It sings and sounds
The inner dancer
Music as the mother tongue of human beings communicates beyond all conceptual languages – from the hearts of those who are singing directly to the hearts of those who listen and resonate with them. It is the mission of the musical life in upper school to let people experience something of this. Everyone should experience and try out how far their own musical wings can carry them, how far they are able to reach out and touch others emotionally – not verbally. [more]
It sings and sounds
On the way to the musical contemporary
Great minds of the past have sought to find out what binds the world together at its core. Should we not also seek to discover what moves the world at its core; what stimulates the human being and what would like to break fresh ground into the future? [more]
It sings and sounds
Singing in Waldorf schools in the time of coronavirus
Singing together is an ancient tradition among all peoples and on all continents. It forms part of rituals, religion and community. Today we are permanently surrounded by music. Yet despite the many amateur choirs and innumerable projects for children, there is less and less singing in our society. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, singing was in a difficult position. There is increasingly less music-making at home in the family, confidence in our own voice cannot be developed and so the self-assurance in leading and demonstrating a song is missing also among teachers. [more]
It sings and sounds
Singing in lower school – a practice report
When one walks through the corridors of our Amsterdam Waldorf school in the mornings, one can hear children’s voices singing in each one. It is one of the most exhilarating aspects of our work: that the school resounds with music. “The songs have penetrated into the walls of the building,” said one colleague as we bade farewell to a respected class teacher on her retirement who had for several decades taken care of singing and music in our school. [more]
It sings and sounds
The creation story as a listening space for children. Audiopaedia in main lesson
From the very beginning of school, the children practise many important skills using the qualities of sound and silence – not only in music lessons, but also daily in the rhythmical part of the main lesson. Listening is at the centre of the exercises and games. Listening, attuning the listening, listening to each other. How can a child learn this? [more]
Publisher's View, It sings and sounds
Freedom not arbitrariness
Let’s talk about freedom. There is a wonderful picture we often used in 2019 – remember that year? – to explain Waldorf 100: three Pakistani boys are balancing in their school uniforms on what remains of an emergency bridge over the brown waters of a wide and fast-flowing river which separates their village from their school. What is so compelling that they are willing to make this risky crossing twice a day? [more]
Editorial
Actually ...
... what we imagined the life of a Waldorf school to be like and what we experienced in pre-Corona times no longer happens – despite all the imaginative education we might feel called upon to develop: the risk-free personal encounter, the exchange between people without fear, the bubbly togetherness. [more]
Spotlight, It sings and sounds
Anthroposophy and right-wing extremism? The conduct of the Waldorf schools in the “Third Reich”
After the demonstration against the coronavirus measures in Berlin on 29 August 2020, various magazine articles appeared once again accusing anthroposophy and Waldorf schools of being close to right-wing extremism. [more]
Interculturality
Interculturality – more than a label
We live in an immigrant society. As long ago as 2016, almost 40 percent of children under five had at least one parent born abroad and thus officially came from an immigrant background. That is reflected in the schools. In city conurbations in particular, teachers face the challenge of teaching children coming from parental homes which are socially, linguistically, culturally and religiously extremely heterogeneous. [more]
Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen e.V.