Eduard Sievers said that speech originally developed from song and dance, in other words, from rhythmical patterns.
(Eduard Sievers, Rhythmisch-Melodische Studien 1893)
I asked myself if I couldn't return to these rhythmical patterns and make them the foundation for my intonation training. Originally, speech may have come from song and dance.I chose the other way round: in my system, rhythmical patterns lead to speech.
Language and music have always fascinated me. Why not make musical notes a part of language acquisition? Stimulated by my own music making (saxophone) and stays abroad (Brazil, France) I turned to "the music of language". Within the scope of my German studies I resolved to develop a simple, basic program for German intonation. Eventually I wrote my master's degree on this subject.
Instruments such as drums (for speech rhythm) and trombone (for speech melody) act as hearing intensifiers for the students– however, being musical or educated in music are not prerequisites for using this system!
The system is a synthesis of clear rules (very systematic), musical and speech therapy elements. This leads to help with pronunciation through body movement, necessary because a knowledge of the rules alone often cannot help. The system is very practically-orientated and aims at a direct application. Also, the students are taught to "learn to hear" through the continual comparison with their own recordings.
In addition to the integration of musical elements and body movements into the teaching I also work ‘holistically', i.e. I attempt to address all the senses of the learning channels, or at least the three most important ones: sight, hearing and feeling. Very important to me as a practitioner of suggestopedia are a pleasant learning atmosphere and the change from active to quiet phases within the lessons.
My system was awarded the Preis für Innovation in der Erwachsenenbildung 2001 (Prize for Innovation in Adult Education 2001).