On Thursday, August 8th and Friday, August 9th, 18 teachers and pedagogy students related to the subject of music or who use it as a tool in the training of their students met at the Punta Arenas Cultural Center to participate in a training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, which for the first time comes to the region.

Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a musical pedagogy that explores the natural relationship between body movement and music, fostering the development of artistic abilities. The training was led by Alazne Arana, from the Música Educa program of the Ibáñez Atkinson Foundation, who trained in this methodology in Barcelona and currently also works as a teacher and coordinator of various programs and workshops at the Escuela Moderna Professional Institute of Music in Santiago.

“To achieve a deep understanding of music, it’s necessary for the whole body to be involved, connecting the musical idea with our breath, energy, and spatial awareness. In this way, we develop different psychophysical skills such as coordination, concentration, memory, expressiveness, and communication. Delacroze rhythm works on all these aspects in a group setting and with various tools for experimentation. The benefit for teachers is that they can bring these tools into their classrooms and work in a more engaging way through play, singing, choreography, and improvisation, making learning much more meaningful,” emphasized Professor Alazne Arana.

The course mainly included practical experiences where attendees experienced this methodology, acquiring tools that they can immediately implement with their students.

Samuel Sepúlveda, a teacher at the Elba Ojeda Gómez school, commented: “The teacher was very clear, the atmosphere that was created and the knowledge imparted were very good, very practical. I leave happy.”

Julia Sánchez, a teacher at the España school, said she left very happy. “It was two days full of learning and many exercises that I'm taking with me to put into practice. I'm very grateful for this course.”

Meanwhile, Vicente Paredes, a teacher from preschool through sixth grade at the Lutheran School, emphasized: “The Delacroze training was very helpful for me, both for implementing it in the classroom and for gaining theoretical knowledge. We find movement and rhythm within our hearts; we are always moving, and this is the best way to explain it to children, so they can feel it. Learning through play, movement, and music is something that should always be present in our lives, from childhood to adulthood.”