Dr. John Habron-James | ISME - International Society for Music Education

I am fascinated by the relationships between music and movement, and how these can help people to learn, feel better and flourish. Much of my current research focuses on Dalcroze, a musical and somatic practice, with educational and therapeutic roots. I have written recently on the connections between Dalcroze and somatics, improvisational music therapy, creativity and spirituality. As a leader in the transdisciplinary field of Dalcroze studies, I help to galvanise a global community of scholars and practitioners to increase awareness and understanding of Dalcroze and related fields through research collaborations, publications and meetings such as the International Conference of Dalcroze Studies.

Dr John Habron-James is Head of Music, Health and Wellbeing at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK and Extraordinary Associate Professor in the MASARA (Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications) research entity at North-West University, South Africa. Having trained initially as a composer and a music therapist, John has gradually moved into transdisciplinary research at the intersection of music education, music therapy, and the medical/health humanities. He joined RNCM as Head of Music Education in 2017.

John was a founder of the International Conference of Dalcroze Studies (Coventry, 2013; Vienna, 2015; Quebec City, 2017; Katowice, 2019; online, 2021; Pittsburgh, 2023) and chaired its Scientific Committee from 2012 to 2023. His research has been funded by the Higher Education Academy, Music Therapy Charity, SEMPRE (Society for Education and Music Psychology Research), Manchester Camerata, Coventry University, and RNCM. A Wellcome Trust Medical Humanities grant (2015-16) and a Gladstone Library Scholarship (2016) helped him in the initial stages of his research into the life and work of Dalcroze practitioner, craftswoman, and pioneer music therapist Priscilla Barclay.

John was guest editor of the 2016 special issue of Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Music Therapy. He has been an editorial board member for International Journal of Music Education and the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices. John is regularly invited to teach abroad, most recently in Austria, Colombia, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, South Africa, and Spain.

As a (post-)doctoral supervisor, I welcome enquiries from individuals wishing to research into music education or music and health / wellbeing. My interests include the theory, practice, and history of music education and music therapy; practices of music and movement; Dalcroze Eurhythmics; lived experiences; spirituality; oral history; women's history.