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Agata Glińska, Independent Scholar, PolandAbstract
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze occupies a significant position in the historical transformation of music pedagogy at the beginning of the twentieth century. As the originator of Eurhythmics, he advanced beyond the introduction of a pedagogical technique, proposing instead a comprehensive reconceptualization of musical learning grounded in the interrelationship between bodily movement, sensory perception, and embodied cognition. This study examines Dalcroze’s Eurhythmics within the broader intellectual context of the New Education Movement, investigating its theoretical foundations and interdisciplinary dimensions through historical and critical analysis. Particular attention is given to the conceptual sources that informed Dalcroze’s understanding of rhythm, including philosophical perspectives derived from ancient Greek thought and anthropological interpretations of the relationship between rhythm, corporeality, and human experience. The research further explores biographical factors, intellectual encounters, and formative events that contributed to the development of Dalcroze’s educational philosophy, drawing upon archival materials and the recollections of his students as significant testimonies to the implementation and reception of his pedagogical approach. The study argues that eurhythmics originated from a broader philosophical and anthropological conception of rhythm as an essential dimension of human existence rather than solely a musical parameter. Through the integration of eurhythmics, solfège, and improvisation, Dalcroze established a holistic model of music education that influenced subsequent developments in pedagogy and performing arts education. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary character of Eurhythmics enabled its application beyond musical instruction, contributing to therapeutic and rehabilitative practices and informing contemporary perspectives on the relationships among movement, cognition, perception, and human development.
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Conference: PCAH2026Stream: Arts - Performing Arts Practices: Theater
This paper is part of the PCAH2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Glińska A. (2026) Dalcroze’s Eurhythmics in Contemporary Pedagogy ISSN: 2758-0970 The Paris Conference on Arts & Humanities 2026: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 149-167) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0970.2026.14
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0970.2026.14
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