Dear friends,
 

Herein you will find an announcement of a new one-year foundation course in music out of anthroposophy scheduled to begin in the fall of this year. 
 

This advance notice is being sent to all board members of the Lyre Association as well as to all Dorion students, Dorion graduates, and Dorion faculty members because it seemed important to share with each of you the steps that have led to the creation of this course.
 

Such a training does have a precedent in this country, with the three-year Concordia Anthroposophic Music Studies that ran from 1990 to 2000.  Several of us were involved with that course, either as students or faculty members.  With the advent of the new Dorion School of Music Therapy in 2001, however, many of those who might have continued their work with such a general foundation course in music found themselves involved instead as students or faculty members of this much anticipated music therapy training. 
 

Even before the end of the first Dorion course, conversations had begun about the need for a preparatory course that could offer potential Dorion students as well as a wider spectrum of musicians, teachers, and eurythmy students a foundation in the basic musical skills and knowledge essential for working with music from an anthroposophical perspective.  The original request was that such a foundation year be incorporated into the Dorion School training, however, it soon became apparent that this would not be practical or even possible.  Norma and Christof Andreas Lindenberg offered their support for the creation of a separate course, and Channa Seidenberg offered her center for instrumental and vocal music therapy, Harmonia, as the sponsoring organization.  Several of us who have individually recognized the need for such a course have felt called to work together over the last year to create a basic training that would serve to further the mission of music out of anthroposophy in this country.
 

It is our hope that each of you, our colleagues, who have worked so closely with this new music impulse, will join us in lending your support to this initiative.
 

With warm regards,
 

Jean Anderberg

Sheila Johns

Catherine Read

Stacey Schwarz

Channa Seidenberg