The summer of 2023 has been the most exciting, exhilarating, exhausting and fascinating summer I’ve ever had as a Dalcrozian!
June & early July saw a flurry of invitations for CPD (continuing professional development) in the UK from Music Services (Dudley, Wolverhampton and Ealing Music Services), a vocal teaching school (Sussex School of Song), Highgate School in north London (teaching young pianists) and Dalcroze sessions for young string players on a Suzuki Day, also in London.
In mid-July Dalcroze teachers and musicians, dancers, actors and others interested in learning about the method, descended on the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze for its Congress, which takes place once every four years. Nearly 400 people attended and took part in rhythmics, solfege and improvisation lessons given by around forty Diplômé/es from around the world. The afternoons consisted of presentations by researchers of the method and the evenings were filled with a variety of activities. It was a privilege to teach and wonderful to experience the variety of styles and topics that were taught by other Diplômé/es.
A day after arriving back in the UK I travelled to Suffolk in the east of England to a ProCorda Course, teaching young talented string players. I enjoyed delivering Dalcroze sessions but also coaching the chamber groups. The team with whom I worked were fantastic.
Next was a trip to Pittsburgh, USA for the 6th International Conference in Dalcroze Studies (ICDS6) I’d nearly decided not to attend the conference in person being conscious of my appalling carbon footprint but in the event I’m glad I went. Every presentation and every workshop was of a high calibre and it was interesting to see a little bit of the city of Pittsburgh.
Finally – I finished my summer with another long-haul flight – this time to Shanghai, China. Shanghai wasn’t anything like I expected: it was impressively modern and high-tech and there was a palpable feeling of wealth. The roads were well maintained, the streets were clean (I saw NO litter) and there were no homeless on the streets. The people were nothing but generosity and kindness and my host took myself and my fellow Dalcrozian (Michael Schnack) out for sumptuous dinners each evening. The students on the Dalcroze course were a delight to be with: enthusiastic, lively and with a deep love of the method…The only uncomfortable experience in Shanghai was the inability to access my emails, news and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It was strange to feel so cut off from world events.
It was quite a summer and it’s a relief to be situated in Ealing, London for the next few months! The autumn of 2023 will see the next year of weekly training in Ealing combined with teaching on the intensive training course in Croydon, south London. And, of course, I teach at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama on their String & Brass Training Programme.
Dalcroze Moves 