Movement Using Dalcroze: Chapter 23

“We have a golden opportunity to raise the student’s awareness each time
we present a new piece by allowing time, even if it is brief, for students to
listen, respond, and internalize at least one aspect of the music before
approaching it cognitively.”

● The Dalcroze Experience

○ Enlightened musical awareness, heightened concentration,
increased sensitivity, openness, balance and flow.
○ Allowing the body to respond with sound.

● Dalcroze Eurhythmics
○ “Represents a performance in which the rhythmic movement is
accurate and precise and, in addition, possesses the characteristics
of human life: good flow, balance, direction, color, and nuance.”

● Dalcroze Eurhythmics Applied to Choral Ensembles

○ Goals encompass mental and emotional goals, physical goals and musical
goals

● Attentive Listening, Concentration, Ensemble Training

● Physical Response of the Whole Body and Kinesthesia

● Developing Inner Hearing

○ Allows students to transform kinesthetic experience into sound

● Applying Dalcroze in the Choral Rehearsal

○ Text
○ Structure
○ Line

● Essential Movement Vocabulary

○ Preparation (a warm-up to help students focus on the tempo of their breathing)
○ Time-Space-Energy-Weight (students pass a ball around a maximum amount
of 30 people in a circle to the beat of the music)
● Dalcroze Awareness Warm-Up
○ Listening game to awaken inner sense of hearing

● Using Laban Effort-Shapes in the Choral Rehearsal

○ Movement exemplifies changes in speed, direction, focus and energy
(labon action, time, space, effort/resistance)

● Laban Efforts in Choral Literature

○ Must keep float in the sound while providing line and direction

● The Art of Communication

○ “The real key to touching the listener’s heart lies in the openness and
honesty with which both you and they invite the audience to share in the
emotions and understanding fostered by the journey they have taken.”