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Philosophy and Curriculum

 

My Teaching Philosophy

 

At the elementary level, especially in Olander, music is a universal language that allows individual students opportunities to combine their own creativity, socio-emotional learning, personal interests, culture, and knowledge of other subjects with the creativity of others. Students learn best when they are given ownership over their own learning and the freedom to explore their own musical self. Music is a collaborative process between students, teachers, subjects, community, and culture. Through my love of students, music, and Eurhythmics, my goal is to inspire students to follow their musical passion so that we can all learn together. I think I will learn the most from this amazing group of students.

 

What is the Eurhythmics Teaching Method?

The Eurhythmics method, incorporates the basic elements of music—rhythm, melody, harmony—with body movement, to provide a multi-dimensional approach to music learning. Unlike most traditional methods, improvisation is a major component of this approach and one of its three aspects:

  • Eurhythmics trains the body in rhythm and musical nuance

  • Solfege (sight singing) trains the ear, eye and voice in pitch, melody and harmony

  • Improvisation brings all elements together according to the student's own invention, in movement, with voice, at an instrument. (Dalcroze Society of America)

 

Beyond musical intelligence, this approach engages students through several other intelligences, including logical-mathematical, spatial, linguistic, visual, naturalistic, and kinesthetic learners. Eurhythmics also provides students the opportunity to be and share creativity in a social setting. Eurhythmics is fun! It has the physicality of sports, aesthetic appeal of the arts, and is mentally challenging, for all ages. 

 

Improvisation is close to the nature of childhood play, which is a child's work. Improvisation frees a child to relate directly and spontaneously to music within a range of musical knowledge. Improvising with full-body movement, singing or playing an instrument, helps the child internalize complex elements of rhythm, pitch, tone and dynamics without having to read a musical score.

 

I was very fortunate to learn about this method of teaching and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze through my professors at CSU and my cooperating teacher, and I am happy to be certified in Eurhythmics through the American Eurhythmics Society. 

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