designed his approach for Conservatory-trained
students and adults, and it continues to be used in that environment: Dalcroze classes are offered at many of our country's
top universities and conservatories, while ongoing adult classes are on offer at various Dalcroze centers around the country.
The universality of the Dalcroze ideas, the method's ability to teach musical truths from pre-kindergarten through graduate
school, is a testament to the vitality and power of the Dalcroze approach to music.
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