About us
Stepping Into Music
Stepping into Music is an exciting workshop and accredited training programme for under-5s and their parents, early years organisations, and music, dance and early years practitioners. Enjoyable, physical and fun, activity is based on an approach called Dalcroze Eurhythmics which combines music and whole body movement to encourage creativity and musicianship as well as co-ordination, concentration, communication and listening skills. It is an holistic approach, with proven benefits to the musical, physical, personal, social and broader educational development of very young children.
Stepping into Music (SiM) is delivered by The Dalcroze Society in partnership with local authorities and arts agencies.
SiM has delivered a number of training events and courses both to individuals wishing to lead music and movement sessions with early years groups and to early years and arts organisations as well as universities. Recent programme strands have been:
- Stepping into Music accredited training programme.
- Development days – strategically located professional development opportunities.
- Short courses, taster sessions and INSET training for the early years workforce.
- Workshops delivered in early years settings to under-5s and their parents / carers.
This website includes information for early years organisations / workforce, music and dance practitioners and parents.
» Download Stepping into Music pilot phase evaluation here
The Dalcroze Society
The Dalcroze Society UK is a nationwide, open-access membership organisation. It was established in 1926 to develop and promote Dalcroze Eurhythmics, in response to the needs of contemporary musicians, artists, educationalists and therapists.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a unique approach based on the ideas and principles of music educator, Emile Jaques Dalcroze. Focusing on learning and experiencing all musical concepts through whole body movement, Dalcroze Eurhythmics have been proven to significantly enhance musical development and musicianship across all ages.
The Society provides high quality and rigorous training and professional development opportunities, collaborative workshops and a flagship international Summer School. The Dalcroze approach is widely recognised with practitioners delivering activity in varied settings, including the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Pro Corda, Trinity College of Music, Canterbury Christ Church University, Birmingham Conservatoire, the Mick Jagger Centre, Watford School of Music, the Thomas Coram Early Years Centre, the British Suzuki Institute, the Kodaly Summer School, the Incorporated Society of Musicians Summer School and the National Association of Music Educators Conferences.
For further information about the Dalcroze Society, please visit www.dalcroze.org.uk
Funding / accreditation bodies
Stepping into Music was first delivered in 2004-2005 with funding from Youth Music and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
The 2008-2011 phase of activity was devised and delivered with support from the Arts Council of England’s Grants for the Arts programme. SiM also works with local partners in order to access local funding opportunities. The Dalcroze Society would like to acknowledge this support as well as that of the following organisations:
- CCPR
- Samuel Gardner Memorial Fund
The Stepping into Music training programme 2009-2011 was accredited by Canterbury Christ Church University.
