It is a pleasure to be working with the students of the fifth grade in Eurythmy. They have entered into the school year with an eagerness to learn, bringing greater understanding and precision to our work.
Each lesson begins with this verse:
May wisdom shine through me, May love glow within me, May strength penetrate me. That in me may arise, A helper of humankind, A servant of Holy things, Selfless and true.
During the fall term, we are working on several exercises to further develop a sense of spatial orientation and coordination. The first of these is to "Allegro" by G.P.Telemann, which includes moving the beat of the music along a crenelated form as well as performing a Eurythmy Exercise called the "Dexterity A," which is practiced to overcome clumsiness.
The fifth grade students are also working on a challenging rhythmical, concentration/orientation exercise along a five pointed star. For this exercise, the students must walk the five pointed star forward to an anapest rhythm (short, short long) and then retrace their path to the dactyl rhythm (long,short,short). The challenging part is that they must first walk the star as it lays in front of them, then as it lays behind them, and then to each side, while facing the front of the room throughout the entire exercise.
The main piece the class is working on this term is a complex copper rod exercise to "Vivace" by W.A. Mozart. The students truly enjoy practicing this piece.
When we return from the winter holiday, the class will begin to work on performing choreography and speech Eurythmy to a verse from the Ancient Persian civilization:
O'Humankind, Carry the sun to the earth, Between light and darkness thou art placed, Be a warrior of the light, Love the earth.
The girls will also work on performing a beautiful Persian scarf dance to piano music.
If you have any questions please send them to me through the contact page. I wish all the children and families of the fifth grade a happy school year.