Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher’s Guide to Dalcroze Eurhythmics

Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher’s Guide to Dalcroze Eurhythmics by Marla Butke and David Frego is a practical and easy-to-use resource for music educators who want to integrate Dalcroze-inspired movement into their teaching.  With a clear structure and engaging activities, this book makes a compelling case for how purposeful movement in music education creates a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts.

Émile Jaques-Dalcroze’s philosophy is broken down into accessible concepts for classroom application.  Butke and Frego emphasize the importance of kinesthetic learning, explaining how students internalize rhythm, phrasing, and musical expression through movement.  The book is structured into sections that explore foundational Dalcroze principles, lesson ideas, and practical strategies for incorporating movement into music education.

Why I Love This Book

1. 1. 1. Clear Explanations & Practical Applications – The authors do an excellent job explaining Dalcroze Eurhythmics in a way that is both theoretical and hands-on.  Each concept is paired with activities that can be easily implemented in different classroom settings.
      2. Versatile for All Ages – Whether teaching young children, middle schoolers, or even adult learners, the book offers adaptable exercises suitable for various experience levels.
      3. Connection to Musical Understanding – The book consistently reinforces the idea that movement is not just an add-on but an essential tool for developing musicianship.  Through movement, students internalize beat, phrasing, articulation, and dynamics in a natural and embodied way.
      4. Emphasis on Joyful Learning – Butke and Frego highlight the importance of creating a classroom environment that encourages exploration, improvisation, and expressive movement and helpful tips for creating a culture of movement.

   Table of Contents:

   Chapter One
   Introduction
   How to Use This Book
   Basic Guidelines
   Activities Index of Musical Concepts Taught Through the Dalcroze Approach

   Chapter Two – Focus
   Focus Definition and Purpose
   Focus Chart of Activities
   Focus Sample Lesson Plan with Assessment
   Focus Descriptions of Activities

   Chapter Three – Eurhythmics
   Definition and Purpose
   Chart of Activities
   Sample Lesson Plan with Assessment
   Descriptions of Activities

   Chapter Four – Expressive Movement/Plastique Animée
   Short Process/ Teacher-Driven Definition and Purpose
   Chart of Activities
   Sample Lesson Plan with Assessment
   Descriptions of Activities
   Expressive Movement/Plastique Animée Long Process/ Student-Driven Purpose
   Expressive Movement/Plastique Animée Music Chart with Concepts

   Chapter Five – Rhythmic Solfège
   Definition and Purpose
   Chart of Activities
   Sample Lesson Plan with Assessment
   Descriptions of Activities

   Chapter Six
   Piano Improvisation
   Sequential Lessons
   Glossary
   Music Literature List
   Music Literature List by Genre

   Whether you are new to Dalcroze or looking to expand your teaching toolkit, this book offers inspiration and practical guidance to bring music to life through movement.