Dalcroze 2008 Autumn Workshop -
Dalcroze for the Singing Voice

Sunday, November 9, 2008

We are honored to host J. Timothy Caldwell, an internationally recognized teacher of Dalcroze Eurhythmics. He is Professor of Music at Central Michigan University where he teaches voice, techniques for the singing actor, and choral conducting, all using Eurhythmics concepts. He is also currently the Director for the Music Theatre program.

He has studied with notable Dalcroze Eurhythmic teachers Dr. Guy Duckworth and Robert Abramson. Through Dalcroze approach to teaching music, Caldwell discovered the key to bringing about expressive musical performance in his students together with a renewed excitement for teaching.

Caldwell has presented for state and national conventions of music teachers, and universities, conservatories, choruses, and orchestras throughout the U.S. He is the executive producer and writer for the videotape Dalcroze Eurhythmics with Robert Abramson, published by G.I.A. Publications, Chicago. In his second book, Expressive Singing: Dalcroze Eurhythmics for Voice published by Prentice Hall, Caldwell said, “The Dalcroze method is the oldest, and least understood, of the modern systems of music education. It is also the only one that is directly applied to improving performance. No one system is a panacea for all our musical and technical problems, but the Dalcroze method is, I believe, as near as we have one. It is a system that incorporates (literally, since incorporate means to "put in the body") all the elements of music, kinesthetics, the teaching/learning process, affect, and improvisation. The uses for these ideas are limited only by our imagination and musicianship.”

The Tacoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation Choir will be our demonstration choir.

Dalcroze 2009 Winter Workshop -
Dalcroze Dancing Irregular Rhythms

Presented by Julia Schnebly-Black

Dalcroze and Folk Rhythms

presented by Thea Huijgen

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Thea Huijgen (pronounced HAU-ken) has been a dancer and dance teacher since the early 1970s. In The Netherlands, her native country, she performed in Amsterdam with the professional folk dance ensemble, Het Internationaal Folkloristisch Danstheater (renamed Het Internationaal Danstheater). Thea also directed her own dance school there and was the founder of the amateur folk dance ensemble, Droezjba, in Eindhoven, which she directed for ten years. Additionally, Thea studied folkloric dance in Bulgaria.

Throughout her career Thea has been involved extensively with children from as young as three to young adults in folk dance, pre-ballet, ballet, tap dance, creative movement, choreography and theater projects in both The Netherlands and the United States. Thea is the professional Artistic Director of the Hilltop Heritage Dancers of Lynwood, Washington. The dancers, ages six to twelve, have gained a glowing reputation throughout the Puget Sound area of Washington state. In addition to performances in their own school, the group has performed at many other schools, other community events, and the Folklife Festival in Seattle over the last several years. Participating students learn and perform folkdances from around the world and in the process they learn so much more: perseverance, responsibility, commitment, discipline, respect, cooperation, and teamwork.

Thea also donates her time to the community and teaches workshops up and down the West coast, including British Columbia and Alaska. The latter have been sponsored by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. As instructor with the Northshore International Folk Dancers, Thea gives shows to such organizations as the Northshore Senior Center in Bothell, Washington, where she also teaches weekly international folk dance classes. She also directs a Senior performing group, Droezjba.

Thea has served as vice president of the Northwest Folk Dancers Inc. (NFDI), a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging and promoting folk dancing, particularly in the northwest United States and western Canada. She regularly instructs Folk Dance Teacher Training Workshops for the NFDI. She and her husband, Leonard, edit the Northwest Folkdancer monthly magazine, which contains articles and information about the food, dances, music, costumes, and history of other cultures. .

JULIA SCHNEBLY-BLACK has earned the Dalcroze Certificate and License from Carnegie-Mellon U. under Marta Sanchez; B.Mus, Peabody Conservatory, M.Mus, Yale University., Ph.D., University of Washington. She has presented sessions at national and international conferences. In addition to private teaching she conducts classes at the Seattle Conservatory of Music for children from three years to high school age. She is the founder and director of Dalcroze NW, a Summer program at the University of Washington, and advisor to the Northwest Chapter of the Dalcroze Society of America. Julia is co-author of two books with Dr. Stephen Moore: The Rhythm Inside: Connecting Body, Mind and Spirit Through Music and Rhythm One On One.

Workshop Information

For fees, see registration form
Clock hours available for educators interested. Please
check with Julia Schnebly Black at the workshops.
Billeting with members can be arranged for out-of-town attendees.
If you need or can offer a home-stay, please contact
Mary Boyum at meboyum@aol.com.
For more info or to register, call Julia Schnebly Black, 206-527-7034.

Fees:

Reminder: Dalcroze Northwest Summer Workshop 08

The Dalcroze Northwest Summer Workshop will be in session July 28-August 4. Come dedicate a week to renewing your musical spirit!

Dalcroze Sharing Session Sunday, April 13th 2008 at 2pm

A time to get reacquainted with each other and with Dalcroze. Bring your songs and movements, your accomplishments and questions.

Have an idea for a future topic or presenter?

If you have suggestions for future workshops, please contact Julia Schnebly Black at 206-527-7034 or jsbamb@gmail.com

Friday Classes Return

If six people enroll for four sessions by contacting Julia Black by October 3, Julia will reactivate the monthly Friday adult classes! The more the merrier! Invite old Dalcroze friends. Invite people who don't even know yet that they are interested in Dalcroze and bring out their love of music and movement! RSVP to Julia at 206-527-7034, jsbamb@gmail.com

When: 1st Term, Fridays, Oct 17 through November 7. 2nd Term, TBA. Place & Time: TBA Fee: $60 per term, due at the first class of the term.

Your Music News Here!

If you’re a part of any musical event, please let us know. This newsletter can spread your news! The annual print/electronic version's deadline is July 1. Other issues appear via email the first of each quarter. Contact Susie Hammond for deadlines and submissions at susie@susiehammond.com.

Music Northwest Chamber Camp to bring back
Eurhythmics taught by Margaret Brink

Music Northwest Chamber Camp held in West Seattle is offering five days of inspirational chamber music rehearsals and classes for music students. This camp is suitable for ages 7-21. A minimum of at least three years of experience on an instrument is required (strings, woodwinds, French horn, guitar, harp and piano.)

The program features coached rehearsals with professional coaches; master classes in performance techniques and musical styles; sight-reading and rhythm classes; and a pizza party!

This year Grant Donnellan, violinist; Mara Finkelstein, cellist; Marcus Tsutakawa, conductor; Margaret Brink, Dalcroze specialist; Jane Harty; pianist and Marcus Tsutakawa, conductor will staff the August camp. Already formed groups are welcome, or students will be placed in groups appropriate to their level.
Go here for an application that can be submitted in three convenient formats. For more information, contact jane.harty@musicnorthwest.org.

Support Your Life's Work. Join the Northwest Dalcroze Society Today.

Lifelong learning was a tenet of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze's teaching. His Eurhythmics method was designed to improve mental acuity and physical agility, to increase the playful and the spontaneous in our music and in our lives. He emphasized learning as a social activity.

Come practice your skills. Learn from experts and peers. Refresh your commitment to music. Enhance what you do!

Membership in the Northwest Chapter of The Dalcroze Society affords you:

• two workshops and a scheduled sharing each academic year
• professional development, including clock hours
• formal and informal collegial exchanges
• opportunities to expand your network
• news on national and international Dalcroze happenings
• advance notice of the Northwest Chapter's summer programs