Bethan Habron-James
RNCM Young Strings Tutor in Musicianship
BMus, Licenciate Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Diplome Superieur Institut Jaques-Dalcroze
Email: [email protected]
- Teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics to undergraduates, postgraduates and children
- Teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics via online distance-learning
- Mentoring Leverhulme Trust Interns (Young Strings)
- Staff recruitment (Young Strings)
- Student recruitment (PGCE with specialist instrumental teaching)
Bethan Habron-James (Diplôme Supérieur, Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva) is one of the foremost teachers of Dalcroze Eurhythmics in the UK, and is regularly invited to teach internationally (Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam). Besides teaching at the RNCM, she delivers training nationwide to Music Services and organisations such as Youth Music, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Sound Connect, and is one of the teacher trainers and examiners for Dalcroze UK. She is also an experienced teacher of children with special educational needs and undertook some pioneering research into her practice in this field. Passionate about learning, in 2016 Bethan was awarded a Bangor University bursary to study for a PhD and PGCert/HE. She is currently engaged in an arts-based autoethnographic resarch study on the meaning of Dalcroze Eurhythmics as a student and teacher. Previously a professional violinist, Bethan continues to teach the violin and enjoys applying her Dalcroze knowledge to string teaching.
Current and Future Research
Overview
- PhD topic (Bangor University): arts-based autoethnography (exploring the meaning of Dalcroze Eurhythmics as student and teacher)
- Articles in preparation: online Dalcroze teaching (an autoethnographic study of the experiences as teacher); arts-based case study (poetry and violin improvisation as reflection on practice in special needs setting), performance as research (multi-media investigation of the ‘Dalcroze Subjects’ through dancers’ experiences of landscape)
- Peer reviewer for Psychology of Music
- Regular presenter at peer-reviewed international music education conferences, most recently in Lithuania, Austria, Switzerland, UK, South Africa, Greece
- Collaborated as Dalcroze practitioner on research projects funded by:
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Institute of Hearing (2014)
- Higher Education Academy (2011-2012)
- Arts Council, Oldham Music Service, Royal Oldham Hospital (2007)
- Archive-based workshop during research symposium Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Moving through the Archive, funded by NRCD (National Resource Centre for Dance, University of Surrey), Coventry University & Dalcroze UK (2015)
Thesis
The application of Dalcroze Eurhythmics to the teaching of children with special educational needs (Memoire de Diplôme, Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva) 2013
Practice-based outputs (choreography and choral direction)
Habron-James, B. (2016) Flight of Song. Glasgow; International Society of Music Education World Conference
Habron-James, B. (2013) Tracing Stones. Dalcroze UK International Easter Course, Manchester: RNCM
Habron-James, B. (2013) Tracing Stones. Coventry; Coventry University, First International Conference of Dalcroze Studies
Other publications
Habron-James, B. (2017 in press) FIER Paths to Rhythmics III: Rhythmics and Children. Geneva: FIER.
Habron-James, B. (2016) Book Review of Eurhythmics for Autism and Other Neurophysiologic Diagnoses: A Sensorimotor Music-Based Treatment Approach by Dorita S. Berger. Approaches: An interdisciplinary journal of music therapy, Special Issue, 8(2), 216-218.
Habron-James, B. (2016) La música en movimiento para niños con necesidadaes especiales. Eufonia: Didactica de la Música, 67, 13-18.
Habron-James, B. (2015) Sing up! Get a move on! Sing Up, 25, 44-45.
Peer reviewed conference papers
Habron-James, B. (2017) An Improvisational Approach to Dalcroze Pedagogy Online: an Autoethnography. 3rd International Conference of Dalcroze Studies, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada, 30 July-03 August.
Habron-James, B. (2016) When words aren’t enough. European Association for Music in Schools (EAS) annual conference, Vilnius, Lithuania, 16-19 March.
Habron-James, B. (2015) When words aren’t enough. 2nd International Conference of Dalcroze Studies, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, 26-29 July.
Habron-James, B. (2015) Reflecting on Reflections. Congrès International Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva, Switzerland, 20-24 July.
Habron-James, B. (2013) The Application of Dalcroze Eurhythmics to the teaching of children with special needs. International Conference on Music and Well-being. North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 06-10 August.
Habron-James, B. (2013) Tracing Stones: the music of landscape. The First International Conference of Dalcroze Studies. Coventry University, 24-26 July.
