Konserthuset 100 Years – Dalcroze Eurhythmics for All

One of the very first tenants at Konserthuset was the eurhythmics and music educator Karin Fredga, who in 1926 founded a music school for children and adults where music and movement were at the heart of the teaching. Swedish Dalcroze Eurhythmics now celebrates 100 years since its beginnings at Konserthuset: Karin Fredga taught eurhythmics in the building from 1926 to 1959.

At Konserthuset, generations of children learned about music and dance with “Aunt Karin”, “Aunt Lulle” (Dagmar Wide) and “Aunt Ebba” (Ebba Burton) between 1926 and 1959. Many young adults were also trained here as teachers of eurhythmics.

The education that took shape in the 1920s marked the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day. Clear lines can be traced from the early eurhythmics courses at Konserthuset to the present-day programme at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where new generations of musicians and educators carry forward and further develop Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

The Dalcroze method was devised by the Swiss composer, musician and educator Émile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865–1950). His conviction was that the body is the “primary instrument”, and that one must begin by “making the human being musical”. Only then does it become meaningful to embark on instrumental playing, singing or dance. Jaques-Dalcroze embraced a holistic view of the human being.