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Who is it for?
Children & Parents
Dalcroze is an excellent way of introducing very young children to music, and the Dalcroze Society has become synonymous with best practice in this area as a result of its Stepping into Music programme. The aims of music and movement sessions reach far beyond music and support children in their physical, emotional and social development.
The use of movement as an expression of the music is a most innate and natural primal language to any baby or toddler. Sessions based on Dalcroze principles encourage learning about music through movement and singing and appeal greatly. Basic musical elements are explored involving the whole body, which not only engages the child, but helps the music to be internalized and owned.
Dalcroze enables very young children to develop their co-ordination, spatial awareness, language skills and emotions through interaction with others, while the development of listening skills is at the core of every activity.
Sessions take place in a space big enough for free movement and with the length of each session dependent upon the age and number of the children. Regularity, routine and repetition are encouraged. Music, emotionally rich and powerful, remains the basis and framework of most activities.
‘Most remarkable of all were (the children’s) listening and attention skills and despite the challenges of additional language, they were really engaged by the whole body approach to musical making and were involved and enthusiastic.’
‘Numeracy and literacy development is built into sessions with counting, naming, reading, rhyming and phonetic activities. There has been a noticeable impact on the development of the children in these key areas.’
‘At least two children with speech difficulties participated enthusiastically.’
‘One mother commented that her child sings at home all the time now and wants her to join in with him.’
‘A baby of six months astonished us with her sounds and signs of independence and understanding.’
For the full picture, click here for Margareta Burrell’s essay
If you need a teacher for a workshop, click here
If you'd like to find out more about Stepping into Music click here
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