The Dalcroze philosophy relies on solfege, eurhythmics, and improvisation, which lay the foundation for students serious about instrumental and vocal study. Class activities include vocal awareness, ear training, and sight-singing as well as rhythmic movement. Improvisational works unlock students’ innate musicality and develop musical security while a kinetic approach builds up “muscle memory,” a trait key to the spontaneous musician. Students’ own discovery in music brings joyful and powerful musicianship.
“Dalcroze education has provided me with a fresh perspective on teaching beat, rhythm, meter, phrase, and more to my piano students. The concept of ‘learning through whole body movement’ offers a natural and engaging approach to musical education. It’s a fun and interactive method that enhances the learning experiences for students.” – Toshiko Mohr, Piano Instructor
Mari Izumi is a music educator whose expertise lies in piano pedagogy and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Ms. Izumi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo. She earned the Dalcroze Certificate and Dalcroze License under the direction of Dr. Hilda Schuster, at the Dalcroze School of Music in New York. Ms. Izumi was a member of the piano faculty at Seika Women’s Junior College in Japan, the Preparatory Division at Kunitachi College of Music. She was a piano accompanist at Santa Monica College and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Ms. Izumi has presented Dalcroze workshops for music teachers at California State University, Dominguez Hills, the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC), and the Dalcroze Society of America (DSA). Her Dalcroze Eurhythmics classes have been highlighted in the Los Angeles Times. Ms. Izumi is a member of the DSA and MTAC.
Ms. Izumi has been teaching piano and Dalcroze Eurhythmics at the Colburn Community School since 1999. She has developed an extensive Dalcroze curriculum at Colburn for students at all levels. Ms. Izumi offers Dalcroze classes for music educators; for their professional development, she has organized workshops taught by guest artists.
The Dalcroze approach emphasizes the use of the whole body in musicianship training and highlights ear training as an essential component of music education. Class activities center on rhythmic movement and vocal awareness. We develop skills in improvising; this unlocks students’ innate musicality and develops musical security. This kinetic approach builds “muscle memory” and helps to internalize music elements; students’ experience in music becomes personal which brings joy and confidence in developing musicianship.
Dalcroze I complements young students’ instrumental studies through active learning. Movement activities develop physical coordination for young musicians, and collaborative work with classmates makes music concepts, including tempo, meter, rhythm patterns, and phrasing, more accessible and easier to understand. Singing games and exercises that use movement develop listening skills and train the musical ear. This class is designed for 5-8 year-old students who are currently taking instrumental lessons.
One parent must participate with a student. Students may need to be assessed by Ms. Izumi to ensure readiness for class, contact mizumi@colburnschool.edu prior to enrolling.
In this class, students learn basic musical concepts through a variety of kinetic activities. The Dalcroze approach encourages students’ spontaneity and attentiveness. We train our whole body to respond to specific musical subjects including, but not limited to beat, subdivision, rests, phrase, simple and compound meter. Students also work on ear training and basic note reading by singing and analyzing songs. One parent must participate with a student.
Students may need to be assessed by Ms. Izumi to ensure readiness for class, contact mizumi@colburnschool.edu prior to enrolling.
In this introductory Rhythmic Solfege, fixed “Do” syllables are used to indicate pitch, and numbers are used to indicate function. Various Dalcroze exercises will help students to develop a keen sense of pitch and rhythmic vitality. Through vocal improvisation, the class will explore melody, and experiment with forms such as Question / Answer, A-B-A, and Rondo. The curriculum includes, but is not limited to, diatonic scales, triads, measure shape, and syncopation. Specific examples will be selected from musical literature and presented in class.
Students will deepen their musicianship through Dalcroze solfege, and rhythmic movement. Furthermore, the class will focus on vocal/instrumental improvisation based on materials learned in class. Advanced topics include augmentation/diminution, complementary rhythm, unequal beats, modes, and the pentatonic scale. Students need access to the piano or their musical instrument for ear training and improvisation. Assignments will be given weekly.
This class is specifically designed for CSPA Suzuki string students to increase musical awareness and expressiveness through movement-based activities. Students gain active listening skills, rhythmic vitality, a keen sense of pitch as well as coordination. The Dalcroze approach includes interaction with classmates; this helps students develop ensemble skills. Examples from musical literature, including the Suzuki repertoire, will be provided to deepen understanding of music elements introduced in the sessions.
The Dalcroze approach emphasizes the use of the whole body in musicianship training and highlights ear training as an essential component of music education. We are offering new Dalcroze programs for music educators interested in Dalcroze Teacher Training. These classes are also open to any musicians and music educators seeking in-depth experience with Dalcroze education. The programs offered are Solfège and Improvisation, and Eurhythmics. These are semester-long classes, and classes will take place every other week beginning August 30.
Class Dates August 30, September 7, September 21, October 5, October 19, November 2, November 16, and December 7.
Solfège and Improvisation for Teacher Training This class is designed for musicians and music educators who wish to explore Dalcroze Solfège and Improvisation through the introductory materials of Dalcroze Teacher Training. Solfège activities include a sequential study of scales, intervals, harmony, phrase, and form. Through improvisation, students gain strategies for creating music and pedagogical applications. Subjects include, but are not limited to, motivic development, modes, and harmonization.
Eurhythmics for Teacher Training Dalcroze education is a playful and experiential approach to teaching and learning music. This class is designed for musicians and music educators who wish to build skills in Eurhythmics through the materials of Dalcroze Teacher Training. Students develop their innate musicality while exploring a variety of subjects in Eurhythmics. The class also includes preparation for Eurhythmics examinations.
Dalcroze methods engage students in interactive dynamic learning experiences that can help them develop analytical listening skills and open them up to their own innate musicality. This series of progressive lessons will enable participants to experience Dalcroze methods directly and show how they may apply these methods in their own teaching. Each session will feature a 70-minute session exploration of Dalcroze Rhythmic Solfege and a twenty-minute Q&A session. Designed specifically for music educators regardless of their prior exposure to Dalcroze methods.
“Dalcroze has had a profound impact on me and my students. The kinesthetic activities appeal to all different types of learners in my classes. Students stay engaged and have fun developing their musical language and means of expression. As a professional musician, Dalcroze has changed the way I experience music. The way the methodology approaches improvisation has opened a floodgate of creativity for me.” – Jennifer Quan, Elementary Music Teacher
Music theory and Dalcroze classes are designed to be taken simultaneously or one at a time to accommodate each individual’s pace and progress. In the same way, upper level music theory classes are compatible with simultaneous compositional study as well as advanced Dalcroze Rhythmic Solfege study.
For more information, please visit our Composition page.
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