Habron-James, B. (2012) The Gift of Dalcroze to Special Needs. International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece, 16-20 July.
Professional Activity
Regular employment teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics (2000-present)
Young Strings RNCM; Birmingham Conservatoire; Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff; Manchester Music Service; Springwood Special School, Salford; Dalcroze UK Certificate Training Course, London, Dublin, Manchester; Birmingham Royal Ballet School (Elmhurst).
Dalcroze Eurhythmics courses and research projects
2017: 15th Dalcroze Eurhythmics International Workshop, Seoul, South Korea; Erato School of Music and Performing Arts, Hanoi, Vietnam.
2016: North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
2015: Institut Jaques-Dalcroze International Congress, Geneva, Switzerland; Llongueras Dalcroze Institute, Barcelona, Spain
2014: Institut Jaques-Dalcroze Summer School, Geneva, Switzerland; 3rd International Dalcroze Conference, Tokyo, Japan; MRC-funded (Medical Research Council) Institute of Hearing Research project into musical training and transfer of listening skills in older adults
2013: National Spanish Suzuki Summer School, Mollina, Spain
2011: Italian Dalcroze Society Summer School, Rome, Italy; Moving into Composition, HEA-funded research at Coventry University
2009: Llongueras Dalcroze Institute, Barcelona, Spain; European Rhythmics Symposium, Vienna, Austria
2005 – 2007: Drumming Down Dyspraxia, Oldham – mentor for research project
2002 – present: London Suzuki Group Summer School, Bryanston, Dorset; Dalcroze UK International Easter Course & Summer School
2001 – 2002: Yorkshire Ballet Seminar, Ripon – musicianship training for dancers
2002: Sailor’s Tale Project, The Yorke Trust, Norfolk
2001: Bridge String Quartet education project, Brentford; Manor High Secondary School – special needs music and movement project; Gyrus Softwear and Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment Conference, Belfast
2000 – 2001: Scottish Opera, Glasgow – training musicians for education project
2000: British Gymnastic Association Symposium
before 2000: Education projects with Manchester Camerata Orchestra and Cheshire Dance Company
Delivery of Continual Professional Development (Dalcroze)
2016: Postgraduate Advanced Teaching Skills & undergraduate Applied Teaching Skills, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff; Immersion Week: Dalcroze Eurhythmics, World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland; Workshop, European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), Vilnius, Lithuania
2015: Special Needs Music Education training, Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva; Workshop for BA students (music education module), Coventry University
2014 – 2016: Workshop for woodwind undergraduates and postgraduates, Birmingham Conservatoire
2014: Ensemble Cymru Chamber Orchestra, Wales; Lincolnshire Music Service; Yorkshire Youth Music, Barnsley
2013: Sound Connection, London; Discover Dalcroze, St Andrews University; North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; NYMAZ, Richmond and Pickering
2012: ISME World Conference, Thessaloniki
2011: MusicLeader Training Course, Leeds
2010: MusicLeader Training Course, Huddersfield
2009-2011: Big Noise training (El Sistema), Raploch
2008: MusicLeader Training course, Bradford
Early Years Project with Halle Orchestra, Cheshire; Trafford Music Service INSET; Staff Development, Woodville SureStart Children’s; Centre, Derbyshire (Early Years training)
2007: MusicLeader, Humberside; Sport Coaches UK, Leeds
2006: MusicLeader, Harrogate; Music Junction 4, York; Foxwood Special School, Hythe; Regional Forum for Music in Special Schools, Sunderland
2005-2007: RNCM Keyboard Focus Day
2005: Stepping into Music, Salford. (Early Years training); The Sage, Gateshead (application to Chamber Music)
2004: European String Teachers’ Association – North West branch; East Derbyshire SureStart project (Early Years training)
2003: Music Junction, London (Dalcroze, Kodaly and Orff collaboration); Derbyshire City and County Music Partnership; Lancashire Music Service Conference
2002: University of Wales Institute, Cardiff – module on PGCE course; Dalcroze UK post-certificate training, London; Stockport Music Service; European String Teachers’ Association – North East branch
2001: Lancashire Sinfonietta – school workshops; Dee Banks Special School, Chester – special needs workshops; West Park Primary School, Glamorgan – INSET
2000: Trinity College of Music – module for MA in Music Education; Walsall Music Service; European String Teachers’ Association – London
