Recovering from the horrors of civil war, an eastern European nation will welcome an Ohio State music professor and expert of Dalcroze Eurythmics next week during OSU’s spring break.

David Frego, assistant professor of music education and assistant director of the School of Music, will travel to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 22 to work with the nations’ traumatized citizenry.

Frego said he intends to work with adults and children living with post-traumatic disorder by using precise music-movement therapy techniques.

Part of the therapy includes the use of Dalcroze Eurythmics, a concept developed by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze in the early 20th century at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. Its fundamental principle is to bring the body under control of the mind through music.

“The Dalcroze approach helps to integrate information between the mind and the body using rhythm, dynamics and body movement,” Frego said. “In this case, the interactive music-movement therapy will help integrate the children in social activities, using creative music and movement to address post-traumatic disorders.”

In 1998, Frego established the Dalcroze Research Center in the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute at OSU and has been instrumental in bringing various collections to Columbus which offer research opportunities.

“David is extremely knowledgeable in terms of the history and teaching of Dalcroze Eurythmics,” said Nena Couch, curator of the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Research Institute. “Not only does he know the history of the materials, but he is able to put it into practice in the studio. He is well-rounded in his abilities in the area.”

His research in movement-based music education and therapy is published in music education journals and medical journals for arts medicine. Frego has also studied areas of dance philosophy and the application of Dalcroze Eurthymics as palliative care of terminally ill adults through his work with AIDS and cancer survivors.

Michael McDonald, the outreach coordinator for the AIDS clinical trails unit at the OSU Medical Center said Frego’s workshops made a considerable difference during retreats for persons living with HIV.

“Many people are consumed by living with and hiding the disease because of the stigma associated with the disease and how society treats AIDS patients,” McDonald said. “He has helped people find a way to express their emotions, let loose and have a little fun.

“What’s amazing is that you don’t even have to tal, and you are able to get emotions out,” McDonald said. “It is great because some people can’t verbalize their disease, but if they move they can express it externally.”

While preparing for the journey, Frego said language was an obstacle for him. All of the materials he will teach from were shipped to be translated some time ago.

“I speak five languages, but this (Bosnian) isn’t one of them,” Frego said. “The language issue will be a challenge. In fact, there are three cultures in Bosnia, so everything I say will have to translated three times.”

Frego plans to teach children ages three to 11 during the morning and educators, psychologists and social workers in the evening to develop long term strategies.

“It generally takes about six months to change a behavior,” said Frego. “So one of my goals is to pass along my methods to teach there, so they can continue to work with the kids after I leave.”

As an instructor of Dalcroze Eurythmics, Frego regularly presents workshops throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He is the president of the Dalcroze Society of America and a graduate of Brandon University in Canada and Florida State University. He joined OSU’s faculty in 1996.

Frego’s week-long trip is organized by a group known as EDUCON, an affiliate of the Pavarotti Music Centre, founded by Luciano Pavarotti in Mostar, Bosnia. Frego’s trip will be sponsored by the Pavarotti Foundation and OSU’s College of Arts.